New-York tribune., 1918-05-22
100000 Men
Form 1st u. s.
Army in Field
Regulars, Guards and Draft
Organized by Pershing
Under Gen. Liggett
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)

(Spectdt dispatch to The Trtbune)
WASHINGTON, May 21.--America's s
first field army is in service in France,
according to information reaching War
Department officials to-day from
abroad The army, composed of two
army corps, each made up of one regu-
lar army division, one National Army
di ision and one division of National
Guard troops, is largely an experiment
tai proposition, but the efficiency of the
organization thus far has convinced
General Pershing, it is said, that future
shipments of men will be formed into
army corps and field armies as their
numerical strength warrants.
T The Held army organization is under
the temporary command of Major GEN
eral Hunter Liggett, the senior officer
IT the major generals now IN foreign
service. He is expected to be selected
Us the field army commander if the ex-
perimental organization is made per.
manent. Liggetu was selected to, COM
mand the first army corps formed in
the overseas forces, and his corps, with
that temporarily commanded by Major
General Charles T. Moncher, command
er of the Rainbow National Guard di-
vision, make up the field army
Bjornstad Is Chief of Staff
The chief OF staff OF the field army
is Colonel Albert ". 6jornstad, who
is considered one of the most expert
organizers of men in the service.
Bjornstad's appointment is understood
to be due to his exceptional executive
qualifications. He went to France as
chief of staff Of Major General Morri-
sons division. Upon the return of
General Morrison to this country, to
assume charge of the training division
OF the War College, Bjornstad was re-
lieved and made an instructor in the
staff school maintained by General
Pershing. His experience in this capac-
ity, army men declare, has enabled him
to absorb the ideas of General PERISH
ing on army corps and field army or
carnations, and his appointment as
chief of staff therefore was the natural
sequence.
While the War Department will not
authorize the publication of any fig
ures on the strength of the American
1orCeS ABROAD, except the statement
made by Secretary Baker early this
month that the 100000 figure had been
passed." the formation of Pershing's
first field army indicates that sufficient
forces are overseas 20 warrant the ac-
tual beginning of army formations.
Original Plan Abandoned
The original plan of having armv
corps contain six full divisions, two
each of the regulars, National Army
and National Guard, Secretary Baker
yesterday announced. had been aban
doned. Two reasons were advanced for
this-the fact that the American
troops are being brigaded with the
British and French and the further fact
that the numerical strength of Ameri-
can divisions was so great that six full
divisions would prove too large for
man@uvring.
The reported field army, two divi-
sions each from the regulars, National
Army and National Guard, however.
will bring the total strength to little
less than 100000 men, which army Of
ficials declare is not too bulky for
proper handling.
Secretary Baker was without con-
firmatioa of the reported organization
of Americas first army corps. "There
has been no mention of the subject in
any of the dispatches I have received
from France" he said.