Evening star., 1925-07-26
PLAN NINE E-D|V|S|ON
EMERGENCY ARMY
War Department Orders Re-
serve Officer Force to
Inactive Units.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
New mobilization plans announced
yesterday by the War Department call
for the assignment of enough reserve
officers to inactive units of the Reg
ular Army so that the full nine-divi
sion strength of the Regulars could
be recruited up TO war footing with
a minimum of delay in the event Of
war emergency.
The project is another step of the
postwar national defense policy and
represents a final decision to retain
the three active divisions of the Reg
ulars as they are for war service and
not to split them up for expansion.
Orders Issued.
Orders have been issued to all corps
area and branch commanders to work
out the tables of reserve officers neces-
sary to bring the present peace
strength Of the Regular Army at
home-three divisions and six rein
forced brigades-up to the full nine
division strength they would have in
war. Only reserve officers of World
War experience are eligible for these
assignments. as the forces probably
would be called quickly into action.
A limited number of Regular Army
officers also will be assigned to the
inactive units, together with non
commissioned officers for essential
key positions. 1t is assumed under
the project it would be possible to
fill these organizations up quickly
in a war emergency with volunteers.
the great majority of whom had had
previous peace-time service in some
combatant branch OF the Army.
All Branches Provided For.
In addition to the six Infantry divi-
sions to be rounded out with reserve
officer personnel. corps and Army
troops. including heavy artillery, Air
Service commands, a division of
Cavalry and all the trains, supply and
maintenance units, harbor defense
railway batteries and the like that
would go with a full nine-division
strength will be similarly provided
for.
The move contemplates that the
three active Infantry divisions now
maintained would be Immediately
available to move out, needing only
the recruits to fill the units to full
war strength. AS volunteers with
previous military experience can be
relied upon to fill up these commands,
the policy contemplates that these
three divisions will always be avail
able for actual front-line duty when
needed, the remaining six Regular di-
visions to follow them up as soon as
possible with mobilization Of the Ma.
tional Guard and Organized Reserve
divisions to proceed in order there
after.
In the World War, when the Reg.
ular Army began its mobilization,
the policy followed practically
amounted to breaking up each exist
ing regiment into it's three constituent
battalions and then recruiting each
The result was that virtually no unit
of the Regulars was Immediately
available for service.
Basis of Expansion.
The new policy, which ,was dis
cussed at the general staff conference
called by Maj. Gen. Hines before the
July defense muster, Is aimed at
correcting that defect and holding a
substantial part of the Regulars ready
for instant service, with only such
recruiting of experienced enlisted vol
unteers as is necessary to go from
peace u WdT hc CO
would be ready to give a good ac-
count of themselves, even without
that recruiting, should the need arise.
Reserve assignments to the inactive
regular units will be made largely by
corps area commanders responsible
for those units. The instructions
provide that the colonel and all other
field officers of each Infantry or Ar
tillery regiment or it's equivalent in
special troops shall be Regulars, the
other officers to come from the R&-
serve Corps. The six present rein
forced brigades of Infantry form the
basis of. the expansion, each to be
developed into full division, with
the brigade commanders assuming
command pending other assignments.
Corps area commanders were directed
to expedite their recommendations as
to selections of reserve officers, the
instructions adding:
THE policies governing promotion
of reserve officers for the above pur-
pose will be announced after your
recommendations have been re-
eeiveds"