The Washington herald., 1919-01-26
Declares in Letter to Rep
resentative Mann That 1t
is Well Ordered.
FAVOR URGENT CASES
Large Force Will Be Needed
at Ports Of Debarkation
for Some Time.

IN the floor of the House recently
leainst the War Department for un-
reasonable delay in discharging SOL
Iers was made in a letter from Gen.
March. Chief of Staff, to Republican
L.eader Mann, which was read in the
louise yesterday. Gen. March wen,
nto great detail to explain the meth
d of granting discharges which had
cen adopted and declared that by
ollowing this plan the desired result
would be accomplished with the least
Ielay.
His letter reads in part:
The determining principle is that
IL OF our soldiers, whose services are
10 longer needed, are entitled to dis
harge. The method adopted, it is
,elieye6, will accomplish that result
Nth least delay and without favor.
Compelled to Hold Many.
The military situation and the
ctuaI mechanism Of rehabilitation
recessitates retention in the service
ror the present of a considerable
lumber Of men, trained or fitted to
10 the work required. II is doubt
sss difficult for these individuals
o reconcile themselves to being
cid when their personal interests
ie in their being discharged. But
rom this there is no escape. For
hem the emergency is not ended.
although the stimulation and ex-
,itement Of actual warfare is over.
As a result of the unit demobi-
iZation scheme of the War Depart
nent. during the past six weeks
upwards of 100000 men and ap-
,roximately $4,000 officers have been
ischarged from our temporary
orces. This constitutes an average,
or the whole period, since demobi-
iZatiOn got fairly under way. of
lore than 10000 a day for six days
week. Certain large units organ
Zed for overseas service were
,rOmptIy demObilIzed en- bloc. and
Turing that process the daily DIS
.hargcs ran well over 10000. In
his connection. attention is invit-
d to the discomfort caused in Eng
and h. the fact that the demobiliza-
ion Of the United States troops had
.rOc7eded so much more expeditions
than the rehabilitation of the
;ritish.
such results would have been
imply impossible had it been at
empted to discharge Immediately
very soldier who made individual
-.ppIicatiOn on industrial grounds"
Unusual Cases Formed.
The Chief of STAFF pointed to or
Iers authorizing commanders to re-
ease enlisted men where there is
dckness OF other distress in the SOL
tiers family, or when he is needed
resume employment in which
here is urgent need of his service.
Ie continued:
Both soldiers and civilians. on
earning Of these instructions, seem
o have assumed that a soldier had
merely To submit a request for his
discharge, stating that he had deti-
ute employment waiting for him
md that he should Immediately be
discharged. Only such soldiers as
-OuId show themselves to be within
he terms of the order were entitled
be discharged. Favorable action
could be taken on only those appli-
.ations which disclosed cases of eX-
ceptiOnal merit
DemObilizatiOn is divided into two
parts General March explained.
First is the rehabilitation Of men
from camps in this country. and,
second. demObiIization of men being
sent back by General Pershing. All
men returned from overseas are
promptly discharged. the Chief of
STAFF stated. He continued:
ITO send back individuals from
overseas on Industrial grounds
would effect such a levy from units
existing overseas as would disrupt
military administration. would hon
eycOmb the units and reduce their
efficiency to so low a state that they
could not be relied upon to perform
the services for which they were
maintained.
PerShlng Has Free Hand.
The War Department recognized
that there must be some elasticity
and way of securing discharges in
exceptional cases. even for the units
overseas, and the War Department
has authorized General Pershing to
send to the United States for i'm
mediate discharge individual drafted
or enlisted men upon presentation OF
convincing testimony that there ex-
lists sickness or other distress in the
soldiers family. Further. General
Pershing is authorized to discharge
in Europe any officer or enlisted or
drafted man who entered the SER
vice prior to April l. 1917. and who
submits good and sufficient reasons
for requesting such discharge in
Europe"
Attention Of. Mr.. Mann was called
10 the fact that there are practically
no troops to relieve the soldiers who
are in the service for the emergency
only in performing the necessary mil
itary duty at home and abroad. The
Secretary of Wars recommendation
for legislation to permit a resump-
tion Of voluntary enlistments and re-
enlistments in the army has not vet
been acted upon. The general wrote
in this connection:
I'VE find a number Of men at all
camps who would like to stay in the
regular service II they could enlist
at once. but the uncertainty of legis-
lation is likely to induce them to look
for employment in civil life and,
therefore. TO lake the first chance to
secure discharges"
Large Force Needed.
A considerable force, he said. will
be needed for some time at ports of
debarkation, supply depots. demobili-
zation and convalesCent centers, as
well as to garrison posts along the
Mexican border and the insular pos
sessions.
Taking up statements made IN the
e. For the Best Cake.
aS .u1 c.,f>-S H.