Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-05
NATURALIZATION IS FAST APPROACHING
 ITS FINAL PHASES
General PersFfng TtesfaHates Three tddifTanal Divisions for Early Re
 turn: Million and HaIf 4VaiIahle.

Washington, Ian I-Dem0aflIza- ticn of the army is approaching f1s final phases wfth the hreasfn9 r3 cf the combat divisions in this country, and the fssuance oT orders for early retuTn of t1e first Uhpee fghGing divisions from France.
 General March. chief of staff sT- ueunced today that General Persh- ing mad designated the 3lth and 51ta eEatb9naI G1ardy and ahe stst GSa- tionaI arw~l divisions for early ra- turn, while m the home training camps. 4a, ,.799 nren of rfIe combat df-- vi.sions, heretofore hetf Intact. had been ~rdered dfscharaed.
 The three divisions oTecaeas with th2 headauaruers trcsgps Of MaJ0r General Read's sec0ld corps, also designated for return, cotaI s3,aG6 mem General March said that b1- eluding these divisions Ehe total number of men available for ifs- charge was 1.379 coo and that 49, ,4gl officers and 630.36g men had been mustered out up to yestereIaF-
 The chief Of staff also diseTof4at, that the WAT department was pre- pairing to take unto the regular army under the pr0p0sed reorganization plan those reserve and temporary of ficers whose records during the war show them to be fitted for profess si0nal military life
 Additional anfts assfened tY General Pershfng to early convoy honey the war department annoua- ced today include the first and 7ec- end railroad ordinance repair shops the 15lst artillery Brigade, eompos- ed cf the 202nd and 303~d field ar tiIlery regiments and brigade head quarters, and the tractor artillery schooI detachment i'm aII a!kaut 12G c sffcers and 2660 men
 The Both includes natiGnsaI guard troops from TennesGae North Caro- lima and South Carolina the 31th Ohio and Wsst Virginia guard smen- snd the e1st Washington Oregon California, Idaho. Nevada, Montana Wyoming. Utah and Alaska troops These three entire divisions and < the second c1rps Headquarters which operated with the British army In Flanders under Na1or General Geo w Read has been ad- ded to priority list and will be re- turned home as shipping becomes available The three divisions and the headquarters comprise about S3,0GJ men.
 Units abroad assigned to easly convoy in addition to Ghose already embarked. now total 29s,A0@ Troops in the United States and ahT cad des- fgnated for demoailfzation, General March said, total 1879 ,000.
 Consolidation Of the army at home has HOW reached the last class the combatant divisions Ord CTS for the breaking up of these units already have been sent out and the task will proceed gradually, under week to week designations ot the number to be let out
 The progress of deuYohiltzarfon is keing maintained. official reports show. an incomplete total giving eS0-%s9 men and 40,4a1 officers dis charged mp to January 3.
 Combat troops at home already or dered discharged number about 40,- 500. Other units on the list of those designated for early discharge include 10000 overseas. casuafs and l 300 Ha- waIian national guardsmen
 The army reorganization bill ro be presented to congress early next week will contain provisions giving author ity to the war department to incor- porate in the new regular forces those temporary officers who made good in the war, General March said. In the old regular army. 1t was said. every commissioned grade is filled.
 Officers who have indicated their desire 70 maintain their connecti n with the permanent forces are being held in camp and not discharged as their turn Is reached. General Per
 saing has been instructed to use in the army of occupation officers in similar status abroad
 Tn reply to an inquiry regarding 2 persistent reports that batteries E and D. 150th field artillery 42nd divis- ion, had been practically wiped out in action, General March said Major General Charles T. Menoher. former commander of the 42nd. now in Washington, had stated speci- fically that such reports were un- founded. These units. he said, had not suffered any unusually heavy losses
 General March requested that atten- tion be called 10 the fact that the war risk insurance bureau is an adjunct of the treasury department and does not come under the war department He said his personal mail was flooded frruf~faz raCareffu0