The Washington herald., 1917-05-18
Army and Navy News
Best servIee Column b cIty.


ment Yesterday completed the apportion-
ment by States of National Guard units
necessary 10 bring the State troops UP to
the maximum war strength of 424 500 men
authorized IN the national defense act.
The apportionment was made on the
basis of 800 men to each Senator and
Representative in Congress. New York
leads with total allotment OF 5000
men, out of which 81, 500 are to be avail
able for National Guard army oreaniza-
tons. The remaining $500 Is the navy's
portion for use as Naval Militia. Ari-
Zorla. New Mexico, Nevada and Wyoming
have the smallest allotment-2,4oo men
each.
The possibility Of National Guard
units being among the first troops order
ed to French soil for service in the
trenches is seen In the orders issued by
Brig. Gen. Mann, chief of the militia bu-
reau, that completion of cavalry units Is
not desired" The instructions to adju-
tant generals also state that coast artil-
lery, infantry, field artillery, engineers
and field hospital and ambulance corps
are to be recruited first in order named
The present units OF National Guard, the
instructions assert, are to be recruited up
70 war strength before new units appor.
toned each State are organized.
The present strength of the National
Guard, the militia bureau figures show.
is in round numbers $4,000. The war
strength OF the present organizations is
$4,000. Thus $4,000 men are needed to
equip the present organizations for work
in the field, and 23s,SO0 men must volun-
teer or be drafted to place the Guard at
the maximum figure OF 424,so0 authorized
by Congress.
been divided into sixteen divisions, with
the following State allotments by divi-
sions:
Maine. $500 600 for Naval MilitIa); New
Hampshire, 800; Massachusetts,, 144O0
d,soO Naval Militia; Connecticut, 5,6OC
geo Naval Militia); Rhode Island, 1000
600 Naval Militia; Vermont, $500.
New York. 5000 1880 Naval Militia;
Pennsylvania, 30. 400 1000 Naval Militia;
New Jersey, 11.2OO 0,4OO Naval Mnitia);
Delaware, 400; Maryland. $500 GOO Naval
Militia; District of Columbia, 400 for
Naval Militia Virginia, $500
North Carolina, $500 ClSO Naval Mill
tia; South Carolina, 100 600 Naval Mill
tia); Tennessee. e,6O0
Alabama, $500; Georgia, 1850; Florida,
$500 600 Naval Milltia).
Michigan, 1900 1000 Naval Mlitia);
Wisconsin,, 10 400; Illinois. g, 200 600 Naval
Militia; Texas, 1900 C2,9OO Naval Mill
tia); Minnesota, $500 n.oO0 Naval Militia
North Dakota, 1000; South Dakota, 1000;
Iowa. 10. 100: Nebraska, 500.
Kansas, 500; Missouri 1890 (SD0 Naval
Militia; oklahoma. 5000; Ohio, 1920 e. 900
Naval Militia; West Virginia. $40: Ken
lucky. 1890; Indiana, 1900: Arkansas,
1890; Mississippi. 5000; Louisiana, 5000
5000 $50 Naval Militia; California, 10. 100
q. 800 Naval Militia: Utah, $500; Arizona
400; Nevada, 200: Washington, 800 GO,
Naval Militia) Oregon. 1000 600 Nava,
Militia: Montana, $500; Idaho. 400;
Wyoming, 200
An ambulance corps, composed of 1000
Stonemen from Philadelphia, under the
command OF regular army officers, will
be among the first contingent OF Ameri-
cans actually to reach the trench line in
France. The unit expects to leave for
the war zone June l, and will be under
the direction OF the French chiefs until
the arrival OF American troops.
Although II will at first be a part of
the French army. the ambulance corps
will fly the American flag from the time
of It's arrival on French soil.
The organization, which Is wholly re-
cruited from the Stonemen's Fellowship
in Philadelphia, is the visible result OF
the appeal Of the French military officers
headed by Marshal Joffre.
According to the members Of the am
bulance unit, the GTSt call for assistance
asked for by the French officers was
not for troops, but for men to do relief
work behind the lines-namely, doctors,
nurses and orderlies. The appeal was
made on the grounds that the men doing
this kind of service have grown exhaust
ed during the three years Of war, there
by lessening the efficiency OF the French
ambulance corps and consequently in
creasing the mortality Of the fighting
men.
Surgeon-Gen. Gorgas. of the United
States army, following the advice Of the
Marshal OF France and his staff OF at
taches. began perfecting plans for or
ganization and recruiting an ambulance
corps in Philadelphia, the medical center
of the country.
Lieut.. Col. Henry Page, a veteran of
the Philippines and one Of the ranking
inspectors of the army. was detailed to
Philadelphia in. command OF the ambu-
lance unit. Maj. Arthur W. Yale, OF the
Medical Reserve Corps, one of the lead
ing doctors of Philadelphia, was given
the second command.