The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-05
Full Explanation of Disinte-
grafton of First National
Guard Regiment.
FLETCHER GETS
LETTER ABOUT 1T
Acting Chief of Militia Bu-
reau Says Efficiency Must
Be First Requirement.
Especial to The JOurnaD

Washington, Nov. 4.-Full explana-
ton of the causes for the disintegra-
tion of the First Florida National
Guard Regiment was made today to
Senator Duncan u. Fletcher of Flor
ida, who had made inquiry regarding
it, by Colonel J. Mel. Carter, acting
chief of the militia bureau.
Colonel Carter states that the de-
partment regrets that in some cases
it has been found necessary to break
up some of the National Guard units,
but that the reorganization of the
army, recommended by General Per-
shing, in the light of British and
French experience, has left no other
course open.
Efficiency must be the first re-
Quirement, Colonel Carter says.
Every effort is being made to pre-
serve local associations as far as pos
sible; officers and men are retained in
their own divisions, and the loyal
support of every soldier and his
friends in accepting these changes Is
hoped for and expected, and they will
WIN THE WAR
The letter from Colonel Carter to
Senator Fletcher reads as follows:
The Bureaus Letter.
War Department.
Military Bureau,
Washington, Oct. so, 1917.
Hon. Duncan U. Fletcher, United
States Senate.
My Dear Senator:
Replying to your personal inquiry
concerning the disbanding of the First
Florida Infantry, beg to state that
the developments of the war in Eu-
rope have forced constant changes
in the organization of all armies en-
gagged, producing, finally, that or
ganiZation which functions best IN
trench warfare and the conditions i'm
posed by both tactical efficiency and
matters of supply.
Based on the recommendations of
our commander in Europe, and in the
light of French and British expert
ence. the General Staff recommended
a reorganization to correspond to
that adopted by our allies. This in
volved consolidating the nine infantry
regiments in each division down to
four Or nearly double size, and mate
rial additions of artillery and machine
gun units. This consolidation neces-
sarliy broke up former organizations
and caused the identity of many to
merge with others. This is to be de-
plored, but efficiency must be the
first requirement met.
In this reorganization every effort
has been made to preserve local asso-
Citations as far as possible. Officers
and men are retained in their own
divisions; surplus officers and men
will be used to fill vacancies and IN
creating corps troops associated with
their old divisions. The loyal morai
support of every soldier and his
friends in accepting these changes,
involving the breaking of historicar
and sentimental ties in many cases Is
earnestly hoped for and expected.
They help WIN THE WAR.
In the matter of contrasting the
right of choice Of organizations by
new drafted men, when none was
given the others, it must be remenr
bercd that the former had no former
associations and no organizations
having intricate established records
that must be kept with as little con-
fusion as possible. It made no dn>
ference in administrative work which
organization any new man preferred;
but with those who had already e.-
tablished records which had to be re-
vlsed and changed for every man
transferred it was necessary to make
as few changes as possible. The rec
ord changes were enormous at best.
l trust that ali conaerned will real
ize that this reorganization was
based only on a strong conviction
that it helped toward military sue
cess, and the War Department asks
for the support of public sentiment
in what is believed to be necessary.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) J. Mel. CARTER,
Colonel, Cavalry, Acting Chief, Mill
tia Bureau.