The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-18
national campaign for promotion Of
social hygiene.
Is TOO SLOW
OR TOO FAST
Critics Of Speed Of GENERALIZATION Of
American Army, arc TAX
ing Both
Sides.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
/, WASHINGTON. Jan. l8.-Amer1cal
troops will he brought home from
France just as fast as possible. Gen
eral Pershing has been ordered to 81
inform General Foch.
The American forces will be re
dUced to point where only s,rct
forces will be left overseas as are re
CURED under American internatfona
obligations.
Chief OF staff March made these
revelations today, declaring that The
heads OF the various governments are
now working out details OF what forces
shall be left behind The return move
ment is slated to be as rapid as Is
compatible with tonnage available.
March also announced that he hac
an official report from Europe indica
ting that the United States will get fo1
transport use goodly portion OF the
German ships, negotiations for which
are now under way.
The original tentative figure OF thir
ty divisions to be left in France viii
be scaled down. No such number, said
March, will be kept in France.
The force now in the army OF Oc
cupation, coupled with the allied ar
mics OF occupation is fully capable Of
preventing any renewal OF hostiltties
by Germany, March held
March declared that 8,626 mel
and 51,593 officers have actually been
discharged in this country; that lO4r
coo had actually returned from abroad
and that 1,177,o00 IN the United States
are listed for demobi liZation.
GENERALIZATION has reached rate Of
thirty thousand men per day In the
states, and discharge OF the remaining
half OF the combatant divisions has
been ordered.
AS previously pointed out by the
United Press the actual slicing off OF
divisions below thirty has not yet been
ordered. March could make no specific
figures. indicating how extensive the
reduction will be, though previous
statements Of the war department
figures have shown that 275, 000 to 300,
900 men should be returned monthly II
a score OF German ships can be obtain
ed for transport purposes.
This means that now all troops In
the states are slated for discharge ex-
cept those OF "a permenent character.
such as nucleus. OF two regiments OF
regulars in each division, the mass OF
American cavalry stationed on the
border, coast artillery forces used In
sea coast defenses, large medical per-
sonnet for reconstruction hospitals,
demobilizing and embarKation detach-
ments and certain men in this perma-
nent list will be carefully checked
over, SO as to bring down to mini
mum those compelled to remain.
March admitted that some COM
plants had come in that demooiliza-
ton is too fast at present. Public opin-
ion, he said appeared, to be divided,
some persons claiming it was too fast
and some too slow. incidentally,
French pepers received by March in
sist upon faster Rehabilitation there
France is demobilizing by classes and
has discharged the 1887. 1888, 1889
and 1890 reservtsts.
March had planned to announce to-
day the replacements OF all combat
ant divisions. Instead Of SO doing he
postponed the announcement until he
can give the exact casualties by divis-
inn