The courier-index., 1921-05-27

"pSStSo oy SWiSs-
 complete outfit, a miniature army equipped with all necessary services, capable of taking the field at 24 hours notlce without the assistance of any outside elements and one of the best military units ever organized in the worlds history of armies-such Is the description that military men of the allied. neutral and former enemy na- tons apply to the American army of occupation as it is constituted today.
 That the efficiency of the training system of the American forces in Ger many, the excellence of their equip ment and their faultless military bear- ing are generally recognized through out Europe is shown by the fact that missions from various countries have either visited Coblenz during the past few months or have applied for per- mission to come to this base and get nrst-hand knowledge of how it is done.
 Inspected by Swiss Officers.
 few weeks ago the chief of staff of the Swiss army, accompanied by sev. eral officers, spent a week in COblenz as the guest of General Allen, the American commander, attended in- Spections, visited the barracks, re- viewed the troops and returned to Berne to tell the officers of the Swiss army that the American army on the Rhine was ''the most up-to-date, the best equipped and the best looking military outfit of all the armies of the world"
 commission from the Netherlands made similar visit and was equally fayorably impressed and now the Fin nish government has asked permission to send commission to COblenz.
 Should circumstances require the American army on the Rhine to move against an enemy or to occupy further territory 10000 infantrymen composed of the First and Second brigades would furnish the bulk of the fighting force.
 Their advance would be guarded against surprises and ambush by 300 cavalry and IS airplanes, which would do the scouting before the moving in- fantry. Three trained pilots are avail able for each plane in case of airmen meeting with accidents.
 One thousand artillerymen, serving eight batteries of field guns, would be on hand to supply barrage should it become necessary.
 Cobienz Would Serve as Base.
 Three hundred men of the signal corps battalion would look after tele- phone and telegraph communications, with the base at Coblenz. The rail- way engineers battalion, which is re- ceiving constant practical training on of the Rhine, which they are operat- ing, would, with the assistance of the motor transports corps, attend to the service of supplies of the expedition ary force.
 The engineers First battalion would throw pontoon bridges ever such streams as were traversed in the ad- vance. Six ambulance companies, as- sisted by medical corps of 600, es- tablishing field hospitals, would give first help to the wounded before their evacuation to the base hospital.
 Only one arm used in modern war fare Is lacking-tanks. As the officer remarked, facetiously: we have no tanks of any sort in this army"
 There is a macbine-gu section with every company instead of ons to every battalion, as formerly.
 Thus, while the army of occupation in Germany numbers just little mora than half the effectivss of one Ameri- can division on a war footing, 1t is. a real army in the fullest sense of the term.