The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-27
MAY Be Second
| CALL TO NEW ARMY
Drafted Men at Canton
mcnts Not Enough to
Complete the Divisions
EXACT FIGURES
NOT NOW AVAILABLE

Guard Consolidation Is Forming New
Source Of Trouble to the War Depart
ment-Forces to Be Localized as Far
as Possible.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-There is
little doubt now that a large deficiency
of men will be shown when the first
increment of the National army Of 6S7,
600 men has been modified.
Seventeen national guard divisions
must be brought UP to war strength
and several special service forces or
gauized out Of this reserve to the
number of drafted men remaining at
! the environments hardly will be suii
cient to organize the Is National army
divisions at full strength basis.
/ Whether incomplete divisions will be
/ formed or whether a call for more men
will be issued has not been indicated.
Secretary Baker said Yesterday that
definite figures as TO the number Of
! National army men it would be ncccs
aarv to transfer to the national guard
were not available. 4 dual process Of
Organization at the gu#rd encampmeata
serves to delay complete reports. Not
only are these divisions being modified
for the first time, but III the midst of
that mobilization the whole fabric of
the infantry army is being recognized
on the new trench warfare plan,
The lighting strength of the new di-
vision is now fixed at - 300 men. The
l. guard divisions on that basis will
have total strength of $4,000 men.
The guard probably brought into the
federal service a total of not more
than 100000 men, possibly less. It
will take, therefore, at least 1871 goo
National army men to fill up the guard
/ divisions Another 100000 of the Ma
4 tional army will 90 to the air service
and certainly as many more to otho.
special services. That would leave not
more than 100000 men to form the K
National army divisions which SHOULD
have an aggregate war strength OF
1873 900
Z Secretary Baker pointed cut some O
the difficulties that attend the reorgan
Z lzation Of The national guard for wa
. purposes. While the Is division rIaI
\ for the guard, since extended to
Il with the organization of the -. o
H ''rainbow division. is an old one. tn
II whole fabric of the divi ions has bca
II changed. With the adoption Of III
II European rcgimaata aad compan
Il standard every guard regimen. vhir
II was to be included in a division Lad t
Il hc expanded. Regiments and parts q
II Irceiments are being consolidated Ia fun
Il ri,h the $500 men rcgimeutal unit, no1
Il desired
II In making these consultations til
Il department : attempting to keep til
Il forces as much localized as possible
Il The anne practice viii be followed j
Il assigning men from the National arm
II to national guard units Wherever pa
II tical National army men will 90 to rec
II mcntS from their own state in line Wit
II the spirit of the army war bin las
II stress on localization Of regiment
II There are many eases, however. whcI
II the practice VIII have to he abandonC
il to meet the military necessities.
II The guard consolidation has brouel
II on the department Il new 1ource
II trouble. Numerous coloucls and res
H mental stats Of the guard arc ccrta
Il to be left without commands since t
number of regiments has been reduce
II This has already proved a fruitful sour
II OF protest from state officials. L
policy Of the department., it is said y
he to find places for such guard Office
in other forces as far as possible a
desirable.