TWO MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE Wednesday, Sept 8, 1944
Full Text of War Department Demobilization Plan
Washington, Sept. 8 OJ.R)
The text of the war department's
statement on its plan for de
mobilizing the army after Ger
many surrenders:
The army has adopted a plan
or the readjustment of military
personnel after the defeat of
Germany and prior to the defeat
of Japan calling for a partial
and orderly demobilization from
its present peak strength.
When the war against Ger
many has ended, the military I
might of the United States will
be shifted from the European
area to tlio Pacific area. Military
requirements in the European
and American areas will be dras
tically curtailed, while tremen
dous Increases will be essential
In the Pacific.
To defeat Japan as quickly as
possible, and permanently, the
United States will have to as
semble, readjust, and streamline
Its military forces in order to
apply the maximum power. Our
military requirements to achieve
this end, Involving men, weap
ons, equipment, and shipping,
have been set forth by the com
bined chiefs of staff. These re
quirements are the determining
factors of the readjustment and
demobilization plnn adopted by
the war department.
Military necessity decrees that
sufficient men suited to the type
of warfare being waged in the
fer of elements from theaters no
longer active to the Pacific war
zone, or from the United States
to the Pacific war zone. All avail
able transportation will be util
ized for this tremendous under
taking. The readjustment and demobil
ization plan developed by the
war department after months of
study takes into account all of
these variable factors. Briefly,
the plan for the return of non
essential soldiers to civilian life
will start with the assembly in
the United States of men de
clared surplus to the needs of
each overseas theater and to the
major commands in the United
States. From among these men
some will be designated essen
tial, and a substantial number
will be designated as non-essential
to the new military needs of
the army and will be returned to
civilian life according to certain
priorities. J
As an example, the command-
campaigns In units not selected I gardless
for return.
Consequently, It was deter
mined that the fairesVmcthod to
effect partial demobilization
would be through the selection
of men as individuals, rather
than by units, with the selection
governed by thoroughly impar
tial standards.
Standards
For the standards, the war de
partment went to the soldiers
themselves. Experts were sent
Into the field to obtain a cross
section of the sentiments of en
listed men. Thousands of sol
diers, both In this country and
overseas, were interviewed to
learn their views on the kind of
selective procress they believed
should determine the men to be
rturned first to civilian life.
Opinions expressed by the sol
diers themselves became the ac
cepted principles of the plan.
As finally worked out, the
plan accepted by the war depart-
of a man's priority
standing, certain types of per
sonnel can never become surplus
as long as the war against Japan
continues.
As an example of how the plan
will work, assume that there are
four infantry divisions in the Eu
ropean theater. One is declared
surplus. Men in all four divisions
are rated according to the pri
ority credit scores. The top
fourth is selected and those not
essential for retention in service
by reason of military necessity
are designated as surplus. Men in
the surplus division who are
marked for retention by reasons
of military necessity are then
shifted into the active divisions.
have seen combat duty.
Any man who may have been
declared nonessential under this
plan who, wishes to remain in
the army, provided he has a
satisfactory record, will not be
forced out of the army if he can
be usefully employed.
In the case of officers, mili
tary necessity will determine
which ones are nonessential.
These will be released as they
can be spared.
Priority of release for mem
bers of the women's army corps
will be determined in the same
way as for the rest of the army,
but treating the corps as a sep
arate group. However, in the 1
AU of the men i deVignatd
Ing general of the European men as best meeting the tests of
theater of operations will be in- Justice and Impartiality, will al
formed by the war department low men who have been over
of the types and numbers of his seas and men with dependent
units which will be needed in the I children to have priority of sep
Paclflc, and the types and num-' aratlon. Ninety per cent of the
hnr. ni hi. nnii uhirh u;ill rp-' soldiers interviewed said that
main as occupation troops, and
the types and numbers of his
units which are surplus.
The simplest plan of demobil
ization would have been to re-
Paclfic must remain In service (turn these surplus units to this
as long as they are essential, i country and discharge their per
Certaln units of the army also, I sonncl intact,
of necessity, will have to be re-1 Such a method, however,
. talncd In the various theaters would operate with great unfair
where action has ceased in order ness to many individuals who
to fulfill such occupation duties have had long and arduous ser
as are necessary. Other elements, I vice but are not assigned to one
no longer needed In the theater . of the units declared surplus.
in which they are assigned, will
, be transferred to other areas,
reorganized and redesignated to
' meet current military require-
If only units in Europe were
considered, this basis of expedi
ency would work unfairly to
units long In the Pacific or at
tments In the theater, or they outpost bases In the American
will be Inactivated
' Within each element of the
army thousands of individuals
may become surplus to the needs
of the theater or major command
in which they are serving. Dut
more thousands will be required
.for further military service.
