Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-27
'bIG DEFICIENCY OF men
! FOR NEW NATIONAL ARMY
Whether Incomplete Divisions Will
Be Formed or Call for More Is.
sued, Not Yet Indicated.
'CoNPLETE REPORTS DELAYED
In Midst OF Mobilization OF First In
crement, Whole Fabric OF Infantry
Army Is Being Rcorganized on
s New Trench Warfare Plan.
10y Associated Press.

10y Associated Prcss.l
WARRINGTON, September 26.--Thcre
is little doubt now that large de-
:iciency of men VIII be shown when the
first increment OF the National Army
$4,000 mcn-has been mobilized
Seventeen National Guard divisions
must be brought up to war strength,
and several special service forces or
gained out of this reservoir. so the
number of drafted men remaining at
the environments hardly Will be suf-
: ficient to organize the sixteen National
Guard divisions ut full strength
basis. Whether incomplete divisions
Will be formed or a call for more men
issued has not been indicated.
Secretary Baker said to-day that
definite figures rs to the number OF
National Army men II would be neccs-
sary to transfer to tho National Guard
were not available. 4 dual process Of
organization at the guard encanp-
ments serves to delay complete reports.
Not only arc these divisions being mo-
billed for the first time. but in the
midst of that mobilization the whole
fabric Of the infantry army is being
reorganized on the new trench-war-
fare plan.
TOTAL OF 435 500 MEN IN
SEVENTEEN GUARD DIVISIONS
The fighting strength OF the now
division Is now fixed at 27.500 mon
The seventeen guard divisions on that
basis w!ll have total strength IF
4S7.5oG men.
The guard probably brought into the
Federal service total of not more
than 100000 men, possibly less. 1t
af
National Army men to All UP tho guard
divisions. Another 100000 OF the Ma
tional Army will &C TO the air SER
vice. and certainly as many more 10
other special services. That would
leave not moro than 100000 men TO
form the sixteen National Army di-
visions, which should have an aESrc-
gate war strength Of 49,, 900.
Secretary Baker pointed out to-day
some OF the difficulties that attended
reorganization OF the National Guard
for war purposes. While the sixteen
division plan for tho guard. since OK
tended to seventeen with the organiza-
tion Of the Forty-second. or Rain
bow" Division. as an odd one. the
whole fabric OF the division has
been changed. with the adoption OF
the European reE!mental and COM
pany standard, every guard regi-
ment, which was to be included in q
division. had to be expanded. Regi-
ments and parts of regiments arc he
ing consolidated to furnish the $500
men regimental units now desired.
TO KEEP FORCES AS MUCH
LOCALIZED AS POSSIBLE
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 tho spirit OF
the war army bill. which lays stress
on localization or 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 colonels and
regimental STATS Of the guard are
certain to be left without commands
since the number OF regiments has
been reduced. This has already proven
q fruitful source OF protest from State
officials. Thet-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
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