Evening star., 1932-09-18

BY GEN. PEYTON C. MARCH,
U. S. A., Retired,
Chief OF STAFF in World War
w YHEN time came for demobili-
a zation the welfare of Army
wv and country demanded def
mite provisions for the wise
redistribution of the men to
be returned to civil life.
Economic and industrial considera-
tionS required assurance OF the orderly
disbandonment of soldiers with the
minimum of disturbance to the business
world, already engaged in the compli-
Gated and delicate task of industrial
and economic reorganization.
This problem involved such consider
ationS as coordination with the labor
and employment situation. measures to
prevent congestion Of unemployed eX-
soldiers in the larger cities and obtain
ing positions for discharged men.
It was Of utmost Importance that the
Army develop as soon as possible COM
prehensive demcbilization policy based
not only upon its own interest, but upon
that of the country at large. Tnere
were no precedents afforded by the ex-
perience of our former wars which were
of value in determining such policy.
Problem Was Difficult.
A plan making the order OF discharge
dependent upon availability of indus
trial positions to which the individual
might return on submitting request
stating that employment awaited MN
was deemed impracticable. Had the
War Department announced such sys-
cation. practically every man would al
once have submitted his request lor I'M
mediate discharge.
Under the plan finally adopted nun
dreds of thousands of men were soon
returned to their families, home COM
munities and Industrial centers VINO
might not have been released for
months II I had yielded to attempts TO
establish a scheme of rehabilitation
based largely on individual requests 1or
As a result of my plan for demooili'
zation by military units, 2,608,2l8 en-
listed men and l28, ,436 officers were dis
charged from the temporary forces Dy
,uune 30. 1919, and by January !, l9ZU,
the entire force was demobilized, except
some 100000, who included the perma-
nent officers and men OF the Regular
Army.
Sought to Benefit veterans.
The principles on which the policy OF
demobilization vas carried out were that
no one should be discharged at any
nlace other than at the camp nearest
his home; that no one snouio De oS
charoed I while there remained posi-
hiIity OF improving his physical conol-
tion: that the ex-soldiers prospects a
a civilian should be furthered as muCE !
es possible; that each ofncer snoulo
have an opportunity to qualify lot !
commission in the Reserve corps ina
evervthing should be done to encoui-
ece oficers and enlisted men 10 60 ul.
rectlv to their homes, and thaI tne
nrocesses of demobilization snoulo oe
When the scheme for demooinzlnt
uas NIT into effect 1t was realiZeo 'i,a
there would arise in units Wnose us
mobilization had not been oioeIeu &c.
tain cases deserving 1ndlVloudl 49, ~,
tion. I therefore issued, lO GAYS aite, &c,
the armistice. circular proViuilie rU'
discharge Of men who entereo an,y ..ie IN
whose families there was need or as
tress or whose services were urgent9
needed ns by some business or industry
rrovided they were eligible for OILS
choroe co and could be spared or replaced
AS we demobilized the large unit
u.tnse discharge en- bloc could Dt
ordered, the time arrived When IL wa
nossible to release men to larger eA'
tent than formerly on their individua
application for discharge IN case
where definite employment walteo ane
Il was to the general interest Oh 'ii'
country that they be released.
Protected Those without Jobs.
Provision also was made for retain
ing in service those who had no pros:
pect of immediate employment, ane
Circular "a, War Department. 1919, pro
yided that commanding ofncers takt
steps to insure that every enlisted mar
o,1phIv that the War Department dle
not desire to discharge any soldier wht
could not get civilian employment, ano
that in place OF being discharged, as NJ
| would be normally under orders 1ol
demobilzation, he might remain II
service until such time as he could ge'
| employment. 49,,
70 establish the final status OF the
DISCHARGED soldier and settle MS &C
| counts with justice to indiv1dua! ane
| Government, complete papers ana rec,
| ords had to be made out In detail
Many men, in their desire to be re
leased from their obligation OF service
attempted to conceal physical allment
which, in justice to themselves ant
their families, received the attentlon
/ the Army medical authorities.
The discharged soldier left the Arm.
with his pay, plus $50 bonus. II
good as when he entered the service
| if wounded or in worse health, he wa
entitled to compensation. No off1cer o
enlisted man was discharged. even OF
his own desire, until he had received
the full benefit of Army medical treat
ment. Every man also received uni
form. shoes and overcoat or rain coat
Sought to Obtain Jobs.
| All men who had taken out war risl
insurance were informed Of the right t.
convert 1t to flve-year term insurance
In certain cases, direct vocationa
training was given the men, and IN al
cases every possible effort was made b.
| the War Department to obtain employ
ment for ex-soldiers.
The methods of payment OF ofhcers
the compilation Of their record, medi
cal examination, ETC.. were PRACTICAL.
| identical with those provided for tn
enlisted men, except that the Officer
should he so desire, had opportunity t
retain or better his rank, in the ON
GERS Reserve Corps, provided his serv
ices had been satisfactory. All o1icer
who expressed the wish to become
part of the Regular Army, or Of tn
Onicers' Reserve Corps, received examl
nation to determine their fitness.
Every effort was made to return tn
soldier to civil life In physical condi
ton as good or better than that Il