First priority In this readjust
ment program will be the trans-
theater. It would operate unfair
ly to men who have seen extend
ed combat service both in Eur
ope and the Pacific and have
been returned to this country
for reassignment. It would re
lease men only recently assign
ed as replacements to units long
1n combat and would discrim
inate against veterans of many
IN
Bs sure If
PURE CANE SUGAR
insist on
il'INIIY.PACKID CONTAINIRS
? SUGAR ;
'r ii Mir--'
that Is the way It should be.
As part of the plan adopted,
an "adiusted service rating
card" will be Issued to all en
listed personnel after the defeat
of Germany. On this card will be
scored the following four fac
tors that will determine prior
ity of separation:
1 Service credit based up
on the total number of months
of armv service since Septem
ber 16. 1940.
2 Overseas credit based up
on the number of months served
overseas.
3 Combat credit based up
on the first and each additional
award to the individual of the
Medal of Honor, Distinguished
Service Cross, Legion of Merit,
Silver Star, Distinguished Fly
ing Cross, Soldier's Medal,
Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal,
Purple Heart and Bronze Serv
ice Stars (battle participation
stars).
4 Parenthood credit Which
gives credit for each dependent
child under 18 years up to a lim
it of three children.
The value of the point credits
will be announced after the ces
sation of hostilities in Europe. In
the meantime, the point values
will be kept under continuous
study. The total score will be
used to select surplus men from
the theaters overseas and in the
United States. The score also
will be used when a certain por
tion of all these surplus men
will be declared nonessential and
returned to civilian life.
In all cases, however, the de
mands of military necessity and
the needs of the war against
Japan must first be met. Re-
plus are shifted into the surplus
divisions, which now will serve
as a vehicle for eventually re
turning them to the United
States.
No man in a unit that remains
in service can become surplus
until a qualified replacement is
available If military necessity
should entail the immediate
transfer of a unit to the Pacific,
there may conceivably be no
time to apply the plan to men
of that unit before the emer
gency transfer is made. Consid
eration will be given these men
when they arrive in the new
theater.
The active units needed
against Japan will be shipped to
the Pacific. Those units required
for occupation duty in Europe
will be sent to their stations, and
surplus units will be returned to
the United States as quickly as
possible.
In the United States, the men
the army, those whose husbands
have already been released will
be discharged upon application.
The plan as now adopted will I
provide some reduction in the
army's ground forces and initi
ally considerably less in the ser
vice forces and in the air forces.
Following Germany's defeat,
the air forces will have to move
combat groups and supporting
ground units from all over the
world to the Pacific areas. The
nature of the Pacific area dic
tates that service forces person
nel will be needed in great num
bers to carry the war to Japan.
Long supply lines, scattered
bases, jungles, primitive coun
try, all contribute to the impor
tance and necessity for service
forces personnel. Therefore, the
reduction in its strength will be
slow at first.
As replacements become avail
able from the ground forces and
from new inductees, the air
of these surplus units will revert I forces and the service forces will
to a surplus pool in the army I discharge a fair share of men
ground forces, army service proportionate with tha ground
forces, and army air forces, forces.
These surplus pools will Include j Surplus Individuals declared
men from all overseas theaters nonessential to the needs of the
and surplus men from the conti-' army will be discharged from
nental United States. I the service through separation
From these surplus pools the centers. Five army separation
reduction of various types of j centers are already in operation i
army personnel will be made, and additional ones will be set
The number to be returned to
civilian life as no longer essen
tial to overall army needs will
be chosen from among those
with them highest priority credit
scores. "
It Is emphasized that the rate
of return of surplus men from
overseas will depend upon the
number of ships available. Thou
sands of ships will be required
to supply the Pacific theater
The Pacific theater will
No. 1 priority. All else must
wait. To it will be transported
millions of fighting men, mil
lions of tons of landing barges,
up when the need develops. A
total of eighteen In all parts of
the country are contemplated.
Their wide distribution will en-
able us to discharge soldiers !
close to their homes. I
The readjustment and demob-'
llizatlon plan applies only to re
adjustment and demobilization!
In the period between the defeat !
of Germany and prior to the!
defeat of Janan. It spt fnrth (ho ;
have principles and responsibilities
involved during that period.
Theater commanders and com
manders of all other major com-1
mantis of the army will put the
i (jpi nmiiiisp.i
"'i.i'f'i iiiii.ii
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO
REPAIR THIS FURNACE BE
FORE ANOTHER WINTER .
