The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-07-19
How National Army Will Be
Raised Under Universal
Service System.
READY TO START The WORK
Rules for Exemption Boards Will Be
lroncIad and Every Possibility of
Misunderstanding Eliminated
First Call Probably Will
Be for 100000 Men.

Washington.-Of nearly 100000
men Of military age who have been
registered in accordance with the Sc
lective draft law, those who are physi-
cally qualified and are not exempted
will have one chance in three of being
called to the colors this year.
This is the estimate that has been
made by the military authorities in
Washington.
The first phase Of the great task of
raising an army under the universal
service system has been completed.
More than 100000 men have actual
~ been enrolled and, taking into con-
sideration the number Of men Of regis
tration age who are now serving either
in the army or navy or National Guard,
the estimates made by the census bu-
reau upon the basis of population have
been attained. ALI of the men subject
to the law have responded to the call.
Wait for Army Regulations.
The second phase Of the problem of
raising a national army will begin as
soon as the president has approved the
exemption regulations which have been
drafted by a special boardSunder the
direction of the provost marshal gen.
eral. In many respects it is the more
complicated and difficult portion of
the task. Approximately 1890 boards
-one for every 10000 Of the popula-
ton of the country-are to be appoint
ed to pass upon the exemptions, to de-
eide who shall be subject to the call
of military duty and who shall not.
Boards of appeal for every federal jul
dicial district must also be designated
by the president.
When this has been accomplished
the instructions to the primary boards,
which are to act in the capacity of
courts of first instance in passing upon
exemptions are to be issued. Maj.
Gen. Enoch I. Crowder and his assist
among them some of the most
distinguished lawyers Of the country
have virtually completed the prelimi-
nary draft which is now before the
president and the secretary of war.
AS soon as it is approved and the word
is given the huge machine will be set
in motion grinding out the first incre-
ment Of 100000 men for the new ma
tiOnal army.
No Comment in Advance.
For fear of confusing the 100000
men who will be subject to the call,
General Crowder has been unusually
careful not to discuss for publication
the system that has been tentatively
devised. He himself has a very clear
idea, he said, of what is to be done,
but before the instructions are to be
sent out every possibility of misunder-
standing is to be weighed and every
chance for complication is to be elimi-
mated. The rules are to be ironclad
and as specific as human ingenuity can
make them, so that there will be no
possibility of charges Of discrimina-
ton and favoritism in the selection Of
the men who are to take up arms with
the first 100000.
Military authorities estimate that
the first draft will be for considerably
more than that number. In addition
to the national army, the regular army
and the National Guard will probably
be brought up to war strength. There
also must be reserve training camps,
which may be drawn upon to fill va
cancies in the active ranks. 1t Is not
improbable, therefore, that the number
to be selected will be nearer 10000
than 100000.
Placing the number Of men regis
tered at 100000, it is estimated that
100000 will be exempted for general
reasons; of the remaining 100000,
100000 will be rejected for physical