Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-31
SHIPPING MANY MEN HAS
BEEN ARRANGED
FOR
MAY LEAVE TEN DIVISIONS
Soldiers in Home Camps VIII
Be Discharged Within Next
Month, According to
Present Plans

and rehabilitation within six months
Of all the remaining 100000 troops
overseas is possible, under plans
worked out by the war department
and laid before the senate military
affairs committee today by General
March, chief of staff. Should the
president decide upon q force Of ap-
proximately ten divisions as an army
Of occupation, General March said the
task could be completed in less time.
General March also announced that
the plans Of the war department con-
template the rehabilitation within
thirty days Of every one Of the 1885,
900 men in the home training camps,
except a small number retained for
overhead duty"
Return Of the troops in France, in
yolving the transportation to this
country of 100000 men monthly,
would be possible, General March said,
by the use in addition to American
tonnage Of ships allotted by the allies
and the German passenger tonnage to
be placed in service soon.
Veterans Must Stay
General March indicated that the
return ia number Of the veteran di-
visions must not be expected soon. He
told the committee General Pershing
and the war department had agreed
that the army Of occupation should be
composed Of experienced divisions, so
they would mot unduly excite the
Germans" and would be cable to run
over them, if necessary"
The length of the period during
which an army Of occupation must be
maintained, war department officials
have said, depends entirely on de-
cisions reached by the associated gov
ernments at the peace conference, and
upon conditions in Germany.
Ten Divisions Overseas
How many Americans will be held
abroad in the army Of occupation is
to be determined by President Wilson,
General March stated, but more Am
ericans already have been designated
for return home than originally pro-
posed by Marshal FOch. He indicated
that ten divisions had been suggested
as Americas contribution to the army
of occupation.
In connection with rehabilitation
plans, General March stated that un-
der present plans retention of an Am
erican standing army Of 100000 is
Wants Army of 100000
1--WE don't ever expect to reduce be-
low 100000 men-if We can help it,"
he told the committee.
Tonnage sufficient to transport S00,-
600 men monthly will be available, he
thru ships allotted by the
allies combined with German passen-
ger tonnage, and the negotiations are
practically completed.
With about 100000 Americans
still overseas, the chief Of staff said, a
shipping capacity of 100000 monthly
should make it possible to return and
demobilize all within six months.
"If the president agrees to leave
ten divisions, or whatever number, in
the army Of occupation, he said, 1--WE
can make It in less time. From the
General Pershing was in
to return men as fast as ship
ping was available"
Clear Home Camps Soon
Speaking of the 7s5, 900 men still in
camps at home, General March said:
EVERY single man win be out Of
camp within one month from today,
except those retained for overhead
iuty."
Several senators said they had re-
,eived many complaints because divi-
lions which had seen long service
overseas apparently were to be the
ast sent home.
This policy, General March said,
vas strictly in accordance with mill
AIRY plans to hold experienced men
n the army Of occupation adding:
ct win keep men who win not un-
duly excite the GerIhans-or able 70
- ovnr khnr, A nneonrnrv.H