The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1917-11-08
ARMY ORGANIZATION
The Different Divisions at the Present
Time-An Accurate Description Of
Army Units

To write a short. and TO any extent
an informing paper on Army Organiza-
ton is more of task than | antici-
pated. There appears 10 be no very
definite books available IN the libra
ries, and in addition to this. the army
is now in the process of reorganiza-
tion--in fact, has already been reor-
ganized to considerable extent dur
ing the present war. have attempted
to assemble few of the features of
army organization which are most
commonly wondered about in as COM
pact and approximately accurate
form as possible.
The army as whole is divided into
the following subdivisions:
Infantry. which is the rife men.
Cavalry, the horsemen
Field Artillery, the machine gun
companies.
Engineer Corps, who supervise the
building of roads, railroads, and the
like.
Signal Corps, which includes the
flag signaling, telephones, etc.
Aviation Corps, the air men.
The infantry and cavalry are organ
lied into Divisions. which until re-
Gently included $4,000 to 10000 men.
These Divisions are not made up en-.
rely Of either infantry or cavalry, but
each Division includes some of all the
above subdivisions. An army may con-
sist of varying numbers of Divisions.
We have at present. so far as the pub
lie is informed about ore Division in
France, of which General Pershing is
In command.
Speaking of infantry, Divisions are
made up of Brieades and various aux
Hilary services, as itemized later. A
Brigade is now divided into two in
fantry. or three artillery regiments of
1855 men and officers. Each regiment
is divided into three battalions, each
battalion into four companies. Besides
the battalion companies there is
headquarters company and supply
company for each regiment. A COM
pany is divided into platoons, in which
the number of men and officers vary
somewhat with different branches of
the service, and platoons are divided
into squads of eight men each. To
summarize:
Divisions are made up of Brigades,
etc, Brigades of Regiments, Regiments
of Battalions, Battalions of Companies,
Companies of Platoons, Platoons of
Squads.
Following is given the titles of com
handing officers in order, the superior
officer being named first:
President of the United States, Com
mander in Chief.
General, Commander of an Army.
eve have but two full Generals at
present, General Tssker H. Bliss. in
Washington. who is chief of the whole
army, and General Pershing, Chief of
the army in France. Both of these
Generals we're just recently promoted
from Major Generals.)
Major General, who may command
Division.
Brigadier General, who commands
Brigade Tor who may also command
Division under some circumstances.
Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel. who
command the regiment.
Major, who commands battalion.
Captain, with his First and Second
Lieutenants. who command a Com
pany,
The officers named above are Com
missioned Officer" that is to say.
officers whose names are registered as
officers al the main headquarters. and
who cannot be appointed or dismissed
without due process of army regula-
lions. The "Non-commissioned Off
GERS" who are given below. are chosen
from the ranks by the Captain.
First Sergeant.
Mess Sergeant.
Supply Sergeant.
Eight sergeants Zone of whose func-
tons is to help train new mem.
Corporals. who have charge of the
squads.
In case OF death of the superior off,