Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-18
.SELECTVE SERVICE
SENT
PART Of REGISTRANTS
Nine Million Americans Will
Be Classified for Service by
Machinery Just Set in Mo-
ton

WASHINGTON, Dec I5.--The war
departments huge task of classifying
the nations man power for army serv-
ice actually began today with the mail
ing out of the first 5 per cent of the
missionaries. At the same time re-
cruiting facilities, already overtaXed
with recent enlistments, threatened to
give way before the rush of selective
service registrants eager to avail them
selves of the last chance to volunteer.
Secretary Baker today came to the re-
lief of the thousands of men who have
volunteered for the regular army but
have been rejected because of the break
down of the recruiting machinery, by
ordering that all qualified applicants
who presented themselves before noon
today should be accepted even though
their examination and other details
could not be accomplished until later
The mailing of missionaries will
be completed speedily by the war de-
partment. and within sixty days more
than nine million registrants will be
divided into five classes as regards
their liability for military service. In
statement issued today, Provost
Marshal Geenral Crowder said:
The plans have been made, the ma
chine has been built and with the loyal
cooperation of the local boards, so am
ply demonstrated by their past accom-
plishments, the millions of reSistrants
will, within the space of sixty days,
stand marshalled for their place in ;he
world war, each in the class to which
his economic worth entities him.
Il have not the slightest hesitation
in predicting the absolute success Of
the classification system. From every
part of the country has come praise for
III mill arToiaG in a
steady stream; armies built from the
body polite by the body polite.
Never before in the history of the
world have armies been chosen with
the scientific precision of the new sys-
tenn. Men will shoulder the gun first
who should by all the laws of reason
offer themselves first to their country
and only grim necessity will compel US
to invade the more deferred classes;
but if such necessity does arise, it will
find the country ready.
Through the governors of the states
a Legal Advisory Board, to assist reg
istrants to make intelligent answers 10
| their questionnaires has been assigned TO
every local board; though the same
agencies the leaders in medicine in ev-
cry community have pledged themselves
to ala and assist in medical examina-
tiona. The great majority of the men
who are building the new system have
offered their services without price TO
their government.
THE completion of the classification
will practically complete the great work
of the local and district boards There
after they will act each in their res
pective areas as the government S
| agents for any new registration which
may occur, and will consider changes
of status or transfers of jurisdiction
when such may arise.
-,-.~. 2,Ooo, 900 in First Glass
OF the nine million men who will re-
/ ceive the lengthy QUESTIONABLE it is esti-
mated two million will be assigned to the
first class and subject to duty with the
colors before any man in any other
class is called.
The first class will be made up of the
| following:
tA) Single man without dependent
relatives
OBJ Married man, with or without
children, or father of motherless chill
dren, who has habitually failed to sup
port his family.
| CC) Married man dependent on wife
for support
! CD Married man, with or without
children, or father of motherless chill
dren: man not usefully engaged, family
supported by income independent of mis-
labor
(E) Unskilled farm labor
(FO Unskilled industrial laborer. Reg
istrant by or in respect of whom no de-
ferred classification is claimed or made.
Registrant who fails to submit ques-
tionnaire and in respect of whom no de-
ferred classification is claimed or made.
All registrants not included in any
other division in this schedule.
! Legal and medical advisory boards in
every community will aid the registrGnt
/ in making his answers. He Will indi-
cate in what occupations he considers
himself expert and from that list it IS
purposed to create separate groups of
men trained in any particular trade or
profession should the need arise for
! them.
The men will be divided into five
classes The fifth composed of the fol-