The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-30
Receiving Station Is Now Mus.
tering Out Station.
No General Generalization Or.
ders Received.
FIRST men OUT LAST WEEK
Depot Brigade Filling Up Fer
manent Units.
Rigid Physical Examination for
Each Man.
(From Trench and Camp.)


The induction machinery OF the
Camp Funston receiving station" has
been thrown into reverse gear. The
wheels are turning backwards, max
ing civilians out Of soldiers. Physical
examinations are for discharges in
stead of entrance. Equipment Is
checked in instead of being checked
out and allotments are Cancelled and
payments on liberty bonds refunded.
Transportation home is issued. and
greatest of all differences, a discharge
is taking the place of each service
record.
No General Dcmobilization. -.
Camp Funston has no general de-
mobilization order. mastering out
operations are proceeding under orders
to reduce the depot brigade and fill up
permanent units of the camp; also to
discharge every man from the develop
ment battlions who can pass the physi-
cal examination.
The first men were mustered out the
last of the week.
A few men have been released from
Camp Funston since the armistice was
signed, but their discharge was not a
part of the rehabilitation plans. They
came under the rule of disability and
exemption discharges. some of which
have been made every week since the
camp was established.
Process Is Slow.
The process of tearing down the
army is slow. Camp officials agree it
will be a much harder task than to
build the army. They explain one
point in which mastering out is more
difficult than recruiting:
Mistakes may be made in the rec
ords of man received and as the man
remains in camp the mistake may be
corrected, but in mastering him out
there can be no mistake as all trace Of
the man is lost when he leaves the
camp.
Medical officers examining the men
are proceeding under instructions CALI
ing for a thoro report. The physical
examination Is even more rigid than
the entrance examination, as muster
ing regulations require a man to be in
condition equal to or better than his
condition when he entered the SER
vice.
Camp officials estimate the greatest
possible speed in discharging men will
be at the rate of one thousand a day.
That average will not be maintained.
they say. Eleven thousand men have
arrived at Camp Funston in a single
day.
Many Transfers Made.
A large number of transfers have
been made, moving men from the de-
pot brigade to permanent camp per-
sonnet before selections for mastering
out were made. The quartermaster
corps and other permanent camp units
are being brought to full strength in
anticipation of an immense amount of
work in handling equipment checked
lin.
The problem of providing railroad
i, equipment to carry men to their
homes has been solved. A field clerk
Is stationed in the receiving barracks.
now known as mastering out barracks.
His only duty is to record the destina-
ton and hour of departure of each
man. These records are delivered to
passenger agents of the Union Pacific.
the only railroad thru Funston. Des-
tinations are classified and proper
notice will be given to every connect
ing line which will catch a part of the
traffic.
Camp Funston will probably be
larger territory than that from which
it's drafted men were drawn. That
is evidenced by official notice received
last week OF the transfer of a large
! number of men from camps in Ari-
iona and Utah.
Men Are Good Natured.
Until few days ago there was
just one question on the lips of every
man here. 1t was, when do we go
across?" Now it is. when do we go
home" The men are all good ma
| tured and as respectful and obedient
to their officers as ever.
The condition brings to light q
most beautiful tribute to the discipline
of the soldiers. At heart they may be
tired of soldering and want to go
home. OFFICERS insist the men are
as energetic as ever.