$3 Necessary upkeep on your home is a prime reason
for using the loan facilities ol this bank. Undue delay
In repairing roofs, gutters, furnaces, plumbing and
walks may cause serious loss later. Act now. See us
for friendly, prompt and confidential loan service. .
Mcdford Branch of the
UNITED STATES NATIONAL UXXK
of I'ortlnml
tanks, planes, guns, ammunition plan into operation in as simple
a manner as possible based on
these principles and responsi
bilities. The war deoartment has de-
to supply the European theater I termined that the successful op-
and food, over longer supply
i lines than those to Europe.
This means that most of the
ships and planes that were used
will be needed to supply the Pa
clflc theater. The majority of
ships proceeding to Europe will
continue on to the Pacific laden
with troops and supplies for that
distant campaign. Very few will
turn around and come back to
the United States. The army,
eration of the plan requires that
the troops themselves, as well as
the public, be kept fully inform
ed. !
The size of the military estab- i
llshment that will be needed
after the defeat of Germany has:
been calculated with the same
therefore, Will not be able to' exactness as the sire nf the nrmv
return all surplus men to the needed up to now. No soldier
United States Immediately. It, wm be kept In the military ser-
may take many months
While the process of selecting
and returning men from the
European theater is taking place
the plan for readjustment and
partial demobilization also will
be applied in active theaters,
like the southwest Pacific. Indi
viduals In those theaters will be
declared surplus to the extent
that replacements can be provid-
cm. iiutuiuuy, suite me l acme
will be the only active theater,
there will be no surplus units of
any type. Military requirements
there will demand an Increase
rather than a decrease in fight
ing units. Nevertheless, troops
in the Pacific area will benefit
by the reduction of the army,
not as units, but as individuals.
Commanders in the Pacific
area will be told the number
and types of men who can be
replaced. They then will select
these men, using the same stan
dards as apply in inactive the
aters and in the United States.
These men then will be returned
to the United States as rapidly
as replacements of the same
type become available and as
the military situation permits.
As an example: Normally,
there will be a great flow of
men needed to build up and
maintain an offensive against
Japan, but say that several thou
sand men, over and above the
required number can be shipped
to the Pacific each month. Then,
a corresponding number of men
In the Pacific with the highest
priority credit scores can be de
clared surplus and returned to
the United States, where their
scores and military necessity
will determine whether they arc
smong the personnel no longer
essential to the army.
Simultaneously with the selec
tion and return of men In the
overseas theaters, the same
selective formula will be applied
among troops stationed in the
continental United States.
Troops in the United States,
however, will serve as the main
reservoir of replacements for
the overseas theaters. For in
general their priority scores will
vice who is not needed to fulfill
these requirements. No soldier
will be released who is needed.
L -,.J,T.- f -
Buy More
War Bonds
and
Stamps
O
ftp if
v.., : '. m
Have Yqu Seen
Our New
CLOTHES
For That Back To School
Wardrobe
SWEATERS
Soft wooly sweaters of all kinds and all colors. Keep warm
this winter by wearing sweaters to school or to work. We
still have a few sale sweaters at $1.00 to $4.95. All sizes
in stock.
$1.00 $6.95
DRESSES
Wool Jerseys for school or work that will give you a dressed
up look. A wonderful choice of colors, styles and sizes.
Come in now and see them for they are selling fast.
$8.95 $9.95 '
SKIRTS
Everything imaginable in skirts to meet with your approval.
Skirts made from that ever-wearing strutter cloth or from
100 wool. A good selection oi colors.
$4.25-$6.50
BLOUSES
Blouse of all kinds are in our stock and only wait for the
asking. Sea our complete stock of well-made blouees while
they are still plentiful on our racks. All colors and sixes.
$1.59-$4.95
M
M.
DEPT. STORE
PAY LESS AND DRESS BETTER
Have a Coca-Cola Let's go places
...or refreshment joins the family picnic
VThether it's a jaunt in the country or a gathering in a garden, guests are
sure o cluster 'round the spot where ice-cold "Coca-Cola is served, llav
"Colt" means the parry is beginning on a note of good fellowship. And how
good Coca-Cola tastes with the simplest food! Vwih a supply of Coca-Cola
in the home refrigerator, your friends and neighbors re always sure of tb
(uust that rcjrtshtt. It's a symbol of welcome at home and overseas.
lOtlltO UNO 1 1 AU1H0IIIT Of TNI COCA-COIA COM'tNT If
Ccsz-Cala Ecliiisg C:np2.iy cf Kcdfcrd
ii
It'i n i rural for popular ntmea
to acquire friend!? abbrevia
tion!. Thari whf fci bear
Coca-Cola called "Coke.
be lower than the scores of men
who have served overseas and
s.9 1944 Tkf C CC.