The sun., 1917-07-06
CONSCRIPTTON HOAX
CAUSES BIG FURRY
Fake Report Telegraphed All
Over Said First 13 Num-
bers Were Drawn.
ELIGIBLEs SOUGHT FACTS
Exemption Boards Ordered to
Complete Organization by
q Tomorrow.

Countrywide circulation OF fake re-
port that the FIRST thirteen numbers In
the national army conscrlptlon had been
drawn in Washington caused furry
among men of military age yesterday
afternoon. With the alleged numbers
the yarn was telegraphed everywhere,
posted on bulletin boards and repeated
on the street and In offices. 1t was be-
lieved by credulous persons, and many
men whose registration numbers matched
the figures of the bogus news thought
they had been conscripted. The fact Is
that the seiectlve draft has not started
yet and will not start for several days.
In New York the hoax began its run
a little before O'Clock The Stock Ex-
change heard of it just before closing
time. The rumor was that the draft
numbers were 5, IL, III, 81, 90, 81. 100,
107, III, ia, 145 and l46. and they had
been sent out on a news ticker Mem
bers of the exchange rushed upstairs to
the library and read the ticker tape
from end to end without finding any
thing relating to the draft
Many Excited InauirIes.
Business men called one another up
on the telephone, seeking confirmation
OF the story. Newspaper offices also
were besieged. At least twenty-five men
called up The Sun wanting to know II
the serial numbers which they had heard
were on the ticker were correct. The
Board of Elections and the Mayors
Committee on National Defence also re-
ceived excited inquiries.
From Peru, ILL.,, came a despatch say
ing that the same thirteen numbers had
been put on a baseball bulletin board.
The operators of the board said the num-
fi1 taIa
graph company along with the baseball
scores. Boston got the same news with
two of the numbers missing.
The fiction was not traced to its
source. The exemption boards appointed
by the President to administer the selec-
| tive draft law are now organizing As
I fast as they receive from the registration
boards the cards OF the men who regis
tered on June 6 or the days following
they are required to give each man a
number corresponding to the serial mum.
Der designated at the time of registrs
ton and to post them publicly This
was being done in some parts of the
country yesterday Somebody, mistak
| ing the serial numbers for actual draf
numbers, may have started the mis-
chievous report.
Crowder Wires Instructions.
Instructions to the chairman OF loca
exemption boards were wired from
Washington yesterday by Provost Mar
shal General Crowder. The chairmer
were directed to see the other member,
of their board within twenty-four hours
to notify the State Adjutant-General Il
any declined to serve, to complete or
ganization by Saturday and to get from
the registration boards the cards OF al
the men who registered within the dis
trict covered by the local exemption
board. After being organized the loca
board has three days In which to pre-
pare cards, each bearing the same seria
numbers as the originals Then tn,
conscription will begin, the draft mum
bers being drawn in Washington.
The New York city local boards hav,
no central body which they may consult
Later, however. a board OF appeals. t
which men claiming exemption but no
exempted by the local boards may go a
a last resort, will be nominated by Gov
| whitman.
Men who neglected to register OF
June can still do so. Each Assembly
district headquarters is open. no orders
having come from Washington TO ceas'
registering.