New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-07
ENGLAND'S ARMY IS
Being DEMOBILIzED
Miners, Men Over Al, Students,
Teachers and Physicians First

London, Feb. 20, Correspondence
of the Associated Press the details
cation of the British army is now n
full swing. Up to the present time
total of $4,000 men have passed
through the six dispersal stations In
England and Scotland. and skilled
workers are being returned to in
dustry in rapidly increasing numbers
Soon fifteen dispersal stations will be
III operation, each Of which will be
capable of dealing with 1000 men
every twenty-four hours.
According to Major-General B. L.
Burnett Hitchcock director general
of rehabilitation, who at Camp Vim
hledon explained to a representative
of the Association Press the details
Of the work, it will be a long time
before the rehabilitation limit has
been reached. The question of the
number of men each of the asso-
ciated governments is to leave in the
enemy countries for occupation pur-
poses will be determined at the peace
conference.
The following classes are being de-
modified en- bloc here:
Miners, sick and wounded soldiers,
ConValesCcnts, men over Al who were
called up in the last draft, pivotal
or leading men in industry, students
and teachers
Those that will not be demobilized
TOT the present are the railway per
sonnet in France, men having to do
with transportation generally, and
those in charge of horses.
Many physicians have been re-
leased, but a sufficient force will be
retained to care for the 100000 sick
and wounded now under treatment.
General Hitchcock had been work
ing on dem mobilization plans for is
months prior to the signing of the
armistice, and his machinery was as
nearly ready for its work as the ext
gencies Of war permitted. The main
outlines of his scheme were borrowed
from the measures taken by the
Japanese after their war with Russia.
The actual number of units to he
got ready for demobilization,' said
General Hitchcock. "is 1900. There
are nineteen categorics of men, each
category having different legal rights
to be safeguarded.
THE rate of rehabilitation de-
ponds upon transportation facilities.
More and more ships are being con-
verted into transports and they soon
will exceed berth accomm odation at
the various ports from which the men
are being sent home. Every ship
from France is now bringing over
troops, some from the front. The
bulk of them arc minors, $4,000 hav-
ing been released from the army by
the first of the year.
Conditions of rail and road trans
portation in France are extremely
bad, he pointed out. and the question
of supplying the army of occupation
in Germany was param
Just because a man is on leave at
home doesn't entitle him, said Gen
eral Hitchcock, to be mustered out
of service before a soldier in the field.
Nor is the question of d mans dis
charge left in the hands of COM
manding officers, "a commanding Of
fcer can't say the general continued,
We'll, this man makes a good waiter
at the mess and we won't let him
go"
"Compa ssionate cases." that is,
where the wife of q soldier is serious
ly III or where there are motherless
children, are being dealt with as
quickly as possible.
Soldiers are bringing home vast
quantities of luggage. One ship from
Holland had $500 tons of it, in
Guiding four grand pianos and a
beehive, which was overturned and
an officer badly stung.
At the Wimbledon station the cor !
respondent saw the working of the
rehabilitation machinery. On ar
rival the men find a hot meal await
ing them. no matter what the hour
of day or night.
Each receives a ration hook, an UNI |
employment policy, a railway war
rant, a pamphlet of good advice, $40, |
a label for the return of his over
coat, and certificate emitting him to
draw pay and all allowances for rs |
days.
Thorough identification of the re-
turning soldier is regarded as impor-
tant. You would be surprised" !
said General Hitchcock, Ito know !
how many Tommies change their
disks with pals. It's the |
same in the French army. Why they !
do it is beyond understanding. We |
are always burying the wrong man" |
The soldier turns over his rifle and
accoutremCnts, but he is permitted
to keep his uniform and ''tin hat" He
must return his army overcoat with |
in q month. receiving SIS for it.
One Of the station huts is a tailor
shop whoro the soldier is given his
choice of one Of three suits Of vary
ing weight and pattern, made to his
measurement. If he doesn't want the
civilian suit he is given $3.50. The
wise soldier takes the suit, for at
present prices it would cost him con-
siderabIy more than $40.