The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-15
THE PROTEST OF THE TROOPS

THE PROTEST OF THE TROOPS
While full explanation, and
then a thorough review, of the de-
mobilization must wait until Gen
eral Eisenhower testifies next
week, the man facts are already
known and the main questions
that have to be answered are
reasonably clear. We can see
where Congress and the public can
most usefully fix their attention.
The demonstrations, which be-
gan in the Manila area and were
followed by some others elsewhere
have occurred-we must note
after more than two-thirds of the
troops due to come home had al
ready come home. Since the fight
ing ended in Europe eight months
ago and in the Pacific five months
ago, some 100000 men have been
brought back from overseas.
Another 100000 are due to
come home by July ! of this year,
that is, to say during the first six
months of 1916. The demonstra-
tons have taken place among
these men-actually among the
last half of the last third of those
who are to come home. Their dis
content arises out of the fact that
the shipping exists to bring all OF
them home in three months-at
the rate of 100000 a month
whereas the War Department has
announced that it will bring them
home only within six months-at
the rate of 100000 a month. The
homesick and bored troops af-
fected are those who could be
brought home by March, and have
now been told they must wait I'm
til April, May, and June. Those
who are slowed down until the
spring resent it because they are
being held not by lack of ships,
which would be understandable
and acceptable, but by a War De-
partment policy which has not
been explained, and will be de-
batable when it is explained.
Explanation must begin with the
size of the army which the War
Department is planning to main
tain overseas after July 1, when
the rehabilitation will be com
pleted. The plans call for 1877. 900
American troops overseas-335, 600
in Europe Gncluding italy,, 375,-
600 in the Pacific, and $1,000 else
where. If the War Department
could by volunteer enlistment and
by Selective Service get enough
men and could train them by
March and could move them over
seas so as not to fall below to-
tai of $4,000 there would be no
showdown.
1t is bee use the War Depart
ment is not going to get these re-
placements by March that it is
holding some of the men who
would otherwise be home by
The figure that needs to be ex-
planned and reviewed, because II
is controlling, is the $4,000 troops
who are to be maintained over
seas, on present plans, after the
veterans of this war have come
home. 1t is evident that it the
figure were smaller, there Woulo
be that much less of a showdown
II is also evident that if the ne"
army of occupation and for over,
seas garrisons could be recruited
faster, there would be that mucr
less showdown.
But the figure has a greater I'M
portance than that. The SLOW
down, hard as it is on the men I'M
mediately affected, is a passing
problem: At worst 100000 mer
will be overseas three months, an
other 300, 1000 men will be overse a a.
two months, and another 3oo'oo'
will be overseas one month longer
than they had been given reason
to expect. But after all these me1
are home, the real question VII
remain, which is whether thf
figure is a correct estimate o
the army which this countr.
, should maintain overseas during
the postwar.
It may be tn e correct figure
But it may not be. That there il
doubt about it is proved by TN
fact that during the last thre'
months the War Department ha
revised it considerably, reducing
it's estimate made in September b.
400, 900. This was a reduction D.
nearly one-quarter OF the tota