The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-07-05
SELECTION WAR
ARMY ORDERED
Exemption Boards viii Start
Work of Sitting Millions
of Youths Soon
Physical Standards to be ADJ
hered to

Washington, July Appropriation
tor the mobilizsSion of the first on
tingent of 625,O00 troops of the new
national army advanced another step
today when President Wilson promul-
gated the regulations that govern ex-
emptions from military service.
Local and appeal exemption boards
already have been appointed and the
issuance of the regulations VIII per-
init them to organize Immediately n
prepare for the concluding phases of
the task of getting the men under
training for duty in France.
In the order in which they must
come, there are three steps in the or
gauizatiop process of the national
army as prescribed by Congress.
These are regulation, selection and
exemption. The first step has been
carried through and approximately
100000 men between 81 and 81
years of age have been registered.
The regulations issued today cover in
detail the operation of h third step,
exemption.
information concerning the second
step in the series, however, still is
lacking and officials are guarding
closely the method by which selection
is to be applied.
The exemption regulations an
bounced hat the boards will be ad-
vised of the selection process later,
although none of the steps prescrib-
ed except the organization of the
boards can be carried on until the
selection machinery has furnished the
names of the men whose fitness and
d~esirability for army service the
boards are to judge. There Is n
hint. however, as to how the selection
machinery is to work.
Selection by Number
The local boards are directed upon
organization to take over from the
registration precincts the cards and
lists Of the men registered on June
8, and as their first duty, to provide
a serial number for each registration
card. This has given support to the
belief that the selection is to be by
number. Reports were current re-
Gently that the selection drawing was
to be made in Washington.
Presumably the process Of selec-
ton will be announced only a short
time before 1t is put into operation.
When that will be- Is not known. Sep
tember first has been the tentative
date set for calling the $4,000 of the
first contingent to the colors for
training. Progress with construction
of the sixteen divisional cantonments
for the troops will govern that action,
however. 1t is now believed there
will be no serious delay.
The exemption process will not take
a great deal of time. 1t Is difficult to
calculate the time the local boards
will need In passing on the cases that
come before them. The regulations
provide, however. that decision in any
individual case shall not be delayed
more than three days by the local
boards. The whole prScess probably
car be carried through in less than
80 days.
There were nc surprises in the ex-
emption regulation. The task OF
passing upon the individual cases is
left entirely to the local boards. While
the president reserves the right to
designate industries necessary for the
public good. the question OF whether
retention of any individual engaged
in these industries essentially is left
to the boards.