The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-08-30
ORGANIZATION OF
ARMY IS CHANGED
Artillery Strength Of Uncle Sans
Forces Greatly Increased
by New Order.
DIVISIONS TO Be SMALLER
Machine Gun Arm lS Also Enlarged
and Provision Is Made for For
nation Of Army Corps and
Armies.

A general order made public by the
adjutant generals Office provides for
important changes in the organization
of Uncle Sans fighting forces.
The ratio OF artillery strength to
infantry is greatly increased. A di-
vision will hereafter include only four
infantry regiments in two brigades In
place Of the old division of three bri-
gades, each comprising three regiments
Of infantry. There will still be three
regiments of field artillery in each di-
vision. Thus, in the new organization
there win be three regiments of field
artillery TO every four regiments Of In
fantry, instead of the ratio Of three
to nine. In addition, trench mortar
battery is attached to each division.
The machine gun arm Is also mate
rally enlarged. A machine gun bat
TALON of four companies has been
made a unit Of each division, in addi-
ton to the three machine gun COM
panies Included in each regiment.
The American division will be made
by this order to conform practically to
the units utilized by the entente allies,
among whom division numbers ap-
proximately 10000 men. The reason
for the change is that the division as
heretofore made up of about 2S,OOO
men is too unwieldy for the demands
of trench warfare. With so large
unit, sure and swift communication
with all parts is difficult. The prob
lem to be met was basically one of mo-
bility for the peculiar needs Of fight
Ing on the western front.
Will Have Reserve Battalions.
The smaller-sized divisions call for
maintenance Of all units at full fighting
strength. For this purpose reserve bat
taliOns will be provided. These will
consist Of 612 men each and are listed
in the general order as separate train
Ing battalions." The number of these
battalions has not been made public.
Details of regimental organization are
also withheld for military reasons.
The new order provides for army
practically existed only ON paper since
the Civil war. Corps were organized
during the Spanish war but were not
actually operated as such to any great
extent.
Each army corps will consist of three
Infantry divisions, corps headquarters,
and certain army corps troops not spe-
Gifted. Each army will normally con-
sist OF three or more army corps, army
headquarters, and certain army troops
not specified.
Composition Of Infantry Division.
Under the new order, each infantry
division will be composed as follows
the changes from the present Organi-
zation being as indicated: One division
headquarters (same as at present);
one machine gun battalion Of four com
panies (new); two infantry brigades
of two regiments and one machine gun
battalion flour companies) each. (The
present division is three infantry bri-
gades of three regiments each); one
field artillery brigade of three regi-
ments and one trench mortar battery
(same, except trench mortar battery
is new); one field signal battalion
(same); one train headquarters and
military police (same) one ammunl-
ton train (same); one supply train
(same) one engineer train (same, eX-
cept that pontoOn and searchlight sec
tions are not included in new plan);
one sanitary train of four field hospital
companies and four ambulance com
panieS (same).
No Cavalry in Division.
The new organization provides for
40 cavalry in the division. The dlvi-
sion as at present constituted calls for
one regiment of cavalry. The present
division also calls for one aero squad
ron while the new plan calls for none,
the aircraft units being otherwise pro-
vided for.
The order specifies 16 divisions of
the national army to be organized and
numbered from 76 to o. both inclu-
sive, and states the numbers to be
given to each of the different units
in each division. It provides that the
16 divisions of the National Guard now
organized shall be reOrganized to con-
form to the new plan as soon as prac-
ticable after their arrival in the train
ing camp.
The regular army, the National
Guard and National army will all con-
form to the same plan.