Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-19
A fter The W. ar
THE SOLDIER
Ry Frederic j. Hnsltin

The Great War Inns ended; but II
has been officially stated that IL will
be many months before any Of orr forces
have been brought homc and that most
OF them will not be returned for more
than year.
There ia more than one rcason i6r
this. but, most Of all, the government
recognizes the danger of turning lo0Fc
two million men, accustomed 90 life
of tension and restraint, to shift Tor
themselves Demobilizati ion for peace
must be even more careful thnn Tn0bill-
aation for war Mobilization was con
dnctcd along military and economic
lines. decentralization must include not
only these considerations but psychology
cal considerations as well
The folly of abrupt and wholesale
discharges il shown by history such
n procedure lost for Cnrthagc al she
bad gained from her victories Of the
first pune war, and opened the waY tnr
her final destruction SWarma oi t'reek
and hari .arian merccnaucs, who had
fought and won Carthage battles,
found themselves with arms IN thcr
hands, no place to 20, and nothing 10
do but start another war Most oi the
pirate crews which infested the seas
privatcersrnen Of the war of the Austrian
succession. who. after the peace Of AS
In Chapellc, found Themselves out 81
jobs and without inclination - return
10 the Improbable aud tinexcltug iifo
Of traders
The bandits who haunted portions
Of France, Italy and Spain, during the
last two generations were simply old
guerilla bands which fought on one
sldc or other during tho Nap1leonlc
Wars Men accustomed 70 excitement
are loath 10 return to the placid rnutineE
Of peace. particularly when continued
excitement offers them opportunities
OF richer reward
MUST RELAX GRADUALLY.
The relaxation from tie life of war
to the life Of peace. must, If It ls not r
cause harmful friction, be gradual From
the first the government through fhe
Surgeon General 0iFee has pursued
policy Of extreme caution IN rcgIFd
10 discharges nf Disabled soldiers Several
hospfals IN tins country have been
filled with soldiers wounded ii the hght
ing abroad Most 0f fhcm have been
sufficiently restored to move about
comfortably. but slnguarly few dls-
charges hnvc bccn granted NJ soldier
u removed from military discipline
and military supervision until Il" hrs
proved his fitness 70 take his oid place
N sociefy or better one
lie blind are re-educated - not II
he dependent on charity Or the pubh6
for livelihood, and those who have
lost a limb are taught crafts or trade.
.here usc of the limb Is not required
The earning power of many q wounded
soldier has been raised far above II
prc-war standard m tins way Archi-
tccts. mechanics, chauffenrs, carpenters
maqons draughtsmen watchmakers and
designers have been created whore clerks
null hands, sweatshnp workers anC
laborers existed Latest artistic talent
has kern developed, and painters anG
musicians creatcd.
such policy, If course cannot br
followed IN dscharglnR our entire army
but IT wall bc followed III rtIro' i bIlI
has bern introduced IN congress winch
would authorize the War Department
- discharge last aliens and liferates
There j. no doubling rte wisdom of
tas mea=ure These mountain bows
md hackwo0dmen who have been
drawn ~ the draft into world where
almost everyorrr il acquainted with
tire rifles of reading ana writing vii
no. onnfenrcdlv return 70 their Original
environment II ignorance The yaiue
81 - eating aliens. Iferafe AMI iili -