The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-30
.Demobilize U. S. Army
By September Thirtieth
America to Maintain in Ger
many Less Than One Regu.
lar Army Division, Says Sec
rotary Baker.

W0SkLtA6 SOns 1aiy - wal IA
prohibition may be suspended by
President Wilson September 80. II the
senate raufes the peace treaty by
that date.
Secretary OF War Baker made this
disclosure today when he told the
house military affairs committee def
lritely hat the army will be complete
,ly demobilized by September 30.
The secretary's statement was elic-
lifted by q question OF Representative
LIE Guardia. Republican, Of New York.
as to when. in view Of the rapid de-
mobilization, could the army be con-
sidered as down to peace strength.
Mr.. Baker said:
Il can definitely state that the army
will be completely demobilixed by
September 80. Our emergency army
will all DE discharged by that date"
The COMMITTEES also was advised by
the secretary that the American army
OF occupation will be much smaller
than originally planned. For military
reasons, however. he said he must re-
quest that the exact number OF Amer
tcan troops TO be kept in France be
Withheld. He CAV this information to
the committee conhdentialiy.
In this connection, the secretary In
formed the committee that Great
Britain will keep an occupation force
larger than that Of the United States.
Later it became known at the war
department that the allies have agreed
that h proportion OF men the United
States shall maintain In Germany
shall be less than one regular army
division. These men. the secretary
said. will be retained in Germany un-
I'll 1t Is certain that Germany will full
fu all the conditions OF the peace
treaty.
a sufficient number of volunteers.
the war department believes. will be
obtained from the men recently en-
listed to permit the release OF all men
who ave served In the war from the
occupying force. Only $4,000 of the
men who have served during the war
will remain In France and Germany by
the middle of September Mr.. Baker
ANNOUNCED.
Forcstall Attempted Trcachcry.
Questions by members of the COM
nittee developed hat the largest part
Of the army Of occupation will be
maintained by France and Belgium.
This force will be adequate to fore
stA1l any attempted treachery on the
part OF Germany in carrying out the
peace terms.
This decision was reached, Mr.. Bak-
er indicated. in response to the reali-
,zation that France and Belgium have
larger interests at stake. The first
Indemnity. he pointed out. will go to
Belgium.
The smaller American army Of oc-
cupaton Ii 4 big reduction In the
plans originally determined upon by
the supreme council of the allies. At
one time. It was officially estimated
THAT the United States would be called
upon to keep 200. 900 men in France
and Germany.
Although declining to indicate when
1.-THE American troops will be with
drawn from Siberia, Secretary Baker
asserted that they now are being re-
placed by volunteers a. rapidly as pos
sible.
~Secretary Baker took occasion dur
ing his testimony to urge an increase
In the officer personnel OF the army
during the next fiscal yea to $4,000.
as recently voted by the senate and
proposed in 4 bill introduced in the
house by Representative Julius Kahn.
Republican. OF California. chairman
OF the military affairs.
The secretary also wrote the speak
er of the house today asking for an
additional appropriation Of $4S0.00o
for contingent expenses Of the var
department. The appropriation for
this item In the last army bill, he said.
will not even pay the telephone bills.
which amount to $23.000r monthly.