The Washington herald., 1918-11-25
100000 OUT
OF SERVICEBY
JAN. 1 is GOAL
Demobilization Continues
at Rate of $4,000
Per Day.
FIRST TROOPS NEAR US.
Expect Many Back Home
for Thanksgiving
Day Dinner.

One million two hundred thousand
soldiers out OF the service by New
Years Day is the estimate OF army
officers who are in touch with the
mastering out processes.
In round numbers il M calculated
that 1900 a day will be the figure
from December until January / and
that after the latter day the rate
will probably be about 5000 a day.
Gen. March went TO Camp Dix the
other day TO give instructions which
it is understood will expedite the
muster out with due regard for the
preparation and forwarding to the
Adjutant General ONCE ct Washing
ton Of the personal records OF each
soldier. II is reasonably certain, there
fore. that there will be room at the
cantonments for 10000 overseas
troops early in the year
II has been announced that about
20, 900 have been designated for return
by Gen. Pershing bet IL is not unlikely
that the next announcements will give
the names Of many other divisions
to be returned. At the present time
the thousand aero troops released
from training duty I'm England but a
steady stream OF the sick and the
wounded from France and England
who are able to make the voyage.
Grand Army Disappears
Oficers think that by the spring
the whole grand army except those
needed for police duty in Europe viii
have disappeared. AS the men viii be
entitled TO wear their uniforms only
about three months after discharge
the uniformed soldier will also have
disappeared by April !. There will
probably be many eulistments in the
Regulars who will be reassembied into
an army as big as Congress will stand.
The 1000 American troops nov on
the seas trying to beat the arrival
in this country OF Thanksgiving Day
left British ports on the 18th ard
may make IL.
II was stated last night that they
er1- the aerc -sqUachons mentioned by
numbers yesterday by Gen. March
They have been in training in Eng
Iish flying fields and had nearly com
pleted their course. They were 70
be sent over 10 man the next ship
ment OF fighting planes from the
United States.
Ofrcerr TO MineoIs-
StaT officers believe that they uiIl
be Of course landed at New York
and will 90 to the MineolE camp.
where they will be out in as short
order as possible. The sqUsdrons
are composed OF individuals from all
parts Of the United States. This
| great body Of expert hiers, IL Is
9 thought here, will be a most invslua-
bic asset for the army OF the fu-
/ ture. although the individuals will
retire TO their homes with priv
/ leEe OF enlisting in the regular army
when reconstructed or becoming a
] part of the great reserve OF about
4 3.Cll.O00 Of eX-soldiers.
Thanksgiving dinner at home is in
'sight for many soldiers who shah
have not been mustered out by that
/ festival. II plans now in progress
are realized at the War Department.
There has been a good deal Of shift
| ing Of troops from one csntonment 20
another so that men from California.
| for instance. are now in Eastern
camps. but there is a considerable
number who went into service from
/ towns. villages and cities near the
cantonments at which they now are.
1 OF these men IL is said that there
Is no reason why they should not
get a furlouEh for Thanksgiving Day.