The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-08
Many Who Expected
Early Demobilization
to Be Disappointed.
INDEFINITE STAY
of Occupation Is
Necessary Even After
Peace Pact Is Signed
for S~alutary Effect.
BY James r. Nursc.

ny obAN ~ IA ~s
Washington, April Large
numbers of The drafted men in
the army who have been looking.
forward to eatriy decentralization
arc doomed I o disappointment.
Many OF them are tn be Kept in
service for the full period allowed
by the law. which is four months
after peace has bee declared.
The War department desires tn.
keep these men I'm service until "a
satisfactory number OF enlist
ments have been obtained under
the general staff plan of increas-
ing the regular army To 500, 600
men.
The decision to this effect IL
contained In q letter by Secretary
of Wa Baker. the senator James
A. Reed. OF Missouri, made public
today. The letter was written
just before Secretary Baker left
Washington for the trip 10
Europe.
Secretary Baker says In the letter
that cnlistments are coming in slowly.
and adds: AS enlistmcnts can be
made only up 10 the present authortz-
ed strength of the regular army, and
this strength is not sufficient to meet
all the necessities existing for troops.
II VIII DC titftSss&ES ho f'tdAff "a tdt so
number Of the seleetive service men
in the army until such time as the
department may be empowered
by congress to raise by voluntary en-
listments q sufficient number OF men
TO perform the duties required OF the
army"
Is FIRST INTTMATION
This announcement by the secre-
tary OF war is the first intimation that
officials have had that the men were
not TO be discharged from service as
ranidiy az transportation from abroad
could be provided for them
In explaining the var departments
delay in d~enobilizing the men. Secre-
tary Baker, in another part Of the
letter, places the blame partly upon
the British shipping interests which
have taken their ships away for use
for the British colonies. the letter
says:
practically one-haff our troops
sent ABROAD were carried in British
ships. the use OF which we cannot have
az the present time. as they are be-
ing err pioyea in returning British co..
lonial troops to their homes end in re-
adjusting ths worlds food stocks else
where"
Senator Reed made his the topic of
a speech in the senate recently.
Secretary Baker said the troops are
being returned to the United States
as rapidly as possible, with due regard
TO the transportation facilities and the
Necessity of maintaining an armed
force in Europe. He explains that Il
has been necessary to retain in the
service q great many units OF tho de-
barkation force and OF the motor
transport corps 10 facilitate the move
ment of troops which are 10 be de-
modified.
LOOK AFTER SICK.
Members OF the medical corps have
mad to be retained also. in order that
the sick aud wounded may properly
be cared for. On this point Secre-
tary Baker says:
1T is no more possible to discharge
men who have been retained for the
purpose of performing the necessary
work connected with deharkation. de-
mobilization, convalescent eenters,
hospitals, domestic guard duty. avi-
alton fields, government stores. border
police. garrisoning insuIar possessions,
etc, than I. would have been in the
midst OF the war 10 have moved men
out OF trenches where they were fac
ing the enemy before other men were
In their places to relieve them
Secretary Baker adds hat General
Pershing has designated for return to
the United States $4,000 for April,
24S, 900 for May and 100000 for June,
and that the execution of the schedule
depends upon the available shipping,
This would leave remaining in Europe,
September /. the army OF occupation
Approximately 2t5,0 men. Az to the