Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-30
10000 REGULARS
| DETAINED ABROAD
All Other American Troops in
+ Europe WIN Return.
| in July.s 49,,
REASON FOR DECISION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

All the American troops. in Europe
with the exception Of five regular
divisions, tota1ing 100000 men, will
be home during the month Of July.
When those 10000 will get home de-
ponds upon Germany, upon the action
of the United States Senate and other
delays that may, arise elsewhere in
ratifying the peace treaty or setting
up a league of nations to carry out
the provisions of the treaty.
If the American Senate is the only
body that declines to ratify the
treaty. state of peace will, of course.
Britain, France and Germany. II the
league of nations is to be abandoned
because of a refusal by the American
Senate to sanction its organization,
some other structure to preserve peace
in Europe will be required. Until it is
definitely determined what that struc-
ture is. American troops probably will
be asked for by the entente govern
ments to assist in preserving the
status quo. Five divisions of 100000
men seems to be the number which
will remain in Europe until there is
no question about the future.
Contain Many Drafted Men.
Those regular divisions contain
many drafted. men,. The officers are
mostly those who have been in the
Regular Army, or have applied for
commissions with the regulars. and,
desiring to make a profession Of SOL
diertng. are not SO anxious to return
to the United States. Indeed, the War
Department is besieged with just as
rke fny hn
regular units as any others in Eu-
rope, but, while the parents may be
anxious to have them back. the ma
jortiy of the men in the Ave regular
divisions are said to be satisfied to
see the job through.
If the treaty is ratified on all sides,
and peace is proclaimed in July, even
those five regular divisions would be
home by the last of August, as there
would be plenty Of tonnage to carry
that number home in a single month,
because the averages monthly capacity
of the ships at our disposal is more
than 100000. During the week end
ing May 20, for example, 1880
troops set sail from Europe for the
United States. On the latter date we
had 171.000 men on the sea and s4O,-
600 men in Europe, which includes
the five regular divisions referred to
above, and the hospital organization.
War Department officials calculate
that between now and the middle of
July the remaining $4,000 men win
have set sail for home.
Enlistments are increasing, having
reached total of 3S,487. These men
are rapidly being sent to France to
relieve men in the regular divisions
who have enlisted only for the du-
ration of the war.
As to Rehabilitation.
AS for rehabilitation inside. the
United States, the men who come
are discharged at once.
They are not being held for any duty
whatsoever. There are. on the other
hand, 100000 men who did not see
service in France who are being kept
in the Army Indefinitely. Probably
when thR camps In the United States
are through with the rehabilitation
process for troops overseas. 1t re-
quires an organization everywhere
to keep up the camps where the over
seas men are concentrated for the
few days prior to their discharge.
This work should be over by the
middle of August. Then an army will
be maintained for defense purposes
only and until the five regular divi-~
sions can get back from Europe to re-
lieve the men hitherto on duty in the
United States.
The American public will have to be
patient with the railroads for at least
two months longer. and il there are
not enough trains for excursion traf-
fic during the summer months. 1t Will
be largely because rolling stock viii
(COntinued on SECOND PaEel