The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-12-08
identity Of State Organizations Is
Lost While This War
Lasts.
SUGGESTED BYGEN. PERSHING
Reorganization Wipes Out Identity OF
Some Famous State Regiments
National Defense Act May
Restore 1t After Conflict.

Washington.-Wa department off,
Gals. general staff officers and army
officers generally frankly admit that
the National Guard, as it was before
the United States entered the war, is
being gradually eliminated, certainly
as far as this war Is concerned.
The fact is that since Gen. John
J. Pershing was sent to France de-
cision has been reached to reorganlZe
the regular army and National Guard
from top to bottom. This decision was
made on General Pershings urgent
recommendation.
General Pershings recommendations
were the result of conferences IN Paris
between the American and allied COM
manders, and the new organization 1ol-
lows closely the lines of the present
French organization, built up AFTER
three years of active lighting.
The recommendations of General
pershing were an entire surprise TO
war department officials and the gen
eral staff. The latter baked at hrse'
but ultimately followed the plan rec
ommended by the American field COM
monders on the theory that PershlnS
was on the ground and in posltlon
IN know what the British and French
have found most effective in battering
+ho,r vav through the German lines.
Tint is the whole story. 1t Is hard
on National Guard organizations, es'
neciolly the crack regiments, whose
members have always taken great
nride in them and striven to improve
and perfect them.
For Keeping Identity.
A. tho outset the general staff plan
provided for mastering into the leu
eral service state units as such' eaci
of them to be given new regular
army number, but to retain It's ldeh
tity.
When General Pershing urgently rec
commended that regiments be increased
from 1.5OO to more than 5000, ever
crock National Guard infantry regl
ments. which had been recruited It
fu,l war strength were far Delo" III
reouired number. AS finally perlec'
Cd the new organization provides 10
q raqimental maximum strength OF III
officers and 1862 enlisted men,
This explains why it has been neceS
rr m merge one National Guard reg
fment with another. 1t has been s.ate
roneatedly that the Natlonal uual
ronld next go to France. d
combining two Guard units the gel
oroI staff figured the war department
-ro,,,d have maximum OF men IN I'll
enlarged regiment who had had SON
S.,litorv training and experience.
On the other hand, II the recon
mendations Of governors, senators an
CONSERVATIVES and National GUAR
aaaors wore followed and the rams
- Guard units filled up with dr"ite
-, from the same states, the ili
.or,tv of every regiment, with ie
exceptions, would be compose ,'O VOW
wholly UNFRAMED men. inns W.T."
mean q much longer training DEL ~
A. reorpnnized, army experts are 20
sSon+ tho National Guard troops WI
~oodv for service after mlhllnu
training period in this country
Superior Fighting Machine
However disappointing the new on
on,,ot;on nav be to either Natioi,
cmord or regular army troops "
Gals feel that there can De 10 u 'b bo
that every officer and man NJ IN IN ~ +
branches, as well as those now 9" 500 ln +
National army camps. want ~ o. =,
20. oe,c,ont fighting machine y
sible. Army experts ue. W the re-
earnest study and though ~ nava =
eauization. They think they oh ha has =
fected an organization when when mas
superior as a fighting macnine, yor
In the reorganization Ne" i''