The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-11-29
WIN BY MAN POWER
BY CROWDER IN
STATEMENT OF DRAFT.
Question of Labor shpply.-Predicts
Selective Draft Will Become
Permanent System.

exerted on the field of France will
bring victory in this war, Provost
Marshal Gen. Crowder declared in
a statement of the aims, accomplish
ment and future of the selective
draft system addressed to members
of the local boards and made public
here tonight. After renewing pres
ent conditions and necessities, Gen.
Crowder predicted that the selective
system would become a permanent
part of Aemrica's governmental sys-
tenn for war.
Raise Fighting Force.
Every precaution possible has
been taken with the new draft reg
ulations, Gen. Crowder said, to con-
serve economic interests, but the
paramount duty of the country is to
raise an effective fighting force. eve
are committed to this war; the
general continued, and we ought
to fight it in the most effective fash
ion possible to us. The necessity of
raising an army is paramount. The
decrease in the labor supply must be
adjusted in some other way than by
shutting off recruitment. That it
can be adjusted there is no question.
Labor Supply.
The problem is not to maintain
the labor supply Of agriculture and
every industry intact. 1t is to make
withdrawal of men in the most
scientific manner possible. 1 think
we have done that and what is Of
fered here is the basis for a nice
balance between our two necessities.
There are those who say that we
must win this war in the economic
field, with the inference that the
raising of an army side issue.
Il say to you that with any greater
inroads into the field of recruitment
of our army we shall be sending
inferior men to the field. That if this
nation is not competent to make the
slight adjustment necessary to COM
pensate for this scientific selection,
then it is not competent to enter
this war.
Certainly no man can urge in
this date Of trial and sacrifice that
this nation should deliberately neg
lect to make itself effective in the
plea that our greatest contribution
to the cause of humanity is in attain
ing an economic supremacy. To do
so would be to relegate the United
States to the role Of s'ltler for the
fighting nations.
I'VE shall of course increase our
production. We shall become more
and more effective as nation and
we shall supply our new armies and
do all that can be expected of US to
supply the armies of our allies.
But we shall not under the guise,
confine our participation in this con-
flict to the baking of bread and the
sharpening of swords of other men.
This war will be won by military
on the devoted field of France. Doubt
less it will be won by the side which
is able to place behind it's army the
prevailing ounce of provision.
But the blow that skaters the
German line and extinguishes autoc-
racy from the face of the earth will
be the blow of a mans right arm and
not the insidious stroke of shrewd
trader"
Gen. Crowder pays high tribute to
the zeal and patriotism of more than
10000 men who compose the ma
chinery of the selective system. With
only ten weeks for the task, the first
national army increment of 687 900
men was drawn, he says, by nation
moving breathlessly, supported by
the Governors of the States and by
the members of the selection boards
with a patriotism, devotion and un-
selfish zeal that remains an in-
spiration.'
But the system itself was lacking,
he adds, we pared the first lncre-
ment of our armies with broad axe
because there was time for no great
er refinement. We must pare future
increments away with0greater dis
elimination. The selection system
must be carried to its logical con-
clusion and We must meet Prussian
efficiency with a greater American
effectiveness