The Washington times., 1919-10-09
NO WET SPELL
UNTIL 10000
LEAVE ARMY

The denobiliEation Of the army will
not be completed before October 81,
or until approximately 10000 oRleeF8
and men yet to be discharged are re-
leased, according to information given
out at the War Department today.
II had been assumed In some quar-
ters that the recent statement Of the
Secretary OF War meant that the
army was on peace basis; that is,
upon the basis OF strength provided
by law. But if thiB was the under
standing OF Mr, Bakers statement, Il
was a miEappFehenSloh OF the facts
IS made public BY the department to-
day.
II peace we're to, come tomorrow
and ratihcationB should be exchanged
the day after. Il still would be neceg-
sary for the hhal processes OF demob-
ilization to be gone through with be-
fore the wartime liquor ban could be
lifted. The statement OF the War De-
partment bearing, upon this subjpet.
in part, follows:
5S2,45O stiI IN Array.
"The operations division OF the Cen
eral Stan has furnished statistics
which show that the total number Of
men in the army on September 20,
1919, was 332, ,459. The maximum e8-
innate Of the strength Of the army on
October 81. 1919, IS given as 252, 900.
leaving 79,5s9 men to be discharged
by that date.
aon September 16. 1919. It was
shown that there were 31,525 commis-
stoned officers in the active service.
9.146 OF whom are regulars and 22.37a
temporary. Inasmuch % recent leg
isIation enacted BY Congress stipu-
Ia "A
strength of the army shall at no time
during the hscal year 1920 exceed
Is, 1000, II Is obviously necessary that
1926 Of these emergency officers be
returned to civil life by October 81.
1919
This means that it will be neces-
sary for over 10000 individuals TO
hnd employment in civil life. When
Col. Arthur Woods, formerly assist
ant to the Secretary OF War. in charge
OF soldier employment, left the War
Department he stated that a careful
study OF the reports and available
statistics showed that about so per
cent OF the men released from service
were taken back in their old jobs. or
better ones, by their former employ
ers. This being true, It is anticipated
that this office will have another
90. 900 men added TO those now on its
lists as needing employment. Among
these men. especially the Officers, will
be found executives and technically
trained men OF all the professions and
trades. Because OF their previous
training and their long experiences
gained in the army, these soldiers are
among the best 20 be discharged
DOesn't Waat Public 70 Ferret.
THE attention OF the public is IN |
vited. not because the soldier 10 being |
when the soldier Is disab- |
peRFing from the public eye, but be- /
cause the impreBsion must not so out |
that every discharged service man /
mas q satisfactory Job. These men /
who are now being released have /
been held for the convenience Of the /
and many have been i
day and night IN order that /
their more fortunate comrades might i
be discharged and returned to civil /
pursuits.
They are coming home now one By /
One, unheralded, and Il 81 hoped that /
the people at home will remember |
that these men have had unusually i
ong service and are now coming back /
10 take up again their livelihood 4
where they left on. Experience in /
The past has shown that employers, /
md. in fact everyone, has been more /
han willing to extend a helping hand /
10 all men who. have worn the uni Il
'orm OF the army or navy"