The Washington herald., 1917-08-18

held as depot troops and used to
men are rejected or as casualties o
Solves Big Problem
This arrangement represents the
solution Of a problem that has been
troubling the War Department for a
long time-what to do with drafted
men who do not prove their soldierly
capabilities.
Under this plan the man who show
themselves soldiers will get into
action first. Others. slower. less in
telligent, or less willing. will be held
in the United States for further drill.
1t was also suggested yesterday
that men Of questionable loyalty-and
it is admitted that many such may be
drawn into the new army-win be
held i'm these large depot units untII
their loyalty can be thoroughly tested.
II Is further believed that these
depot troops may be used to furnish.
capable non-commissioned officers for
the training of the second draft
President Answers Weeks.
4AAS represents DuL Ouc OIL the many
tangles which the War Department
is successfully working out as the
huge plan for the great new fighting
force is made to unfold.
Two difficult problems were taken
up by President Wilson and Gen.
Crowder yesterday. The President
wrote to Senator Weeks, of Mas
sachusetts. that he would call to the
attention of the War Department the
contention Of the Senator that greater
leniency should be shown married
men who claim exemption.
Gen. Crowder warned all boards
that they must not certify for service
men who do not claim exemption in
advance Of those whose exemption
claims are being determined This he
SAYS would in effect permit volun-
teerinE among the men drawn and
would be in violation of the spirit OF
the law
Would Ignore Treaties =
Senator Weeks wrote the President
that he believed all aliens should be
drafted irrespective Of our treaty OBJ
I--tions' ard that married men
=hould be exempted wherever posslole
en- account of the burden their TAX
M VIII place uANAA NAlC
and the added strain upon at least
two members of the community for
every man drawn.
4 cannot believe that you mean We
should disregard our treaty relations.
the President replied to Senator
Weeks FIRST suggestion.
In reply TO his second he said:
Your point with regard TO the
drafting of men with families is well
taken, and I have reason to believe
that it is very much in the mind, at
any rate. of most Of the drafting
boards
The uoint has already been
thoroughly covered in rulings by the
President and the Provost Marshall
General to the effect that the economic
dependency of the family is the only
thing that will exempt a married man.
No Change In Ruling.
It is not believed that there will be
any great change in the present rul-
ings.
Reports concerning a few local
boards" General Crowder said yester-
day, are to the effect that these boards
are proceeding to call throughout the
whole list of persons registered, then
to certify up only those who claim no
exemption, regardless of whether their
order OF obligation places them within
their quota. leaving the claims of ex-
emption undecided or merely formally
allowing them all without discrimina-
ton.
In effect this course permits volun-
teering among registrants. This meth
cd is illegal and unauthorized. AL
registrants stand in an equality be-
fore the law, except as the law de-
crees an inequality. Furthermore, the
method results in calling men for mill
tary service out OF their order
Instructions to Boards.
District and local boards. General
CrOwder says, must determine exemp-
ton claims as rapidly as possible, cs-
pecially those of persons who come
early on the list. The first 30 per cent
called September l, may include men
who would not ordinarily be called un-
til the second 30 per cent is sent up
on the 18th Of September. General
Crowder says. while claims for exemp-
tion of the first men called are still
pending
Great care must be taken" Gen.
Crowder warns. by the local board
to send no one to military duty
whose order of obligation is so late
as to make II improbable that he
will be within the total quota.
The last ten per cent must be
selected with the greatest care to
be sure that no one in the whole
quota is sent for military duty
while a selected person of an
earlier order Of obligation for mill
tary service is allowed to remain
at home"