Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-14
$4,000 RELEASED
FROM ARMY DAILY
Gen. March Predicts a Rate
of $4,000 a Day Under
Full Momentum.
MORE DEslGNATED'IN U. S.

DemoD1nzanon IN the United States
is now proceeding at the rate of $4,000
men released from the Army every
day, Gen. March announced today. It
SIN q anticinsted that 4 rate Of 81, 900
a day will b ssae4ea when FULL mo-
1nentum is attained. s'sa: -
The War Department has now desiK-
mated a total Of $4,000 men in the
United States for discharge, an in
crease of nearly 100000 during the
last week. Gen. March made it clear,
however. that designation Of troops
does not mean immediate discharge,
but severance from the service as
their turn Is reached in demobiliza-
tion.
Branches to Be Released.
Among the new branches of the
Army to be included in demobilization
orders are $4,000. Porto Rfcan troops
ordered discharged. OF the total Of
$4,000 men designated, $4,000 are in
depot and DEVELOPMENT battalions and
similar limited units. In addition 49,
600 men on industrial furlough have
been ordered released.
Demobilization of officers is pro-
ceeding more rapidly than is the case
with the men. Gen. March said a
total of 17,203 officers had been hon
orably discharged since the armistice
was signed.
Summarizing the flow Of returning
troops from France, Gen. March said
a total Of $3.50 officers and 135,262
men had been designated for return
by Gen. Pershing up to December IL.
30.7o3 men have actually sailed from
France.
No Universs1 Training Plans.
In answer to . question. Gen. March
said the War Department was not at
present prepared to make public any
thing as to plans which may be rec
commended for universal military
training. His remark was prompted
by published report that the gem
eral staff would ask for nine months
training Of men in their nineteenth year.
The chief Of STAFF set at rest rumors
that the SD Division Georgia, Alabama
and Tennessee) had suffered unusual
ly heavy casualties. one report having
been that so per cent of Its personnel
had been killed, wounded or captured.
A report from the division. dated No
vember 13, two days after fighting
ended. Gen. March said, recorded that
224 officers and $3.50 men were need
strength Of approximately $4,000 Of
dcers and men.
The record Of this division shows that
1t entered the line in the Argonne forest
October 6, pressing forward across the
Aire river until October 20, after which
date there is nothing in the War De-
partment to indicate that it was in ac-
ton.
Summarizing the record OF tho 91st
Division Pacific coast). Gen. March said
1t Joined the British forces in Flanders
early in October and on November ad-
vanced six kilometers on the Scheidt line
against intense rife and machine gun
fire. On the Sd and 4th Of November it
did patrol duty on the Scheldt front and
on the 5th was withdrawn to rest billets.
Christmas Packages for All.
Gen. March took occasion to compli-
ment Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines. dt-
rector Of embarkation. and the en-
barkation service generally in stating
that all Christmas packages for the
troops in France had been cleared
from New York without delay or con-
fusion. With the sailing Of the Mat
sonia and Pocahontas last week the
Army has sent six Christmas ships
carrying $4,000 sacks Of 2,248, 900
Christmas packages. Cen. March said
this number would assure for every OFF,
Ger and man Of the expedftionary
forces Of holiday greetings from home in