The sun., 1917-08-18
$4,000 MILITIA
TROOPS IN FIRST
UNIT TO FRANCE
Indications Are That Two,
Instead Of One, Divisions
Will Be Sent Abroad.
MODELLING AT 2 POINTS
New England Guardsmen Are
Likely to Accompany the
"Fighting 69th."

WARRINGTON. Aug. 1.-Two army
divisions instead OF one, comprising a
total Of at least $4,000 men. probably
will make UP the frst contingent Of the
National Guard to 60 to France.
Although no official confirmation was
obtainable. there were evidences to-day
that the composite Forty-second Divi-
sion, whose organization recently was
announced. will be accompanied abroad
by the Twenty-sixth, made up Of New
England Guardsmen. No New England
States are among the twenty-six having
representation in the composite division
which includes the "F1ghting Sixty.
ninth" of New York city.
The commander Of the Twenty sixth
Is Major Gen. Clarence Edwards. now
acting as commander Of the Department
Of the Northeast, and 1t Is presumed
he would 60 to Europe with the division.
The Forty-second Is commanded by
Mator-Gen. w. A. Mann.
Plenty Of shipping Available.
A report was current to-day tina,
sufYicient shipping will be available fol
forwarding two divisions within the time
fixed for the departure Of the Forty-sec.
ond. and that the Twenty ty-sixth had beer
selected to go because It comes from 9
compact area and is composed for the
most part OF regiments Of high rating
and representing States whose troop,
were left out of the composite division.
The Forty-second Division Is beinl
mobilized at Mineola, L. l., under tn
new European standard. which require
that the strength Of the individual infan
try regiments be increased more than s.
per cent. The process necessitates tn
addition OF some units not included II
tho original order, for where one com
pany Of infantry. for instance. was {
have come from any State two companie
have been consolidated to give the :5
men necessary
Thus hundreds Of men have beei
transferred to fill up the regiments re
lected to 60. All tho other Nationa
Guard divisions will 60 through a eimila
process on their arrival At their di
visional camp.
Speeding Up Equipment.
No hint has been given as to tn
probable time It will require to prepar
the Furty-second for embarkation. A
II is wholly new organization. 1t l
logical to assume that 1t will take som
, time to get into working shape. TIL
question Of equipment also entered int
the fixing OF a sailing date. The sam
considerations apply also to the Twenty
sixth
The original plan for a compost
National Guard expeditionary force 1
known to have provided for two division
made UP on the composite plan. Az
proximately forty States would have con
tributed toward forming the Forty
second and Twenty-sxth, and supple
mental divisional or army corps troop
might have made UP an expedition tina
represented every State.
The War Department announced to
day the nnal allotment Of State troop
among the national army cantonment
and made public the list Of Colonels as
signed to regimental commands In tn
| various divisions, both Of the natione
! army and the National Guard.
Thirty-two Mator-Generals assigned
command divisions Of the new army an
National Guard to-day received instruc
tons TO report for duty not later tina
| August 25. All the regular depart
| mental commanders are now called upo
for duty in the field. probably in France