Evening star., 1945-05-06
ext Of Army's RedepIoyn1ent Statement
War Department Expects Release 900 Men Within
Year After We Day. Leaving Force of Fight ops

= The tert OF the War Depart
ments announcement on its
troop redeployment plan:
As the end OF the war in Europ,
approaches, public interest is turn.
ing to the problems involved in de.
feating Japan and the size of tn,
Army required to accomplish thi.
JOB. Yesterday members of the Wal
Department general staff appeared
before the House Military Affair.
Committee to discuss our plans ir
executive session fully and frankly
The information presented has ap.
peared in the press in partial anc
garbled form. Therefore as it is OF
the most intense interest to every
soldier and to our citizens generally
the following statement is released
The War Department desired to
delay making any public statement
In this matter until after several
basic factors had been cleared with
overseas commanders and the plan
presented to the entire Congress by
Admiral King and Gen. Marshall.
The joint chiefs of staff, after
consultation with Gen. Macarthur
and Admiral Nimitz, have made a
preliminary estimate of the troops
and equipment needed to crush
Japan in the shortest possible time
and with the smallest cost in Amer
lean lives. Similar calculations
were made for the forces provided
Gen. Eisenhower.
European Estimate Accurate.
~ Their estimate of the needs in
Europe and Africa was quite ac-
curate, the last division to arrive
in Europe having gone into action
on April l.
Our Army is now 100000 strong.
Under the approved plan we are
now engaged in working toward
an Army strength of 6,968, 900 a year
from now. That will give us all the
strength we believe we can deploy
effectively against Japan and will
also enable us to meet our occupa-
ttpn responsibilities in Europe and
% maintain the necessary training
and supply force in the United
States.
- Although we were able to hold
ito the plan we made for the war
against Germany, developments in
war are matter which cannot be
mathematically predicted with ac-
curacy Our best judgment is that
we can defeat Japan quickly and
completely with an Army which a
year from now will be 6,968, 900.
This figure Is given to the American
people with the assurance that they
will be told later on of any changes
that the progress of the war makes
possible or necessary.
Japs Have 100000
The japanese have military
force of more than 100000 men
and many millions more men that
can be utilized for service forces or
for combat, if need be. The num-
bers we can .deploy in the Pacific,
with the limitation of shipping and
base facilities, would not appear on
the face of it sufficient to insure
that preponderance which brings
victory swiftly and with low
casualties.
But the japanese forces are di-
vided. Some are in the home islands;
some IN Manchuria. They have
remnants of garrisons in many
parts of the Pacific and the East
Indies. Our control of the sea and
the air makes it possible for us to
keep these forces apart and to
choose the time and place of our
attacks. We have opportunity to
strike with overwhelming power as
soon as we get our base established
and our armies deployed.
1t Is our aim, together with our
Allies, to give the men under Gen.
Macarthur and Admiral Ninnitz all
the help We can give them just as
rapidly as we can move it into the
Pacific.
Must Use European Veterans.
We can meet only part of the
needs of this Pacific war from men
still in this country. Many of the
troops now in Europe must also go
to the Pacific to take their place
beside those who have driven the
Japanese back from the threshold
of Australia to the inner zone of
their own defenses.
Every physically fit soldier in the
United States who has not vet
served overseas will be assigned to
foreign duty when he completes his
training or, if he is performing an
essential administrative or service
function. as soon as he can be re-
placed by a returning veteran. The
War Department has been making
a systematic and successful effort
since the start of the war to get all
qualified men overseas. There have
for several months been no combat
divisions left in this country and
few smaller tactical units of any
character
- Moving our forces from Europe
Ito the Pacific involves the greatest
Transportation problem that has ever
been undertaken in war. The dis
tances are tremendous. From Eu-
rope to Manila by way of Panama
is $4,000 miles. From San Francisco
to Manila is 6,771 miles. And speed
is essential for it is vitality important
that We. do not give the enemy time
'ither to rest or reorganize his de-
enses.
Some Retaining Needed.
Consequently many troops will 60
traight from Europe. to the war
:gainst Japan. AS many as can be
taken through the United States
without reducing our pressure on
the enemy will be brought through
this country and given furloughs en-
route. Some must be given retrain-
ing after their furloughs, for fighting
the Japanese is different from fight
ing Germans.
The need is particularly great for