The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-31
SOLDIERS COMING
BACK FASTER THAN
THEY WENT OVER
All Except Five Regular Di-
visions Will Be in U. S.
During July Unless Unfore-
seen Difficulties Develop.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News Sclmltar's Special Core.
spondent,


WASHINGTON. May 31-An the
American troops in Europe, with the
exception Of five regular divisions to-
falling 100000 men, will be home dur
ing the month Of July. When those
100000 win get home depends upon
Germany, upon the action OF the Urited
states senate and other delays that
may arise elsewhere in ratifying the
a. treaty or setting up = league Of
nations to carry out the provisions OF
II the American, senate is the only
body that declines 70 ratify the treaty,
a state Of peace will, OF course, nave
been proclaimed between Great Britain,
France and Germany. II the league Of
nations Is to be abandoned because of
the refusal by the American senate to
sanction it's organization. some other
structure to preserve peace In Europe
viii be required. Until 1t Is definitely
determined What that structure is,
american troops probably will be asked
Tor by the entente governments to
assist in preserving the status quo.
Five divisions Of 200, 900 men seems
TO be the number which will remain
IN Europe until there Is no question
about the future.
Contain 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 soldering. are not so
anxious TO return TO the United States.
indeed, the war department is besieged
with Just as many requests for the re-
turn OF these regular units as any other5
III Europe. But while the parents may
be anxious TO have them hack, the
majority of the men in the five regu-
ar divisions arc said to be satisfied to
see the job through.
u h treaty is ratified on all sides
y 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 90 carry
that Jumbo home In a single month,
AS the average monthly capacity Of the
900.
During the week ending May 20, for
c1nmple, 1887 troops set sail from
Europe for the United States. On the
latter date we, had Ill 900 men on the
sea- and 10000 men In Europe, which
includes the five regular divisions re-
ferred to above, and the hospital or
Kanixation. War department officials
calculate that between now and the
middle OF July, the remaining GAO, 900
men viii have set sail for home. En-
listments are increasing, having reached
q total OF IS, LAST, These men are rapidly
being sent to France TO relieve men
in the regular divisions who have en-
listed only for the duration Of the war.
Decentralization in U. s.
As for demobilixatibn inside the
United States, the men who come from
overseas are discharged at once. They
arc not being held for any duty what
soever. There are, on the other hand.
100000 men who did not see service In
49, w.4E- - - nA-A f. -
indefinitely. Probably this number viii
tend TO diminish when the camps in
h United States are through with the
Generalization process for troops over
a
II requires an organization every
where TO keep up the camps where the
overseas men are concentrated for the
few days prior to their discharge, This
work should be over by the middle Of
August. Thon an army will be main
tanned for defcnse purposes only and
until the five regular divisions can Ret
back from Europe TO relieve the men
hitherto on duty In the United States.
The American public will have to be
patient with the railroads for IT least
two months longer, and IL there arc not
enough trains for excursion traffic dur
ing the summer months, II will be
largely because rolling stock will be
needed to move troops to the various
rehabilitation ccnters.
Sixty per cent OF the American army
abroad has been demobilized. More
than 1,1b2.t CAT have sailed from Europe
since the armistica was signed ard g.
2ib,1e have been discharged from the
entire army both here and overseas,
The most men we ever had IN France
was 2.0S3, s65.
Unprecedented Feat.
America is bringing her troons home,
therefore, at a speed greater, OF course,
h a she sent them over; and greater In
proportion than the rate at which other
military organizations have been moved
overseas. II is m unprecedented feat,
1t win continue at the same gait unless
some move on the part OF Germany or
a decision on the part OF President will
son requires the prolonged stay Of units
now ordered home.
War department officials usually add
consequently to all calculations the
c~auttonary observation unless some
thing unforeseen develops"
The only possibility OF change lies In
a xaqsKaal hxt naE,v, 4, - - aI-. a.. 49, 49,.