Germany.—In accordance with the terms of the Armistice, American forces were selected to establish one of the three bridge heads in the territory of the former German empire. The III. Army, with Maj.-Gen. J. T. Dickman commanding, and desig nated as the army of occupation, began its advance on Nov. 17, toward Coblenz, occupied by United States forces until 1923.
Demobilization.—The Armistice necessitated the demobili zation of some 3,700,000, the termination of contracts with due regard to the interests of industry and the Government, and the co-ordination with labour over the employment situation. By Jan. 4, 1919, there were discharged 732,766 men; by Feb. I, 1,026,664; by May I, 1;936,011 ; and by July 1, 2,736,654. By April I, 1920, demobilization of enlisted men was practically completed.
Phases Since the World War.—Once demobilization began, the question arose as to what type of army the country should have. During Congressional hearings three types were proposed: a Universal Service Army in which all young men would serve ; a large professional army ; or a small professional army with a large National Guard (N.G.) and reserve cadres of different categories. The third plan was adopted. The result was the National Defence Act of 1920 which provided for a Regular Army of approximately 18,000 officers and 280,000 enlisted men, a National Guard of an ultimate strength of approximately 400,000, a large officers' re serve corps (O.R.C.), an enlisted reserve corps, the Reserve Of . cers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) in the land grant colleges, pri vate military schools and colleges and high schools with courses in military training, and the summer Citizens' Military Training Camps (C.M.T.C.).
The Regular Army, besides its usual peace time missions was to furnish the personnel to train the civilian components consisting of the N.G., the O.R.C., enlisted reserve corps, the R.O.T.C., and the C.M.T.C. The National Defence Act also provided for the preparation in peace of plans for industrial mobilization in war.
One of the most important questions which came up at this time was that of command in peace and in war and the powers of the General Staff. Under the Constitution, the President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. When the General Staff was established in 1903, the law did not clearly enough define the functions of the Chief of Staff and of the General Staff. As a consequence there was a continuous strug gle between the Staff Corps primarily concerned with administra tion and supply and the General Staff made up of Line Officers from the combatant branches of the Army. The General Staff viewpoint was that the Staff Corps should deal through the Chief of Staff with the Secretary of 'War, the representative of the Commander-in-Chief, the President. The Staff Corps wished to
deal directly with the Secretary of War as had been true prior to the formation of the General Staff, and not through the Chief of Staff.
The World War had brought up another question. It was how far the Chief of Staff in the War Department in Washington could give instructions to and modify the demands of the Commander in-Chief of the Army in the field. Due primarily to General John J. Pershing during his term of Chief of Staff and to General Charles P. Summerall, a later Chief of Staff and his successor, General Douglas MacArthur, the following system has been estab lished. The Chief of Staff is both Chief of the General Staff and also is the Chief of Staff through whom the President by means of his Secretary of War exercises control of all parts of the Army. The peace time preparation for industrial mobilization and pur chase of supplies and equipment are functions of the Assistant Secretary of War.
In time of war, the Chief of Staff will take the field as Com mander-in-Chief of the Army, while the Deputy Chief of Staff, his first assistant, will remain in Washington to exercise the func tions ordinarily exercised by the Chief of Staff. This secures the dominance of the will of the commander-in-the-field.
After the World War there was considerable controversy as to whether or not the air services of the Army and Navy should be separated from them and united into an independent air service. After investigation by Congressional committees and by a number of Boards including prominent civilians, it was decided that the existing organization would produce better results than an inde pendent air service. Instead of an independent air service, all Army air units were organized into a single Air Force, commanded by an aviation Major General directly under the command of the Chief of Staff of the Army. This whole force is available anywhere at any time, with nothing more necessary than a tele phonic command by the Chief of Staff. (H. J. RE.) The country is divided into four Army areas bordering upon the four strategic frontiers. The commanding generals of each area are charged with development of appropriate war plans for the de fense of their respective strategic regions and the perfection of all necessary prearrangements, including training exercises, to insure prompt and effective employment of troops in any crisis. The country is also divided into nine corps areas which are in cluded in the four Army areas.