The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-27
BOYSOF 9TH
EMBARK SOON
New England Draft Men on
Way-0thers Prepare
to Sail.
MANY TROOPS SHIFTED
Big Reduction Of n. Y. Divi-
sion Due More to Changes
Than Casualties.
MANY TROOPS SHIFTED


AMERICAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. Nov. 26.-The Seventy sixth
Division of the American Army, re-
duced 10y replacement drafts TO sixty
one officers and 1000 men, has arrived
'at the port OF st. Nazaire and is en-
barking for home.
The Twenty-seventh Division. totalS
ling ASA officers and 1851 men. COM
posed largely OF the old New York
National Guard, and the Thirtieth Divi-
sion, totalling ASS officers and 1909
men, both OF which operated on the
British front. have been withdrawn
from the lie Mans area and probably
will embark in few days.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-News from
France to-day that the Twenty-sey-
enth and Thirtieth divisions, which
have been fighting with the British
Fourth Army, have been withdrawn,
with only approximately 1880 officers
and men in each, does not mean that
these organizations have been reduced
TO less than half Of their normal
strength in the severe fighting on the
British front before the signing OF the
armistice.
Army officers recalled to-day that
only the infantry and machine gun
units of these divisions went into ac-
tios with the British forces. the artil
lery being used elsewhere. 1t also was
regarded as more than probable that
the infantry and machine gun units
were reduced in number so as to make
the division conform in size TO the
British divisions with which they were
operating.
New York Troops Praised.
The British divisional unit numbers
about 12,500 men. The Twenty-sev
enth Division is the New York Ma
tional Guard division commanded by
Ma jcr- Gen. John +. O'Ryan. the only
National Guard officer to have served
through the wer with that high rank.
The Thirtieth Division was composed
Of Tennessee, North Carolina and
South Carolina National Guard and
was known as the wild Cat" Division,
Both organizations saw heavy ac-
ton with the British. and were highly
commended by British officers for their
desperate fighting when Marshal
Haig's forces were smashing the Hin
denburg line in northern France early
in the fall and in later engagements.
Their losses undoubtedly have been
heavy, but It is not regarded as prob
able that half their original strength
figured in the casualty lists.
So far as is known here no date for
the return Of these or any other divi-
sions from France has been fixed. Sec
retary Baker said to-day that some OF
the divisional organizations would ar
rive home before Christmas. as the
transport facilities will be used in NOV
ine casuals and sick and wounded.
Ola Lines Wiped Out.
When the divisions DO return from
France they will bear little resem-
blance in enlisted personnel to the
same divisions when they started
overseas. Application Of the one army
theory to all the forces and the sys-
TENS Of replacement employed TO fill
gaps in front line organizations will
be found TO have obliterated TO very
large degree the lines which before
their departure divided the divisions
into National Guard. National Army
or regular organizations.
The fact was sharply illustrated to-
day by news from France that the
Seventy sixth Division had reached Its
embarkation port on the other side
with n full strength OF 81 officers and
1000 men. 1t went over filled sub
stantially TO flhl strength OF $4,000
men.
The Seventy-s sixth is the National
Army Division trained at Camp
Devens, Mass. II was composed Of
selective service men from part OF
New York state. New Hampshire.
Maine. Vermont, Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut and Rhode Island. From the
time OF its arrival In France. however,
1t has been depot division, from
Continued on Second Page.