The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-28
Practically All Branches
of the Service Are To
Be Reduced AS To Per-
sonnel In Accordance
With the Will of the
People AS Expressed
Through Congress

Washington, Ang. 2S.-The new re-
organization plan for the army,
drafted by the general staff in order
to meet reductions in personnel in ac.
cordance with congressional acts fix
ing the enlisted strength at 1875 DOR
men. calls for sweeping changes in
the number and size of tactical units,
an explanatory statement issued to-
day by the War Department shows a
large number of such units which will
be either further reduced in strength
made inactive. or demobilized.
Only 81 regiments of infantry will
remain in the combat service as
result of the reduction. as compared
to 64 regiments called for under the
National Defense Act of 1920. The
Cavalry regiments are reduced from
1G in 1920 to IA; the Field ARTILLERY
regiments from 33 in 1920 to 10; plus
separate battalions; Cast Artillery
regiments from 8 to 4; plus those at
fixed defenses. and the engineer regi-
ments from 13 in 1920 to 7.
In addition to the reduction in num-
ber the infantry regiments. the state
ment said. have been reduced in
strength from 1890 men to 1850. and
the Cavalry regiments from SIS to
GAL.
The 18th and 18th Infantry regi.
mentS were reduced to 712 enlisted
men, respectively, while those made
inactive, with records assigned to ac-
tive associates and provision made
for rehabilitation. included the 36th.
%7th. 39th. 10th. 4lst. 47th. 51st, 52nd.
53rd, 54th. Goth and 6lst Regiments,
as well as the 18th Light Tank Bat
TALON, the Goth Infantry Brigade
Headquarters Company, and the 10th
Tank Company. Those demobilized
with records turned in to the Ad-
jutant General and no provision made
for rehabilitation included the 44th,
46th, 4Sth. 49th. 50th. 55th. seth. 5Sth,
59th. G2 63rd and Gath Regiments.
Nine training center troops of cav
airy were demobilized and the 9th
Cavalry Regiment was ordered re-
turned to the United States for sta
tiOn. at Fort Riley Kansas.
Other organizations made Inactive.
demobilized, or converted into smaller
units included several in the Field
Artillery service, the Coast Artillery,
Air Service, Engineers, Signal Corps,
Quartermaster Corps. Ordnance De
partment and Chemical Warfare SER
vice.
In the redistribution of the Army
within the United States" the state
ment said, use is being made of per
manent posts as far as possible. and
the policy of Withdrawing from can
tonments is being continued"
OF the camps, distinguished from
cantonments, used for mobilization
during the war, the statement pointed
out, all have been disposed of except
Camp McClelland, Alabama. which
was refined for training purposes in
the Fourth Corps Area.
or the 16 national army canton
ments. Camp Devens, Mass. Dix, N. j.,
Custer, Mich. and Funston Kans., are
retained for training purposes in their
respective Corps Areas. Camp Travis,
Texas, was retained as the Second Di-
vision station and the principal train
ing area for the Eighth Corps.
Camp Lewis. Washington, was re.
tanned as the principal area for the
9th Corps. and permanent station for
the Third Division, while Camp Mead.
Maryland was kept for training pur-
poses of the Bird Corps Area.
"The reduction of officers" the
statement added. "as provided in the
last appropriation act has begun. but
will not be completed until December
Is. A Board of General Officers is
now meeting daily at the War De-
partment."
A tabulation of commissioned per.
sonnel to be reduced by grades,
showed 500 colonels to be reduced to
42O; 667 lieutenant-colonels to SIT.
2.191 majors to 1875: 4.3S5 captains
to 9,150; 3.026 first-lieutenants to
1857; and second lieutenants to be
increased from 130 to 1.771. These
reductions will be made from officers
on the promotion list. while Others on
the non promotion list will be reduced
from 1 1926 to 9S3 in the Medical De-
nartment; from 234 to 15S In the
Dental Corps; from 15S to 126 in the
Vetinarv Corps; and 1873 to 70 in the
Motor Ambulance Corps.
"This Is a minimum reduction Of
1876 par cent. or approximately OF
one officer ont of every seven" the
statement said, adding that when the
final reduction in commissioned per
sonnel is completed. reassignment
will he made of officers to every
branch and arm of service and to the
various organizations Of the army.