Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-05-26
MUST HOLD
MEN UNTIL
WAR IS OVER
Boys Of Navy Must Stay
With Ships TIL Army
Gets Home.
REDUCTIONS
ARE BROUGHT TO AN END
Chicago Tribune Service.

Washington, May 25.-The war no
being actually over, nor American fight
ing forces all brot home from Europe
the navy department has had to speat
out with some emphasis to stem tht
tide of appeals to members of con
gress from parents of sailors who want
to get their sons out of the naval serv-
I ice
Senators and congressman are being
urged by telegraf and letter every day
to aid in cffecting the discharge oi
young men who have served their coun-
/ think have done enough.
To date. the statement says, 'the
bureau has released 10000 members OF
the naval reserve force and $1,000 reg,
uiar navy men.
In addition to the total already re-
+! leased. the bureau has directed the re-
| lease of three per cent month of meU
on board of ships of the navy: one per
cent a month of men on shore duty; fur
ther. this monthly 8 per cent of releases
| for ships has been increased to 6 pei
cent for the months of May and June
These releases will reduee the entire
/ number of enlisted personnel in tbs
navy taking into account all new en-
fstments made since the signing OF the
armistice TO 250.000 men By July 1,
1910.
Until such time as the Eavy may
cease the operation of cargo vessels and
transports it will be practically impos
sible TO further reduce the number of
enlisted personnel on duty and at the
same time maintain efficiency, unless
vessels are placed ont Of commission
and vital activities are discontinued.
These activities cannot be continued ex-
cept by enlisted personnel because Of
lack of funds or lack of trained civilians
to continue them.
I'm order oshow what reductions
have at present been effected by the
navy. the following facts are stated:
..On Noy. /. 1918. there were in oper
alton so troops transports with an
average crew of 40 men. On May /,
there were in commission ia troops
with average crew of 42S men. The
navy is now operating 195 cargo vessels,
whose average crew on Nov. l was 10
men and whose average crew on May
was IS men. The total number of men
on shore duty had on May i. been re-
duced 90 per cent and a farther reduc
tion of - per cent has been directed to
be effective not later than May 15.
All men who are available as re-
suit of this reduction will be sent to sea.
In addition to the vessels at present
in operation. there are now fitting out
for delivery TO the government in the
next six months Is troop transports; 63
destroyers. IS submarines, 81 eagle
boats. eight oil tankers, 3 fuel oil barges,
/. mine sweepers. Is seagoing tugs, 33
harbor tugs enc fuel ship and one gun
boat The numbers given are, of course.
subject to slight reductions due TO fore
seen conditions at the plants of the
building
"Ou Nov. Il, 1915 there were in the
navy n total Of o7Ta9 men. The total
releases from all causes between Nov. |
II and May / were 253 ,056 men. This
leaves i'll the navy total number of
men taking into account all new enlist
ments anticipated prior to that date.
there will be Il total of 25O0 men and
women left on duty.
Crews of all ships and all office |
forces on shore have been reduced to
such an extent that in the future imme- |
late reductions other than the one per
.ent a month allowed en- shore, and six
,er cent q month allowed on board ship /
'or the month of May and June, will /
without a doubt seriously interfere with |
he return of the troops from France. |
md in the supplying food to the stricken |
,cople of Europe.