Evening star., 1940-08-20
New Combat Teams
Siena|ize Birth Of
Modern Infantry
Battery Of Artillery Now
Supports Each Regiment
Of Foot Soldiers
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
Star Staff Correspondent.

Star Staff Correspondent
OGDENSBURG. N. Y, Aug. 90
A new infantry is being born.
1t is undergoing changes in Or
ganization and tactics as striking as
its changes in drill and formation,
and these changes are being has
tened not only by the lessons from
European battlefields, but by Regu-
lar Army observations of the Ma
tional Guard maneuvers here.
A fundamental change is the or
ganization of combat teams" with
a battery or more of artillery as
signed regularly to each regiment
of infantry, accompanying 1t every
where, drilling with it habitually.
Up to the present this artillery has
not been considered an integral
part of the infantry regiment, but
has only been assigned to duty from
an artillery regiment. But 1t is sub
ject to the orders OF the infantry
commander. This is close to the
organization, SO far as American
officers can determine, that now
is being used by the Germans with
devastating results.
Great concentrations of artillery
still are needed for mass lombard
ments of enemy positions and to
soften opposing troops for the in
fantry advance These will be re-
tained. But under the old system
artillery and infantry did not under
stand or even know each other.
When the infantry needed artillery
badly for definite job, which might
be entirely unexpected, it often could
not find it or make its precise wishes
known. There were alleged in
stances during the World War OF
American artillery shooting up its
own infantry because of misunder-
standings which arose on such oc-
caSions
Integrated Part Of Tactics.
Under the new system the battery
commanders sole responsibility is
to serve the infantry to which he
is attached He is never more than
a few miles behind, almost regard
less of the terrain. He is an in
tegrated part of infantry tactics
and is constantly in touch through
field communications with every
unit of the foot soldiers.
when infantry needs artillery u
it is explained, "it needs it in q
hurry, and now it can get it."
But still further transition Is
under way, partly inspired by the
practice of some European armies.
That is to provide the infantry with
its own guns, one battery to a
regiment and entirely detached from
the artillery command. This would
make for still closer cohesion. but
would force the regimental COM
mander to become also an artillery
officer. for which job he might not
be properly trained.
Another development under con-
sideration is to have one or more
observation planes attached to each
infantry regiment, entirely detached
from the Air Corps and serving all
the time only its own foot soldiers.
The same argument applies as in
the case of artillery.
Mortars Are Added.
Infantry troops are still primarily
rif1emen and machine gunnefs, but
here also striking changes are taking
place to give this fundamental arm
of the service a heavier punch.
Heavy and light mortars are being
added rapidly to its armament. Ma
chine gun companies are being
changed to "heavy weapon COM
panies," equipped with 30 and so
caliber machine guns and 8l-milli-
meter mortars.
The lot of the doughboy In some
ways has improved. but in other
ways it has become harder He
doesn't walk so much any more.
Eventually. it is probable. the in
fantry regiments will be entirely
motorized, with light trucks carrying
both soldiers and equipment, so that
nobody need ever set foot on the
ground in ordinary movements. This
is an ideal of the new triangular
division set-up, but it is far from
achievement as yet by the Regular
Army-to say nothing of the pack
Juggling National Guard divisions
now on maneuvers here.
At present, each infantry outfit
in the Regulars, it is explained to
the National Guard observers, has
enough trucks to carry all its heavy
weapons, its ammunition, its service
company and the headquarters
company. In addition there is motor
transport for about half the soldiers.
A shuttle system" has been adopt
ed. Half the men march, carrying
their packs and rifles for half day,
or even a whole day. Then they get
in trucks and the other half march.
This shutting, say the officers, re-
suits In much more rapid progress
and the old rate of about 20 miles
a day in open country is thing of
the past.
IT. is not entirely agreed whether