The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-25
United States Had 1,95O,1 100
Men on Front Nov. II.
French Force Was Largest at
Time-2,559,OOO Men.
DISCHARGES TO 100000
S5S,117 Troops and 57,366 Off
GERS Already Are Out.
March Tells of Retirement OF
Allied Forces in Russia.

Washington, Jan. 25-On the day
that the armistice was signed the
American army on the western front
was second in strength only to that of
France itself. Figures made public
today by General March showed on
November IL the United States was
represented on the western front by
1850, 100.men. France, on November
1, the last date for which official fig
ures were available, had 2,559.000.
The British and the Portuguese at
tached to the British army totaled
1.71S.OOO, while the Belgian and Ital-
ian forces on the western front agsre
gated about 100000.
These totals are all based upon
what is termed the ration strength"
This includes every soldier who has to
be fed, both combatants and the nee
essary medical and supply organiza-
tions. General March again today
gave comparative rehabilitation to-
tails for the United States and British
armies. Up to January "a the United
States had actually discharged 1886
officers and S5S,117 men, The British
officers and 611,950 men. The total
ordered for discharge in this country
now is 100000.
On Russian Campaign.
Retirement of the allied forces hold
ing advanced positions in the Archan-
gel sector before attacks by superior
forces of Bolsheviki, is reported in an
official dispatch dated January 23, the
substance of which was made public
today by General March. The points
attacked by the enemy lay generally
about 100 miles from Archangel. Gen
eral March said the inter-allied COM
mander there has adequate troops to
reinforce the advanced elements and
to handle the situation.
The message reported the American
! losses in one of the actions at Ust
Pedenga as ten enlisted men killed,
IT wounded and II missing. A later
dispatch said subsequent attacke were
repulsed when delivered on the posi-
| ton taken up by the American forces,
an inter-allied force engaged at Shen-
hurst consisted of British fetacn-
ment, two companies of Americans
and two companies of Russians These
were attacked on three sides and COM
PEELED to evacuate their position as
were also the allied patrols holding
| Ust Pedenga. The American troops
| between this point and Shenkurst. In
| one of the attacks reported, loco
enemy troops were in action against
the small allied force.
Allied Command Controls.
General March pointed out again
! tIdl Jn0 WnOle 1nll1Iary a
| Archangel was under the control of
| the inter-allied high command in
| France. He intimated that should re-
Inducements be deemed necessary any
action to supply them would have to
| come from the high command and
! after recomm endation from the Brit
ish commander-in-chief of the forces
| in Siberia
General March announced that
punishments of wartime severity for
military offenders in the United States
have been stopped by the war depart
ment. From now on, military offenses
at home will be punished in accord
ance with an order issued by the pres
ident before the war. which set out
| the maximum sentences which would
| be approved for military offenses in
| time of peace
! The new order does not apply to
troops in France, Siberia or Italy, and
| does not mean Communication of SEN
tences already imposed at home.
Retain Divisional Insignia.
| General March said today that men
| discharged from the army will be
permitted to retain the divisional in
! sigma which they wore while in serv-
/ ice. A recent order of the depart
| ment prescribed that the wearing of
these insignia would be permitted up
! to the date of discharge. So far as the
men remaining in the regular army
! ''AS NOAiNcA llcut lhS Ie6 uIdliOHS cOL-
| cerning uniforms will be maintained.
and they do not permit soldiers to
wear insignia of the divisions with
! which they formerly served.
Atcnas Is i'm Port.
New York, Jan. o5-The transport
Atenas arrived here today from Bor-
deaux with 119 passengers. including
| 50 officers. II privates. two naval
officers, one French officer and two
! French enlisted men and fifteen
civilians. Maj. Gen. c. c. BaIlou was
aboard. The officers were largely
! casuals.