Show Rhine Troops Ordered Home Before July 1 Weeks Weeks' Order Means That Doughboys on German Soil About Abo t 2000 2000 Strong trong Will Soon Be Back in U. U S. S A. A 1 WASHINGTON March 20 orders 20 Orders I directing the return to to the tho United States sars S es- es by J bY July IY lof lr of all aU American troops troops' now on the Rhine were Issued today by Secretary Weeks The order includes the return b by bythe bythe the end of the fiscal al year of the entire force of approximately 2000 men excepted from the previous order of several weeks ago under which i I the homeward movement of the majority majority majority ma ma- of the th American Rhine con- con t is now In progress Secretary Weeks Weeks- said that the operation operation operation op op- op- op of two army transports now being employed in the return of the troops had been ordered continued up to July 1 I by which date all of the force would have been withdrawn from the Rhine The action of the war department was merely a continuation of policy previously announced for withdrawing the American forces from the Rhine territory as early as possible Mr Weeks said It was Indicated that the status of army legislation in congress In no way Influenced the departments department's decision and also that the controversy over payment by Germany for the maintenance of the tho troops was not involved |