The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-08
AMERICAN ARMY
RECAST ON MODEL
USED IN EUROPE
Old Division of $4,000 Men
Reduced to 19,0O0-Less
Unwieldly.
ALLIES TO SEEK
UNIFORM LAWS
French Deputy on Way to Ask
U. S. to Join In Move
to That End.

U. >. to Join LIN move
to That End.
Washington, Aug. 8LBrig. Gen
Henry P. Mccain, Adjutant General
of the army, announced last night that
general order has been issued by the
War Department providing for 1mpor-
tant changes in the organization OF
the army to be sent abroad.
The order provides for the creation
of actual army corps and armies. In
the American army these existed only
on paper ever since the close OF the
civil war There were army corps
in the Spanish war designated as such,
but none of them was operated as
corps to any important extent. There
will be three infantry divisions In each
of the new army corps. There are
16 infantry divisions in the National
Guard and an equal number In the
new national army approximately,
which means that probably 10 army
corps will be formed out Of the guard
and draft army forces. Each army
will consist of three or more corps.
In the reorganization announced
last night the ratio of artillery
strength will be greatly increased in
proportion to infantry. The ma
chine gun arm also will be greatly
enlarged. Each new army division
will consist. of approximately $4,000
men. At present, under war
strength, each has $4,000 men. I'm
der the new arrangement there Will
be nearly 33 per cent. more army d.
visions than under the old method.
The reduction in size of the divisions
grows out of the conditions of mod
ern warfare on the trench front in
France and Belgium. The new
American divisions will conform in
size and organization practically to the
units utilized by our Allies In Eur
ope.
Gen. Mccain's announcement fol-
lows:
1.-THE ratio of artillery strength to
infantry is greatly increased. a d.
vision will hereafter include only four
infantry regiments in two brigades in
place of the old division of three brig
AIDES, 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 will be three regiments of field
artillery to every fou1 regiments OF
infantry instead of the ratio of three
to nina In addition, a trench mortar
battery is attached to each division.
THE machine gun arm is also ma
terially enlarged. A machine gun bat
talon of four companies has been
made a unit of each division, in adj
dition to the three machine gun COM
panies included in each, regiment.
1.-THE American division will be made
by this order Ito conform practically
Is he INV mi
Allies, among whom a division num-
bers approximately $4,000 men. The
reason for the change Is that the di-
vision as heretofore made up of about
%, 600 men is too unwieldy for the de-
mands of trench warfare. With SO
large a unit, sure and swift commu-
nication with all parts is difficult. The
problem to be met was basically one
of mobility for the peculiar needs of
fighting on the western front.
THE smaller sized units call for
maintenance of all units at full fight
ing strength. For this purpose re-
serve battalions will be provided.
These will consist Of 612 men each
and are listed in the general order as
separate training battalions. The
been made public. Details of regi-
for military reasons.
1.-The new order provides for army
corps and armies, units which have
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 head
quarters. and certain army corps
troops not specified. Each army will
normally consist Of three or more
army corps, army headquarters, and
certain army troops not specified.
| Under the new order each infantry
division will be composed as follows
the changes from the present organ
ization being as Indicated:
"One division headquarters, (sarne
as at presently
"One machine gun battalion of foul
companies, Inew.)
| Two infantry brigades of two regi
nents and one machine gun battalion
| flour companies) each. (The pres
| ent division is three infantry brigade
| Of three regiments each.)
| zone field artillery brigade of thre
| regiments and one trench mortar bat
terry, (same, except trench mortar bat
terry is new.)
s'One field signal battalion, (same.
zone train headquarters and mill
try police, (same.)
Zone ammunition train, (same.)
"One supply train, (same.)
"One engineer train, (same, excep
| that pontoon and searchhghts section
| are not included in new plan.)
Zone sanitary train of four fell
hospital companies and four ambu
| lance companies, (same.)
1.-THE new Organization provides 70
no cavalry in the division. The di
vision as at present constituted call
for one regiment of cavalry. Tn,
| present division also calls for one aer,
squadron, while the new plan call
| for none, the aircraft units being 9th
| erwise provided for.
| THE order specifies 16 divisions 0
| the national army to be organized ant
| numbered from rs to 81, both inclu
| sive, and states the numbers to b
| given to each of the different unit
| in each division. r. provides tina
the Is divisions of the National Guar,
| now organized shall be reorganized t.