New Britain herald., 1917-08-08
ARMY MADE OVER FOR SERVICE ABROAD
Army Divisions to Consist Of 19,- 900 Men Instead of 28,O00

Washington, Aug. s.-Br1g. Gen. Henry F. Mccain, adjutant general of the army, announced last night that a general order had been issued by the War department providing for i'm portant changes in the organization of the army to be sent abroad.
 The order provides for the creation of actual army corps and armies. Tn 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 much, but none of them operated as corps to any important extent. There will be three infantry divisions in each of the new army corps, There arc Is infantry divisions In the National Guard and requal number in the new national army approximately which means that probably ten 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 the ratio of artillery strength will be greatly in- creased in proportion to infantry. The machine gun arm also will be greatly enlarged. Each new army division
 
 men. At present, under war strength. each has 28,0o0 men. Under the new arrangement there vii be nearly 33 per cent. more army divisions than under the old method The reduc- :ion in size of the divisions grows out of the conditions of modern warfare on the trench front in France and Bel gium. The new American divisions will conform in size and organization practically to the units utilized by our Allies in Europe.
 Gen. McCain's Announcement.
 Gen. McCain's announcement fol- lows The ratio of artillery strength to infantry is greatly increased. A division will hereafter incude only four infantry regiments in two brigades in place of the old division of three brigades, each comprising three regi- ments of infantry. There will still be three regiments of field artillery in each division. Thus in the now or ganization, there will be three regi- ments of field artillery to every four regiments of infantry instead of the ratio of three to nine. In addition, a. trench mortar battery Is attached to each division.
 '"The machine gun arm is also ma terially enlarged. A machine gun bat talion of four companies has been made a unit of each division, in addi- tion to the three machine gun com panies included in each regiment.
 The American division will be 1 made by this order to conform prac- tically to the units utilized by the En- tente Allies. among whom a division J numbers approximately 1s,oo0 men. The reason for the change is that the | division as heretofore made up of about 2S,0oo men Is too unwieldly for l the demands of trench warfare. With | so large a unit, sure and swift com munication 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 reserve battalions will be provided. These will consist of SIP men each and are listed in the general order as separate training battalions.' The number of these battalions has not been made public. Details of regimental organ ization are also withheld for military reasons.
 "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.
 Three Divisions to a Corps.
 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 organit zat1on being as indicated:
 "One division headquarters. (same as at presently.
 "One machine gun battalion of four companies. (new).
 TWO infantry brigades of two regi- ments and one machine gun battalion, (four companies) each. (The pres ent division is three infantry brigades of three regiments each.)
 "One field artillery brigade of three regiments and one trench mortar bat tery, (same, except trench mortar bat tery 1. new).
 "One field signal battalion, (same).
 "One train headquarters and mili tary police. (same).
 "One ammunition train, (same).
 "One supply train. (same).
 Hona ar, 17neer train (aame except