Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-09
ARMY SYSTEM Of
F FRENCH WILL Be
TAUGHT GUARDSMEN
ILLINOIS WILL HAVE IL COMPAN-
les OF 250 EACH-WiLl NEED
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS IN THE
LOWER DEPARTMENTS.

Washington, ID. c.. August 9.--(Spec.
ial) war department has com
pleted plans for recognizing the ma
tional guard to conform to the new
French amy system
One plan is to take the national
guard at its present strength and mold
it into les new form without adding
any drafted men This would keep the
national guard purely volunteer or
ganization.
This plan is opposed by members of
the general staff but 1t may yet be
carried into effect if it develops when
complete reports Of present strength
are received that there are enough
volunteers to form the sixteen divis-
ions under the French plan.
Effect on Illinois Men.
The change that must be made i'm
Illinois is typical of the problem which
the department faced in changing it's
army over from the company unit to
the field army.
In Illinois seven regiments of infan
try of ! 800 men each, numbering l2,-
600 at war strength will be squeeze /
into four regiments Of 5000 men each,
or approximately the same total
strength. Tehre will be twelve com
panies of 2CO mel each to the regiment.
On its face this viii eliminate col
onels, lieutenant colonels, and ma jors
OF three regiments, but il was officially
announced today that this is not the
case. There will be only three bri-
gades, as at present to division but
1t was officially announced that This
will not eliminate the fourth brigadier
| He will be carried as an extra briga.
dier general in command of the re-
serve batalliOns for the division.
More Officers Needed.
Not only will places be found for all
the officers now carried by the guard,
but there will be need of additional Of
ficers, it was explained Organization
of additional machine gun units. four
companies to each division, in addition
to the three companies now included
| i'm anh nnip nd hn nI
mortar battery VIII take care of sCme
officers, and in addition officers of all
ranks below major general will be re-
quired for the reserve battalions back
of the line.
Whether the change in organization
will induce the war department tC
change its previously announced plan
OF refusing to recognize the Illinois ma
tional guard as division because il
was short one regiment of infantry. OF
two regiments with the colored regi
ment eliminated, of a division has no.
been announced
There are now three infantry regi
ments more than are needed 10 form
division. 1t would be possible. there
fore in the squeezing down process t,
give Illinois division. since the pres
ent strength of the Illinois guar'
comes close to reaching the divisional
strength of 10000 required.
Forces Ordered to Texas.
3 Illinois troops ordered to the Hous
ton camp consist Of the brigade heaC
3 quarters and the first. second an
third infantry forming the first br
gade; brigade headquarters and tn
fourth, fifth and sixth infantry, form
ing the second brigade; the first, Sc,
ond and third regiments forming III
field artillery brigade; the first reg
ment of engineers, company A sign;
corps, the sanitary train and the Sc
enth infantry. This eliminates tt
. eighth infantry, colored, which is lie
Il at home, and from these troops wi
II be formed the new units required |
II the French divisional organization.