Evening star., 1939-11-26

i. S. Builds Streamlined Armv
To Bolster National Defense
Congress Will Be Asked for Additional Sums for
Guns and Equ pment, as Well
as for More Personnel
RvJ Josoh
By Joseph S. Edgerfon.

Amid scenes reminiscent of our major
war efforts, the United States Army to-
day is concentrating in the southern
part Of the country five infantry and
two cavalry divisions for the largest
scale peacetime maneuvers in American
history. The concentrations are part of
a permanent program of Army expan-
sion and training intended to overcome
known deficiencies in our defenses.
The plan will give the United States
by next spring the largest, best CO.
ordinated, best trained and relatively
best equipped ground army in its peace
history 1t will be effected by Profound
ly reorganizing and expanding every
combat arm and service along the lines
of the new "streamlined" division which
has been in process of development since
the World War.
The budget message which President
Roosevelt will send to Congress next
January is expected to call for an initial
protective force" of 100000, divided be-
tween the Regular Army and National
Guard. The initial protective force plan
contemplates an ultimate establishment
of 100000.
Army of 100000 Is Goal
ITO meet the challenge of the time
we should, in my judgment, provide the
Army right now with sufficient funds
for the training, the organization and
the equipment of an initial protective
force of regulars and National Guards
men of at least 900 000," Assistant Secre-
tary of War Louis johnson said recently.
such a force, while larger than any
before in our peacetime history, is COM
mensurate with the grave responsibilities
that we at this time hold toward the
American Hemisphere"
Endorsed by President Roosevelt, the
views of Col. johnson are regarded as
a statement of the goal to be attained
by the Army with funds to be appro-
priated by Congress during the coming
session.
These plans call for addition of $4,000
enlisted men to the total of 227 900 au-
thorized by President Roosevelt as the
present total Regular Army strength
under the terms of his Executive order
declaring a state of limited emergency
That order placed the National Guard
strength at 5000. The total of 235 900
for the regulars and 28O 900 for the
Guard is IS 900 short of the 6000 900 total
and indicates expansion of the Guard to
100000 as part of the new program.
Training for Defense.
Col Johnsons definition of the scope
and mission of the initial protective force
of 100000 is important
"You will notice." he explained, that
this is force designed to be used on
this hemisphere; it does not suggest in
the slightest training for warfare over
seas. AS we see matters today, adequate
defense does not require the training of
an army for operations beyond the sea.
But this relatively small and strictly
defensive land force does need adequate
tools with which to work They must
have modern guns and ammunition;
modern tanks, combat cars and air
planes; all the materiel necessary to en-
able them to serve as first line of land
defense in any emergency.
Further, these must be M-day troops
That means they must always be pre-
pared for any contingency. They must
be ready to serve when needed-not after
the development of mobilization or pro-
duction plans which can be made effec-
tive only in a distant tomorrow They
must be on call today, and every day.
Present plans, some of them still in
the formative stage, call for the organ
ization of the Army into a number of
corps-perhaps nine, though the number
is not definite-composing four field
armies. Each corps would be composed
of one Regular Army division and two
National Guard divisions, with the nee
essary corps troops.
Five Divisions Assembling.
For its Southern maneuvers this win
ter and next spring the War Depart
ment is assembling five infantry divi-
sions.
Concentration of the 1st Division, at
Fort Benning. Ga, was completed No
vember II. This division has been sta
toned at 10 different posts in the North
eastern United States. During the last
week in October the Army transport Re-
public landed So officers and 1,761 en-
listed men of the 1st Division at Charles
ton, S. c., as the first contingent of the
Fort Benning concentration.
The I'd Division is being assembled at
Fort Sam Houston, Tex; the Sd Division
at Fort Lewis, Wash; the 5th Division
at Camp Mcclellan, Alabama, and the
9Th at Camp Jackson, S. C.
Corps troops are being assembled at
Fort Bragg, N. c., and Fort Knox, KY,
with few at Camp Ord, Calf.
The cavalry concentrations will be at
Fort Bliss. Ell Paso, Tex.
All five infantry divisions are to be of
the so-called "streamlined" type and will
be brought to peace strength of 433 off,
GERS, warrant officers and 8,517 enlisted
men. 1t is composed of division head
quarters, three infantry regiments, two
field artillery regiments, one engineer
battalion, one quartermaster battalion,
one medical battalion one signal com:
pany, one military police company and
attached chaplains and medical per-
sonnel.
Three Battalion Regiment.
The infantry regiment, with a peace
strength of So officers and 1,67O enlisted
men, is organized into three battalions,
each composed of three rife companies
and one heavy weapons company. Rifle