New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-24
REORGANIZATION OF ARMY
NOW IS UNDER WAY

complete TeOrganiZatlOn or
branches of the American army t
conform with European standard
as recommended by Major Genera
Pershing, is provided for in arm
orders revealing that the recent
announced divisional. rcorganizatio
plan is to be carried down into tn
regiments and companies.
The administrative unit of the in
fantry arm hereafter will be a com
pany with $50 enlisted men and 81
commissioned officers, in place O
something over 100 men and thre
officers. The company will be di
vided into four platoons, each il
command of lieutenant. Their
will be two captains as first an,
second in command, one first lieut.
enant and three second lieutenants
Reports of the review of American
troops in France yesterday SHOW
that this plan already has been car
ried ont in General Pershing's for
ces.
The object of assigning two cap
tains< to each company, it is under
stood, is to provide against disor
ganization of the unit through tn,
loss of its commander. The secone
captain, under the European system
does not go into battle line with the
company if his senior is present. He
is held as reserve to reorganizt
the company if necessary.
Three Battalions in Regiment
Under the new plan each regiment
will have three battalions of four
companies, with a total of 1000 men
to each battalion. Supplemented by
the regimental headquarters, supply
and machine gun organizations, the
strength of the new regiments will
be brought up to approximately g.
600 men, as against little more than
1000 in existing war strength regi-
ments.
The unit organization of the field
artillery and other arms of the serv-
ice has not been changed. AS a
result of reducing the number of re-
giments in division the division,
instead OF $1,000 men, will total here
after about 10000 men, $4,000 of
them infantry.
The advantages of the system. in
addition to the better adaptation of
the divisional unit to trench warfare,
lie chiefly in the reduction in over
head expense. One colonel and his
regfmental staff, including his batta-
lion commanders will now handle
5000 men instead of little more
than 1000.
Different Numbers
To-dav's orders show that Drovi-
sion has been made for organization
OF tlirty-two infantry new divisions
out of troops already called to the
colors, including the first increment
of 687,O00 drafted men. "A system of
designations has been
worked out, under which any divi-
sion numbered below 70 will be re-
gulars; between 20 and Is, National
Guard, and 70 and above, National
Army. Regular infantry brigades
will be numbered from to so, inclu-
sive; National Guard from 81 to $50,
and National Army from Isl up.
Regular regiments will be numbered
from to 100; National Guard from
l0l to 300, and National Army from
30l up.
Assignments in Numerical Order
Assignment Of brigade, regiment
or other numerical designation will
be in accordance with the numerical
order of divisions, with the result
that any person familiar with the
system will know that the 335th In
fantry, for instance, is attached to
he 10TH Brigade of the 84th In
fantry Division, and that it is COM
posed of National Army troops, while
he 300th Infantry Regiment, by the
same process, would be in the 150th
Brigade and the 75th Division, COM
posed of National Guard troops.
The department approved to-day
collar insignia to designate the three
elements of the army. Regulars will
wear the standard u S. monogram
Guardsmen will wear a SINH
ar monogram, with the initials N.
}. superimposed, and National Army
nen will have the initials N. A. super
imposed on the U. S.
Many New Officers
1t was announced tonight that H.
Al officers for the National Army
lad been obtained through commits
ioning men chosen at training
amps.
There were two colonies, one lieu-
enant colonel, 235 majors, 3,722 cap
aims, 4,452 first lieutenants, and 49,
29 second lieutenants. -
"All have been assigned to duty
With the Sixteen National Army di-
,isions or elsewhere" the War De-
'artment announced, "and with few
exceptions will report for duty Aug /
st g."