With French and British armies at their maximum strength, and all efforts to dispossess the enemy from his firmly intrenched positions in Belgium and France failed, it was necessary to plan for an American force adequate to turn the scale in favor of the Allies.  Taking account of the strength of the central powers at that time, the immensity of the problem which confronted us could hardly be overestimated.  The first requisite being an organization that could give intelligent direction to effort, the formation of a General Staff occupied my early attention.

[Sidenote:  The division.]

[Sidenote:  A corps comprises six divisions.]

After a thorough consideration of allied organizations it was decided that our combat division should consist of four regiments of infantry of 3,000 men, with three battalions to a regiment and four companies of 250 men each to a battalion, and of an artillery brigade of three regiments, a machine-gun battalion, an engineer regiment, a trench-mortar battery, a signal battalion, wagon trains, and the headquarters staffs and military police.  These, with medical and other units, made a total of over 28,000 men, or practically double the size of a French or German division.  Each corps would normally consist of six divisions—­four combat and one depot and one replacement division—­and also two regiments of cavalry, and each army of from three to five corps.  With four divisions fully trained, a corps could take over an American sector with, two divisions in line and two in reserve, with the depot and replacement divisions prepared to fill the gaps in the ranks.

[Sidenote:  Plan of training for the infantry.]

Our purpose was to prepare an integral American force which should be able to take the offensive in every respect.  Accordingly, the development of a self-reliant infantry by thorough drill in the use of the rifle and in the tactics of open warfare was always uppermost.  The plan of training after arrival in France allowed a division one month for acclimatization and instruction in small units from battalions down, a second month in quiet trench sectors by battalion, and a third month after it came out of the trenches when it should be trained as a complete division in war of movement.

[Sidenote:  The school center at Langres.]

[Sidenote:  British and French officers assist.]

Very early a system of schools was outlined and started, which should have the advantage of instruction by officers direct from the front.  At the great school center at Langres, one of the first to be organized, was the staff school, where the principles of general staff work, as laid down in our own organization were taught to carefully selected officers.  Men in the ranks, who had shown qualities of leadership, were sent to the school of candidates for commissions.  A school of the line taught younger officers the principles of leadership, tactics, and the use of the different