Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 181, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1917 — Entire Army to Be Reorganized On Alien Model. [ARTICLE]

Entire Army to Be Reorganized On Alien Model.

—The complete plans for- the -reorganization of all branches of the American army have been sent out to the various units of the army by the war department. Every single commissioned officer in the United States will receive word of the latest plans of the war heads for the reconstruction of the fighting forces from this country, as recommended by General Pershing. This action is the result of Pershing’s visit to Europe, where he has had the opportunity of studying the needs of the American army. Every regiment even down to the companies will be affected by the new orders. The administrative unit of the infantry arm hereafter will be a company of 250 enlisted men and six commissioned officers in place of something over 100 men and three officers. The company will be divide ed into four platoons, each in command of a lieutenant. There will be twq captains as first and second in command, one first lieutenant and three second lieutenants.

Reports of the review of American troops in France recently show that the plan has already been carried out in General Pershing’s forces. The object of assigning two captains to each company, it is understood, is to provide against the disorganization of the unit through the loss of its commander. The second captain, under the European system, does not go into battle line with the company if his senior is present. He is held as a reserve to reorganize the company if necessary. Under the new plan, each regiment will have three battalions of four companies, making a total of 3,000 men. Supplemented by the regimental headquarters supply and machine gun organizations, the strength of the new regiment will be brought to approximately 3,600 men as against a little more than 2,000 in existing war strength regiments. The war department Thursday approved the collar insignia to designate the three elements of the army. Regulars will wear the'standard U- S. monogram, National Guardsmen will year a similar monogram with the initials N. G., superimposed, and national army men will have the initials .N. A., superimposed on the U. S.