South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-08
DRAFTED MEN
and GUARDS TO
BE FIRST OUT
March IntimateS That Period
of Enlistment for Regular
Army Members in France
May be Extended.
Associated Press Service


WASHINGTON, Dec Eight of
the thirteen divisions comprising
the American third army now ap-
preaching the Rhine. either are ma
tional guard or national army
troops. and there is every reason to
believe that they viii be on Ameri-
can soil again by midsummer.
Gen. March, chief of staff. an
nounced today that he anticipated
no difficulty in getting these units
home within four months after
peace has been established formal
ly by proclamation. Pres't Wilson in
his recent address to congress said
the sessions5of the conference prob
ably would fbe concluded by spring
and based on this estimate Of the
time, Gen. March's statement was
accepted to mean that these forces
would return during the summer
Divisions Now at Front.
Two national guard divisions. the
32nd and AZ nd. and two Of the
national army, the seth and Goth,
now are in the front line of Maj
I Gen. Dickman's army OF occupa-
I ton, which was within 20 miles Of
! the Rhine last night, according to
/ Gen. Pershing's report. The 2Sth
and 33rd national guard and the
/ 18th national army are in the sec
ond line, constituting the reserve
which is occupying Luxembourg and
various rail centers in France, in
Guiding Montmedy, Longuyon,
Etain and st. Mihiel The first,
third, fourth and fifth regulars COM
prise the remainder Of the advanc-
/ ing army while the second and
seventh divisions are with the re-
/ serve.
The estimate as to the possibility
/ that all except regular divisions will
have been withdrawn from France
/ by midsummer is based on Gen.
March's reply to a question as to
steps necessary to obtain an exten-
sion of the enlistment period for
men in the army of occupation.
The law about the men who
were raised in the national army is
that they must be discharged four
months after the declaration OF
peace" he said. That, I think, also
was extended 10 include men who
made voluntary enlistments in the
regular army won't have any
difficulty in bringing from France
the so-called national army divis-
ions in four months after the dec
Iaration Of peace. II is entirely
possible that we viii have to ask
/ congress for some modification OF
the law to provide a longer period
for the units which will remain in
Europe"
A total Of 1925 officers and 125.-
Sis men. Gen. March said, ''have
been specifically assigned for early
return by Gen Pershing. Included
lin the additional units reported to-
day are 1.426 officers and 1881
men, the largest organizations men
toned being the field artillery
brigades OF the Sth (regular) and
92nd (national army-Negro) divis-
ions and the 345th and 346th infan-
try regiment from the S7th ina
tional army division) The remain
der Of the list consists largely OF
motor repair units and auxiliary
divisional troops.
Largest Unit Ordered Home.
The S46th infantry is numerically
the largest unit yet ordered home
showing - officers and 3.1S2 men
while the 345th with Il officers and
734 men. has apparently been strip
ped by replacement draft. The fuI
strength Of an infantry regiment Is
approximately $500 men.
Discussing demObilization Of the
forces at home, Gen March said
college men other than those in OF
fcers schools which were being
abandoned would receive no pref
erence as to the time Of their dis
charge. The order of demobilizatior
providing that combat divisions b'
disbanded last, he said has not beer
altered.
The system IS working at a very
much greater speed" Gen. Marci
said. referring 10 demObilization
"and I have initiated a statemen