The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-08-15

States gives Congress the power
to raise and support armies and
designates the President as Com
mander- in Chief.
The Army is divided into three
main sections. The Regular Ar
my, the National Guard, and the
Organized Reserves. Under tie
President, the Secretary of War
Is responsible for running the
Army. Under him is the Assist
ant Secretary of War, response
BILE for getting the military sup
plies for the Army, and for ade-
quate provision for modifying
materials and industrial organiza-
tons essential to wartime needs.
1t is the blueprint and general
outlines laid down by the Assist
ant Secretary of War over a per-
iod of years that form the basis
of what are known as War Plans.
To facilitate the carrying out OF
these plans, the President appoin-
ted the National Defense Advis-
DRY Commission.
The General Staff
The soldier head of the Army
is the Chief of Staff. He is res
ponsible for planning, developing,
and executing the Army's pro-
gram for national defense. He has
to train a million new men, to
make an army of them. There are
five Divisions under the Chief OF
Staff, each responsible for sepa-
rate function.
The Personnel Division takes
care of the fighting men OF the
Army. It enlists, classifies, as
signs, promotes, pays, transfers,
retires and discharges. 1t is res
ponsible for making the best use
of our manpower. The Military
Intelligence Division is RESPONSE
BILE for furnishing all kinds OF
military information.
The Operations and Training
Division handles the training OF
men from the time they join till
they are ready for duty, and be-
vond that carries cut the Voca-
tional and educational work to lit
the men for new duties and new
techniques.
The Supply Division provides
for all equipment, buildings, stor-
age. TRANSPORTATION, and distribu-
ton of supplies, care of the sick,
and for keeping track OF army
equipment.
The War Plans Division is res
nonsible for the use of our armed
forces in war, the location OF for
tifications, and for the general
strategy of defense.
Directly under the Chief OF
Staff comes the Regular Army
which is the full-time profession
al part of our land forces. 1t IS
always ready, at the drop OF a
bomb. to 60 into action as the
spearhead of our initial protective
force. It is designed to be aug
mented by the Organized Reserve
and the National Guard in time
of need. Together these forces
make up our initial protective
force. This force, with the Navy
would act to defend the nation
while we prepare additional
units needed for subsequent ac-
ton.
The success of this plan de-
ponds On equipment for the mi
tial protective force, and having
material ready at once for addl-
tional forces. That is Why the
President has asked for the ao-
ditional material for 100000 men
over the standing Army OF J.
100000 he requested.
The Fighting Arms
The arms, the fighting units OF
our Army, are the Infantry cav
alrv. Field Artillery, Coast Ar
tillery, Air Corps, Corps of Engi-
neers, and the Signal Corps. AT
the present time, the mechanical
forces in the Cavalry, the imam
try, and some Field Artillery have
been transferred to a new ar
mored force, just experimental
w organized. If the force per-
forms as expected, it may become
a new fighting arm, incluolng
several armored divisions OF the
tvpe of the now famous "Panzer
divisions of the German Army
These divisions, comprising about
1910 of the German Army, are
what made the "Blitzkrieg" pos
sible.
The Infantry is the main fight
ing part of the Army. In a battle
the Infantry slugs it out with the
enemy. In order to understand,
il