Evening journal., 1918-08-01
ARMIES NOW IN One
Fighting FORCE
Simply "U. S." Are Guards
men, Regulars, Draftees
or Reserve Corps
ALL ON SAME FOOTING
DURING PERIOD OF WAR

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-THE War De-
,artment plans for merging the Regular
Army. the National Army. the United
States Reserves and the National Guard
into one great cohesive force, whlch
Mad been in contemplation for some
weeks. have announced by Secretary
Baker and General Peyton c. March,
lhlef OF staff.
Hereafter there will he but one des-
Iqnation OF troops, the United States
Army. The various insignia OF the
National Army. National Guard ana
Reserve Corps viii be done away with
and officers and men OF all the services
will wear the simple u. s." which has
been confined 10 the personnel OF the
Regular Army.
Thus for the duration OF the war
every officer and every man in the army
will be placed on an equal footins. Inc
entire army will become, in fact, the
National Army and after the war there
will be readjustment which VIII take
care Of the services which have been
incorporated into the one big, elastic
and interchangeable force.
Regular Army officers, for instance,
will continue 20 retain their Regular
Army commissions and will be promot-
ed in the Regular Army according 10
fhe usual flow. All OF the Regular
Army officers virtually hold ranks in
the National Army far above their
commissioned grade in the regular
establishment. As temporary officers In
the National Army, therefore, they Will
receive the same consideration and
treatment as officers who have gone in
from tie Reserve Corps and from the
National Guard. After the war they
will resume the rank their commissions
In the regular establishment calls for.
Reserve officers are 10 be treated In
The same way. For the time being
they will retain their reserve commits
sion. but as they are promoted they
viii be promoted into the National
Army. After the war. If they wish 10
do so. they can resume their old rank
in the reserves on the inactive list.
With the State National Guards, how
ever. the situation is somewhat diner
ent. when they were incorporated into
the Federal service the State regiments
lost their identity as State units, ana
there is no way the Federal Govern
ment can dictate what their postwar
status shall be in the State organiza-
tions which may be reformed after the
close Of hostilities.
The National Guard officers and men
are 70 remove their insigna as 7. =
n. C." and state designations ana be.
come merely members of the one great
II. s" force which IS 20 fight until the
war Is won.
There were many sound and prac-
4icsl reasons which dictated the deci-
sion 70 merge the various contingent'
~ limited States troops into one Ma
tional Army. and a sentimental one
too.
m is not 70 he denied there have beer
some iealousies in the rapidly expanded
military service. There has been
feeling in some quarters that perhaps
the REGULAR Army officers were receiV
ing greater consideration than the Re
serve Corps men. the National Guar'
or National Army officers, and am
iealousies. however, groundless thel
mas have been, will be entirely wlpe'
ont. now that all officers are to nave
tho same status during the period o.
the war. 49,
Anv tendency which some Of th'
vounrer officers Of the Regular Arm!
may have had 10 "swank in a bit De
nause Of the difference in the insignia
on their uniforms will be eliminated
when all officers wear the same cola
THE unlncstion Of the services vii
also do away with any outward en'
visible distinction between the drafte
men the volunteers and the Nationa
Cuardsmen in the ranks. In short, IN
6qhting men at the front are all TO D
considered az strsight-way America
soldiers in one great force.
Tbe difference in insignia worn q
various eontingents in France has le
a. much confusion among the Allle
Commands. II has been difficult to eN
rIain tbe technical differences existin
among four classes Of officers and thre
classes OF enlisted men. and both frenc
and British have been puzzled by IN
complicated designations Of the Amer
.rhis has been particularly undesil
ahlen" said Secretary Baker YESTERDAY
"ss we have been anxious TO preseI
united front in Europe so that the PEE
nIe there may understand that ever
mart of the United States Is in the war
rhere will no longer be regular d
visions. National Guard divisions an
National Army divisions, but just plal
American divisions.
The Impression also has existed
each OF the subdivisions, Mr.. Bak,
said. that promotion was more rapid
fbe others. Now all officers viii De Q
fhe same footing so far as their ten
porary rank is concerned. The Res
lars. however, will retain their plac'
in the permanent list, as fixed by Ia,
II win be a great deal easier