New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-09-27
BAKER FORECASTS
ARMY DEFICIENCY
National Guard Must First Be
Brought to War Strength

Washington, Sept. 27.-There Is
cheney of men will be shown when the
first increment of the national army
$4,000 men-has been modified.
Seventeen National Guard divisions
must be brought up to war strength,
and several special service forces or
ganized out of this reservoir, so the
number of drafted men remaining at
the environments hardly will be suf-
ficient to organize the sixteen nation
al army divisions at a 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 today that de-
finite figures as to the number Of ma
tional army men it would be necessary
to transfer to the National Guard
were not available. A dual process Of
organization at the guard encamp-
ments serves to delay complete re-
ports. Not only are these divisions
being modified for the first time, but
in the midst of mobilization the whole
fabric of the infantry army is being
reorganized on the new trench war;
fare plan.
The fighting strength of the new
division is now fixed at 27,500 men.
The seventeen guard divisions on that
basis will have a total strength Of
437,500 men.
The guard probably brought into
the federal service a total Of not more
than 100000 men, possibly fewer. It
will take, therefore, at fewest 137,-
600 national army men to fill up the
guard divisions. Another 100000 of
the national army will go to the air
service, and certainly as many more
to other special services. That would
leave not more than 100000 men to
form the sixteen national army divi-
sions, which should have an aggre-
gate war strength of $4,000.
Secretary Baker pointed out today
some of the difficulties that attend the
reorganization of the National Guard
for war purposes. While the sixteen
division plan for the guard, since ex-
tended to seventeen with the organ
ization of the Forty-second or Rain
bow" division, is an old one the whole
fabric of the divisions has been
changed. With the adoption Of the
European regimental and company
standard, every guard regiment which
was to be included In division had
to be expanded. Regiments and parts
of regiments are being consolidated to
furnish the $500 men regimental
units now desired.
In making these consultations, the
department is attempting to keep the
forces as much localized as possible.
The same practice will be followed in
assigning men from the national army
to National Guard units. Wherever
practical, national army men will go
to regiments from their own states in
line with the spirit of the War Army
bill, which lays stress on localization
of regiments There are many cases,
however, where the practice will have
to be abandoned to meet military
necessities
The guard consolidation has
brought upon the department new
source of trouble. Numerous colonies
and regimental stats of the guard are
certain to be left without commands,
since the number of regiments has
been reduced. This has already proved
a fruitful source of protest from state
officials. The policy of the depart
ment, it is said, will be to find places
for such guard officers in other forces
as far as possible and desirable.