I desire to acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 22nd, enclosing letters relative to the discharge of Cook Ernest A. Bennett, Camp Hospital #33, Base Section #5, A. P. O. 716.

I am glad to be able to inform you that the Department is making a special effort to return all of those soldiers, who enlisted or were drafted for the period of the emergency only, before the end of October. Upon arrival in the United States they will be promptly discharged, if their services can be spared.

As little, if any, time can be gained by attempting to hasten the return of individual soldiers, special action is being limited to the most urgent cases involving critical illness that is likely to prove fatal in the immediate family of the soldier.

It is regretted that, under the existing circumstances, a more favorable reply cannot be made to your letter.