The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-04-11
us. TO HOLD MANY
DRAFT men IN ARMY
Great Numbers to Be Kept in
Service for Period.
INCREASE OF FORCE PLANNED
Discharge of Selects Will Depend on
the Speed in Getting Volunteers
for the New Army, Secretary
Baker Announces.

Washington, April S.-Large num-
bers of drafted men who have been
looking forward to early demObiliza-
ton are doomed to disappointment.
Many are to be kept in service for the
full period allowed by the law, which
is four months after peace has been
declared.
The war department desires to keep
these men in service until satisfac-
tory number of eniistments have been
obtained under the general STAFF plan
of increasing the regular army to 5OO.-
900 men.
Announced by Baker.
The decision to this effect is con-
tanned In a letter of Secretary Baker
to Senator Reed of Missouri, made pub
lie here. 1t was written just before
Secretary Baker left Washington for
Europe.
Secretary Baker wrote that enlist
ments were coming In slowly and
added:
up to the authorized strength of the
regular army and this strength is not
sufficient to meet all the necessities
existing for troops. it will be neces-
sary to retain large number of the
selective men in the army until such
time as the war department may be
empowered by congress to raise by
voluntary enlistments sufficient num-
Der Of men to perform the duties re-
CURED"
In explaining the war departments
delay in demObiIizing the men, Secre-
tary Baker, in another part Of the let
ter, places the blame partly upon the
British shipping interests, which have
taken their ships away for use in trade
and for the transportation of the Brit
ish colOnials. The letter says:
practically One-half of our troops
sent abroad were carried in British
ships, the use of which we cannot have
at the present time, as they are being
employed in returning British colonial
troops to their homes and in readjust
ing the worlds food stocks elsewhere"
Returned as Rapidly as Possible.
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 explained that it
has been necessary to retain in the
service a great many units of the de-
barkatiOn force and Of the motor
transport corps TO facilitate the move
ment of troops which are to be demo
bilized. Members of the medical
corps have had TO be retained, also, in
order that the sick and wounded may
properly be cared for. On this point
Secretary Baker says:
sit is no more possible to discharge
men who have been retained for the
purpose of performing the necessary
work connected with debarkat1on de-
mobilization. cOnvalescent centers,
hospitals. domestic guard duty, avia-
ton fields. government stores, border
police, garrisOning insular possessions,
etc. than it would have been In the
midst of the war to 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 that General
Pershing has designated for return to
the United States 221 900 for April,
24S,OOO for May and 10000 for June,
and that the execution of the schedule
depends upon the available shipping.
This would leave remaining in Europe
September L, the army of Occupa.
ton. approximately 215.OO0 men. AS
to the probable date of their return,
Secretary Baker says: cit cannot at
this time be Stated when the last.
American troops can be returned to
the United States. because some of the
troops may have to remain indefinitely
in France in order to make absolutely
certain the fruits of victory discour-
age any attempts by Germany to re-
new h0StilitieS and to form part of
such temporary army of occupation as
may be authorized as the result of the
treaty Of peace"