New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-21

tuelr INSTRUCTIONS early next week.
Within ten days the men who are
subject! to the presidents order for
mobilization of q war quota of 687,-
900 may be appearing before their
boards for examination and for deci-
sion as to exemption. Twice $4,000
are to be summoned by the boards on
the theory that two registrants must
be examined for every soldier ac-
cepted and the number each registra-
ton district must furnish has been
carefully worked out.
The provost marshal generals Of
fee was greatly pleased today over
the outcome of the drawing, officials
declaring it an accomplishment
scarcely less noteworthy than the sue
cessful registration carried out six
weeks ago. Ten million men, they
pointed out had been assigned places
on the nations muster roll within the
space Of less than a day and appar-
emily with only one minor error in the
whole complicated process.
No Number in One Capsule.
The single error came to light near
tho end of the drawing this morning
when a blank was found where there
should have been a number in one
of the capsules by which the wartime
fortunes of Americas youth were de-
termined. All officials agreed that it
could work no injustice to any reg
istrant. 1t means only a temporary
complication, they said, and in no way
impairs the equality of the lottery.
| What serial number should have
been in the place of the blank had
not been determined today but it will
be found shortly by q careful check
ing of the lists. Then it will be as
signed to the only place on the liabil-
ity Hst-number 1O.50O, at the very
foot. Because of it's absence there
are only 1O,499 places now, with
holders of the serial number 3,217 in
last place. The vacant place was
when the blank was drawn in the
placed by the drawing of number,
and that made the numbers lack one
of filling the 10000 places.
Provost Marshal Gen. Crowder's
office said that the error undoubtedly
resulted from an oversight for which
no one could be blamed A shift in
plans only a few hours before the
drawing began necessitated, through
the provost marshals generals assis-
tance. the task of providing quickly
ten times as many numbers and ten
times as many capsules as had been
counted upon.
The participating officials worked in
relays, but the strain of the tedious
process began to weigh visibly upon
all of them before the end. General
Crowder the provost marshal general
replaced the blindfold official at the
drawing bowl and himself drew out
the last number.
A. p. Wires Cleared for Numbers.
Scarcely had the historic event thus
reached it's close than the news of the
last drawing had been flashed over
the country. The telegraphic fat of
transmitting the 1O,5OO numbers as
rapidly as they were drawn was pro-
nounced by officials today as among
the most notable features of the
whole process. The Associated Press
virtually cleared it's wires of other
matter and gave the right of way to
the draft numbers from the start of
the drawing with the result that
newspapers everywhere were able to
give to their readers promptly the
lists of those chosen in the various
local districts.
NO small part IN the countrywide
success Of the lottery plan was play
ed by the Associated Press. who
worked for long hours with nothing
before them but the eternal groups of
figures and with the thought in their
minds that a mistake of single
figure would be a matter of utmost
concern to thousands Of men and tens
of thousands among their friends and
relatives. For that reason no attempt
at unusual speed could be made with
the result that errors were kept at
minimum
Some mistakes were -unaVOida BILE
however, for in some respects the of
ticial teller's reports were at Narience
and a comparison and rectiticaton
was proceeding today. The rule fol-
lowed was that agreement in the rec
ords of two of the three tellers in any
case should be sufficient to show that
the variation was the mistake of the
third. All reports of the drawing
will be rectified before the official re-
ports are forwarded to local boards.
In reporting the numbers to the
boards the federal government also
will provide special lists with the
hixh numbers which do not apply in