The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-16
TROOPS
Will BE HOME
IN Two WEEKS
MARCH STATES
Procedure for Disbanding
Forces Outlined by Chief of
Staff Development
Troops First.
PLAN REORGANIZATION
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-0rders
have been issued, General March an
nounced today, for the gradual de-
! mobilization of all troops now in this
country Demobilization will be in the
following order:
First. Development battalion. Il in
number and comprising 9s.1s9 men.
Second, Conscientious objectors now
| under arrest
Third, Spruce production division.
Fourth, Central training schools for
officers with some notifications
Fifth, United States guards, now
numbering $4,000 men.
Sixth, Railway units.
Seventh, Depot brigades.
Eighth, Replacement units.
Ninth, Combat divisions.
There are now in the United States
100000 men under arms, General
March said. Orders which will result
in the immediate rehabilitation Of
100000 men are already issued and
these men will be at their homes in
the next two weeks.
10000 Day.
When the reduction plan is under
full operation, the chief of staff ex-
planned, 10000 each day will be re-
leased from the army
Regarding the return Of the troops
in France, General March said. the
order in which the divisions will be
withdrawn is being left to General
Persing. 1t is the intention of the
war department, however. so far as
is practicable, to return each division
to the locality from which the major
ity of it's men came and to parade the
divisions in adjacent cities so that the
people may have chance to give
fitting welcomes.
Orders have been cabled General
Pershing to begin the return at once
of all casual sick and wounded who
can be moved and convalescents. A
steady stream of these men should be-
gin Immediately to cross the Atlantic
and camps at home will be cleared
out to prepare for the return Of the
Expeditionary forces, and the General
indicated that the process would be
expedited. A unit of regular troops
will be left at each camp to guard and
police it in preparation for the arrival
of the overseas unit.
Rainbow Men First.
Because of it's unusual composition
General March said, and its brilliant
record at the front. the AID Rainbow
division, will be given special consid-
Grafton in the demobilzation plans
The purpose of the department was
not outlined specifically but the i'm
preston was gained that the division
will be paraded in Washington before
it is mustered out.
Steps already have been taken TO-
ward the organization of the perman-
ent army. All men now in the army
have been or will be offered an honor
able discharge from the emergency
enlistment and an immediate reenlist.
ment in the new forces. A furlough of
one month will be given as an incen-
tive to reenlistment.
1t was announced that congress will
be asked to give each man discharged
from the army regardless of whether
he reenlists, bonus of one months
salary. General March pointed out
also that all soldiers are entitled un-
der law, to wear their uniforms for
three months after discharge This
will make less difficult the immediate
task of supplying civilian clothing to
the demobilized army.
The return Of commissioned person
mel of the army TO civilian life, Cen
eral March said, would be affected by
dividing the present list of officers
into three classes. those who desire
commissions in the regular army.
those who are willing to hold them
selves available for future service as
reserve officers and those who desire
honorable discharge from the service.
5,73e Held Prisoners
General Pershing has been directed
to expedite complete casualty lists of
his forces, showing the names OF
every man killed or wounded or mis-
sing up to II a. m. November II. Gen.
eral March would not ha zard an esti-
mate as to what the final total would
be.
Replying TO a question as to the
number of American prisoners in Ger
many. he said, official records up to
October Is gave the total as 5,73S.
In discussing the rehabilitation
plans with senators at their weekly
conference today war department Of
ficials said Secretary Baker planned
to stop all movements of additional
troops to Europe with the exception !.
of surgical units.