The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-11-11
AMERICA TO PLAY
LEADING ROLE IN
RESTORING PEACE
Demobllization Of Army 10 Be
Done Gradually,

! WASHINGTON, Nov. ll-Signng
OF the armistice with Germany. whlcl
brings the world-war TO an end. Dies
not mean that the great American mil.
itary machine will cease to operate al
once. America must play an important
part in disarming and guarding the en-
emy until this work is completed, even
the movement Of troops TO France will
be continued, although on a greatly re-
duccd scale.
During the interval betN cen the ces-
sation Of hostilities and the conclusion
OF the peace conference it is assumed
that the major portion OF General Per-
shing's expeditionary forces in France
must be retained there. 1t is possible
also that for reasons Of international
politics some American garrison may
be kept in disputed territory, even after
the actual peace negotiations have been
brought TO close.
VIII Relieve Veterans.
Troops which have seen the longest
service in France probably will be re-
turned home soon to be replaced by
new men in this country who will per
form guard or duty overseas. There
are more than 10000 men now in
camps in the United States.
Even with hostilities ended. much
other naval work aside from that OF
taking over and guarding German and
Austrian naval vessels remains to be
done Removal Of thousands Of mines
laid by the allied. American and Ger
man navies will form no small part OF
this work and undoubtedly the fleet OF
mine sweeping and laying craft sent
ont overseas by the United States will
assist IN this gigantic task. The great
est mine field is that put down in the
North Sea as a barrage against Ger
man submarines. The mines were
manufactured in this country and we're
laid largely by American ships.
With the return OF all German sub
marines 20 their bases allied and
American shipping once more may sail
the seven seas without fear Of moles-
tation and disregard Of the regulations
made necessary by Germany's mte-
strieted warfare There will be no
more running at night without lights,
with its attendant dangers of collisions,
and zigtagging and deviation from es-
tabli'hed shipping routes.
Changes TO Be Gradual
Much Of the shipping used for war
purposes will be freed for peace time
commerce and there will follow a grad
ual relaxation OF the restrictions as 10
food and other necessities imposed on
the peoples OF the Allied countries.
Thes, changes will not come immedi-
ately. however, for il is the purpose OF
the American and entente governments
to cooperate with Germany, Austria.
Bulgaria and Turkey, as we'll as with
Belgium, Serbia and Rumania in fur
nishing as far as possible the food and
other supplies necessary for the civil
ian populations OF those countries
These considerations OF world peace,
important as they are, must be adjusted
as they develop. They could not be
planned In advance as has been the
breaking up of the military forces Of
the United States, Great Britain and
France and the orderly return Of the
millions Of these soldiers TO their
civilian status.
DemobiliIsbon Plans Incomplete.
In this country the problem has been
taken up with reference to its two
chief phases. The strictly military hav-
ing to do with the rehabilitation OF
the army and its safe return TO
America and the industrial which deals
only with the iniiltration OF the soldiers
into the ranks OF labor after they had
been released from the army. A third
problem OF rehabilitation will deal
with the mobiliIed industries OF the
United States.
The military authorities have had
under consideration for some time the
subject OF rehabilitation Of the army
but the plan which will be used has
not yet been officially approved.
Breaking up OF the American exoed'-
tionary forces now numbering 22S0000
men will begin in France il this plan
Is adopted The program entails the
gradual breaking up the large military
units into segrnen,s governed solely by
the location Of the home OF the indi-
vidual soldier.
Two Zones Planned.
|he United States will be divided
10 two districts each OF which Is to
be fed by one or more Atlantic ports
from Galveston TO Bangor. Command
ing officers OF divisions will be in
structed TO detach, for instance, men
from the demobilifed Of those who
might include men from the Maine
and Massachusetts and entrain them for
a specified French port, where ade-
auate shipping will be waiting. These
vessel, will proceed directly to the
ports selected for the first district, and
disembarklng their passengers, will re-
turn on routine schedule 10 meet the
next detachment Of soldiers from that
territory.
BY carefully controlling the return
ing shipments, military authorities be-
lieve that they can to great degree
regulate the flood of discharged SOL
diers so that no single section OF the
country will be swamped.
The work OF returning the soldiers 10