New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-19
4. s. Will Cut
Force Abroad
To a Minimum
March Says Men Who Are
Not Absolutely Needed
viii Return From France

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-The Amer
lean forces in France and in the oc-
cupled territory of Germany are to be
reduced to the minimum strength "con-
sistent with our national Obligations"
General March, chief of staff. an
nounced to-day. He added that Gen
eral Foch had been informed of this
policy by General Pershing.
What strength is to be maintained is
under discussion now by American mil
ltary officials and the Allied military
leaders. No report has been received
indicating the number of divisions to
be supplied by. the United States, but
General March was positive that it
would be far less than the thirty di-
visions given in unofficial reports as
the probable American military con-
tribution
Will Keep Force Needed
The American force for the occupied
zone was fixed by international agree
ment at the time the armistice was
signed. General March said Marshal
Foch undoubtedly would refuse to
permit reduction of his total strength
to a point where it would be made
quate to handle any possible dis
turbance
Demobllization of all army units in
the United States has been ordered,
General March announced, with the eX-
ception of the regular army regiments
needed for camp guard purposes and
various detachments necessary to con-
tinue the rehabilitation process. The
total now listed for Rehabilitation is
l,177,O0C.
10f, 600 Men Back Home
The troops actually returned from
France for rehabilitation now number
100000. This gives a grand total or
dered discharged of 1881 900, of whom
768, ,626 men and 81, ,593 officers have
been discharged TO date.
The rate Of discharge again is near
ing the maximum capacity of 1000 men
a camp q day, after an Interruption of
the holidays.
In addition to the regular regiments,
the exceptions from the blanket de-
mobilization order include the cavalry
on the Southern border, coast artillery
troops in the coast defences. detach-
ments at ports and the medical per-
sonnel. This last force now mum
bers $4,000, but General March said
it would be reduced gradually as the
number of men it had to care for was
reduced
Wounded Men Aided
Comparing the American method Of
ton with the French, General
March called attention to the fact that
the French army was being broken I'D
by service classes. Within the classes
the only priority given is according TO
the number of children dependent upon
the soldier for support. the men with
four or ave children being given first
considerations.
Newspaper comment in France, Cen
eral March said, indicated that the
French government WAS having the
same difficulty with public opinion over
slow rehabilitation rs had been ex-
perienced in England.
Surgeon General Ireland's attention
having been called to published re-
port that wounded soldiers undergoing
reconstruction instruction were forced
to purchase the raw materials upon
which they worked, General March
COOK occasion to say that the govern
nent paid for all such materia. He
a.ao specifically denied another pub
llshed report that the War Depart
ment was holding up reports of cas-