Evening journal., 1918-01-23
ARMY JOURNAL ASTIR
over DEL. REGIMENT
ContInuad From Flrsi Pase.

Continued From first fast.
is not based on anything official, so far
as can be learned. is that the Delaware
may be kept at Camp Dix. or
at some other camp In this country,
until the latter pant of this year. The
Army and Navy Journal says the plan
Is TO nm the regiment out with Della
warens under tho second draft As all
Dclawareans In the nrst draft quota
have not been called into the service as
yet, 10 is altogether lii.ely, IL the plan
referred 90 is followed. that the Della
ware Regiment VIII be kept In this
country for many months yet.
The Army and Navy journal, In its
leading edlto TAI in the current issue,
says
As a result Of the repeated represen-
talions on the part OF senator Sauls-
bury, Of Delaware the War Department
January a.. issued orders for the or
ganizaiion Of separate unit oi 0h Del
aware troops. both National Guard
and National Army. This indicates
complete reversal on the part OF the
War Department OF iis announced pol
icy against permitting local sentiment
90 interfere with plans for the new
forces. in fairness 90 the department
however. IL should be stated that The
action was taken over the vigorous
protests OF every army oGlcer interest
ed The Secretary OF War no nrst was
disposed to back bis military advisers,
and only approved The reorganization
after he had had a conference with The
President
Army officers, whose opinion was
sought on ,he matter. pointed ont that
not only would the training OF two di-
visions be set back for from three %
six months after having been brought
nearly 10 completion. but also that O
dangerous precedent would be cstdb-
/ lished which would bring on ihe de.
/ partmeni scores Of similar application.
such as had been refused 10 the past,
The Delaware Regiment. the firs
Infantry under the old organization
was divided. the Machine Gun Com
pany bclns sent 90 the 29th Naiiona
Guard division az Camp Mcclellan, Ala
bama. where % formed part of The iiOli
Machine Gun Battalion The remainde
of the regiment with the 3d and 5ii
New Jersey Infantry made up The iiil
Infantry In The same division Both O.
these units will bo shattered by The re-
cent change. Vacancies thus created 10
the 29ih division will be nlled by ihl
Withdrawal Of New Jersey draft con
NnFonis now attached 20 the seth Di
vision. National Army. The First Della
ware will be formed into a pioneel
Infantry Regiment at Camp Dix. re-
rcivinc an Delaware recruits under ihl
nrsi draft
"Tho new regiment will still De de
acieni. however, and ii is proposed L
bring 10 90 fun strength by the addi
ton OF Delaware recruits under th'
second d aft.
Civilian interference at Washington
with the management OF our army anl
navy along The lines Of military knowl
edge and experience has been a bloc
to progress IN the past especially d
war time. but it should not be per
mitted % have a part In the preser
great war Those who would ure
& the War Department against us bette
Judgment 90 alter plans based on mil
. tary necessity merely TO oblige popul
clamor should study The history
e our own Civil War and take warnlI
from It's experience. II the case
the Delaware troops is an cnterir
wedge I'm giving consideration TO pc
sonal preferences and 20 local col
siderai ons. rather than 20 the dictate
, of The greatest military efficiency
is a danga Gus precedent and one thi
Z should not be followed