Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1919 — THE TWICE-A-WEEK DEMOCRAT YANKS TO LEAVE RHINE BY AUG. 15 [ARTICLE]

THE TWICE-A-WEEK DEMOCRAT

YANKS TO LEAVE RHINE BY AUG. 15

Only 6,000 Fighters to Be Left in Germany, Pershing Says; Proud of Men. NO ARMY OF OCCUPATION It Will Be Known Henceforth ■■ the "American Force In Germany," or "On the Rhine"— Universal Training Urged. Paris, July 3.—Six weeks from now the American troops in Germany will number not more than 6,000, providing the Germans show an Intention In the meantime faithfully to carry out the terms of the peace t/eaty. Gen. John J. Pershing made this announcement at a inference with American newspaper mVn. But with eyes flashing and his lean, virile face lighting up, he added: “We are not going to pull out and give the impression that America Is shifting the responsibility to somebody else. We must remember our word of honor and our flag are here. ’ Ready to Come Home. America’s ahny of occupation ceased to exist Wednesday. It will be known henceforth as the “American force in Germany” or “on the Rhine.” Gen. Henry Allen, former commander of the Ninth division, will command It, Gen. Huiger Liggett returning home at his own request. The force will be stationed only at one point, probably Coblenz. Of the five American divisions now on the Rhine the Fourth and Fifth are preparing to move homeward within the next few days. The Second and Third divisions are scheduled to follow In a few Weeks. The lafct remaining division —the First—composed of regulars, will be gradually reduced to one regiment, with auxiliary bodies. Urges Universal Training. “Black Jack” Pershing’s face beamed with pride as he described the A. E. F. as an army which has never been equaled In history in morale and fighting qualities, though, he added, it wns up to the American people to decide whether his troops had done their job well. He praised the educational program now in effect in the A. E. F. as democratic and spoke of the possibility of linking this up with the proposed universal military service plan, which he said was “splendid.” General Pershing’s headquarters is being removed from Chaumont to Paris. Brest hereafter will be the only port of debarkation. _ Pershing himself expects to return to the United States in August or September. The American commander In chief denied reports that vast stores of American materials had been burned. He said nothing of value had been destroyed.