Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-30
PHILADELPHIA UNITS
SPLIT UP AT MEADE
Men Taken From Ranks to
Fill Deficiencies in Other
Regiments
ACTION MAY BE TAKEN
Chance to Retain Some City Troops
Together by Move in
Washington

By a star eorrCSpoHdcut
Camp Meade, Admiral. Md, March 80.
Unless somebody gets busy with the
war chiefs in Washington the All-Phila-
delphia regiments at this camp will lose
their identity.
AS everything is within the realm of
possibility, there is. still fighting
chance to retain the home units as
sImonpure Quaker city outfits, but
time Is precious, and as the War De-
partment is already busy on plans that
will destroy the complexion of these or
ganizations. 1t is necessary for some-
body to get busy, and very quickly.
To make the statements perfectly
clear and to emphasize the necessity for
immediate action it is imperative that
the folks back home should know the
true status of the Liberty Division and
the regiments that represent the third
largest and richest city in the country.
Here are the facts:
The constant raids on the Little Penn
outfit have so depleted its ranks that 1t
has lost the treasured, opportunity or
being the first National Army division
In France. This much Is a certainty
and will not be denied in Washington.
Six weeks ago the Liberty Division
was slated to lead the new army to
France. but when the cXigencies of war
demanded the immediate cmbarkaton
Of troops the war chiefs made the dis
covery that the Liberty Division was
80 depleted of men and so poorly
equipped that such step was mad
visable.
Briefly, the city of Philadelphia and
the great cluster of towns and cities In
eastern Pennsylvania were forced TO
( nav a heavy penalty for sending such
efficient sons to Camp Meade. 1t sent
such an army of expert mechanics. en-
giners, telegraphers, truck drivers ana
clerks to camp that they were drafted
in droves to make up the deficiencies 1T
the personnel of other divisions. IheS
were drafted in quotas that ranged from
small groups Of four men to 4oo' ahu
the drafts still continue. Now inc
div,siou ia so depleted that It is far
below. SO far as men arc concerned
three other National Army organiza
tions IT,,
Even loss of such an honor as neine
the first In France could be forgiven
but according to the plans OF tne wa
r Department the various city anu o'a.'
regiments are to lose their idehtty oe
I fore going "over there -...,,,
1t is the plan of the War Department
TO send the National Army d,V'sions "
h France as soon as possible, ana one oI
sanitation is now being made ready io'
an early departure. 1t is still below wa,
4 strength. but, to complete its personiiei
"A trained men will be drawn from Ltt'
Penn and other camps ,,..,,
After that unit sails another diNlsioi
will be put In ship-shape order WhIe'
means that further drafts WIZ De H,au
on sister divisions. The posl'loh 'ta i
the Liberty Division occupies om lar
"saiI IN France list" cannot be ascer
tained. hut this much is known. 1t WI
n in ali probability make its departur
X during the early summer, ana 10 &c
the trained men that are necessary =
fiji the ranks 1t will mean drafts o.
other camps. IL,
How this will destroy the conipieNi9,
Of the Philadelphia regiments Is In"a
plain when we consider that the Siot
Infantry and 3l9th Field Artlller
Quaker City outhts) are not NOR
than az per cent filled. To hnd me
D who can fill the gaps the war chlei
& must call men from the South an
a. Middle West states. so that Phllaue
phia, instead of having two reglnen,s
represent her in the Natlonai Arnl d
''oyer there" will have, regiments iIIau
up Of men from Kentucky, ONO 's,,nV u,n,a
Tennessee and half dozen other otate
n The 3l5th Infantry has approximate
"A 1000 men, and TO bring 1t up 10 W.
"a strength 1900 men are needed, III I, ~
war chiefs would put an endN'o u
drafts. the big gap in this regiment al
the gan in the 312th Field Artlliel
" could be filled with newly selected lll'
from Philadelphia. Three months wou
= be sufficient to discipline these men a.
with the additional three months lraa 's'a
Il ing in France, that has been presfripe ,t
the regiments would be in eNceiie
shape and still retain their local ,ueh.,' an,n
~ "A What applies to the all-phiiaueip'.
> !, giments applies TO the Baltimore ,J,
NJ knt and TO the all-Pennsyivania u",
M Z. anon include the 3i4th and 8ioth
fantry. Slt,h Field Artillery 3o4th ~,
munition Train and smaller Organic
tions omoo
The situation. as viewed by olilee
at this camp. is anything but ples "a,
for they had hoped that the os's,,
would go to France made up OF
original garrison.
Nine men were today baptized
the main auditorium Of the knights
Columbus. Chaplain George bryan
camp chaplain Of the organization, co
dlcted the baptismals, The men = =
cdAyepts to the Catholic churcn.
lorr were bapttzed early ~ 'ne We
t&,y s'll