Evening star., 1937-08-15


~ strength of the World War
A division. but capable of hold
ing the same length Of battle line,
in which the infantrymen will ride,
not walk. to war, now is being organ
lied in Texas as a laboratory for the
ories on reorganization Of the Army
which have been in process Of evolu-
tion ever since the ArmiStice.
The new division will have no bri-
"brigadier generals"-a miSnomer,
since they no longer will be in COM
mand of brigades. One Of them will
be combat adviser to the division
commander. a sort of combat trouble
shooter Divested of the burden of
commanding brigade, he will be
available for service at any point of
trouble. He may command the divi-
sion advance or flanking or envel-
oping movement; the two regiments
in the battle line or the one in the
reserve, or the reorganized field ar
tillery regiment. The other brig adler
will be commander of the service of
supply of the division, which will be
entirely separated from the combat
units.
Every horse and mule will disappear
from the new division, which will be
equipped with approximately 500 mo-
tor vehicles of all types-sufficient to
carry every man in the division to the
combat zone and then to supply the
division while it is in the line There
will be no cavalry with the division,
but there will be an entirely new rec
onnaissance squadron, composed Of
swift, armored scout car and three
motor cycle platoons.
Semi-Automatic Rifles.
Semi-automatic rifles will replace
the time -honored single-shot rifles of
the infantry and the new division,
with It's total of 673 officers and H.
839 enlisted men-at full war strength
will develop the full fire power of the
World War division Of more than 49,
900 officers and men.
For years the Army has been at
work on the creation of the new divi-
sion-a reorganization made neces-
sary by the development Of new rapid
firing weapons and dependable, fast,
motorized equipment. More than
year ago, after pooling Of opinion on
the part OF all Of the officers OF the
Army tentative divisional organiza
ton along the new lines was created
on paper. For a year this paper,
streamlined division" has been the
basis of war problems and studies in
the Army's service schools.
Now, after the most thorough pos
sible study of every phase of the prob
lem a new division is being created
to undergo the acid test of actual field
service. Created around the I'd Divi-
sion, at Fort Sam Houston, Tex, it
will be brought, in all essential details,
to war strength by assignment OF
troops from all parts of the country.
For more than a month, beginning
about September Is, this new division
"A division which would starte and
bewilder the World War officer by its
thoroughgoing departure from virtually
all of the fundamentals Of organiza-
ton he knew-will serve as field
laboratory for tests which may result
in complete reorganization Of the
Army, National Guard and Organized
Reserve The test will include 900
mile march" on wheels, by the divi-
sion, from its base at at Fort Sam
Houston. snear San Antonio, to Min
eral Wells, Tex, and return.
Triangle Instead Of Square.
Behind the trial organization OF the
I'd Division is long story Of the need
of greater maneuverability Of the COM
bat troops World War was stabil-
lied war, with little opportunity for
maneuver. The primary aim OF Army
commanders in case of another waR
ing ability with crushing fire power.
The new division is designed for the
greatest possible fiexibility, coupled
with tremendous striking force.
Basis Of the World War division was
its four Infantry regiments OF more
than 1000 officers and men each, COM
posing two Infantry brigades. The
WV NJ AS0NCo AOIAlCO y oAAaAC, OllC
| regiment Of each brigade in line, the
other in reserve. 1t was q formation
intended to provide powerful, sus-
tanned effort on a stabilized front.
The square" was the fundamental
principle Of the World War division.
The fundamental principle of the
new division is not square, but a
triangle. There are but three Infan-
try regiments to the division-two for
the line, one for the reserve. It lacks
the sustained power of the square, but
is vastly more maneuverable. Its bat
tie line is thinner. but by virtue Of
semi-automatic rifles and increased
numbers of machine guns, its fire
power is equal to that of the bulkier
more unwieldy division Of the World
War.
Since July l the separate troop
units which will be rolled together In
the new I'd Division have been under.
soins preliminary training ct home