Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-08-29
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 10000 Men.

men of military age who have Deen
registered in accordance with the Sc
Elective 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
lmade 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
ly 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. All Of the men subject
to the law have responded to the call.
Wait for Army Regulations.
The second phase Of the problem of
Iraising a national army will begin as
isoon as the president has approved the
Iexemption regulations which have been
idrafted by a special board under the
idirection Of the provost marshal gen.
eral. In many respects it is the more
complicated and difficult portion OF
the task. Approximately 4,S0O 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 ju-
'dicial district must also be designated
iby 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
ants-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 9,500,OO0
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 mlSunder-
standing is to be weighed and every
chance for complication is tc be elimt-
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 I'LL 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 5,OOO,OOO,
i2,5OO,OOO will be rejected for physical
disability, according to the standards
now prevailing for recruits.
There will remain, therefore, subject
! to call for duty at any time 100000
men, who will be ready at any time to
/ begin their military training. If 75O,-
900 are to be called, the man who has
registered and Is physically fit and
cannot claim exemption, has little
better than one chance in three to go
into active service.
General Exemptions.
! 1t is probable that certain proper
ton Of those who have registered Will
be exempted in classes-foreign SUD-
jects, those who are obviously physl-
! cally unfit, and in general persons en-
ployed in tine public service, mariners,
! workmen in arsenals, armories and at
the navy yards. The regulations VIII
designate specifically how these gen.
efal exemptions are to be made.
Those who do not fall within these
general classes must appear before the
exemption board within their district
and set forth their claims. The mere
fact, for example, that man Is mar
ried and has children will be no bar to
his selection for service. He must
demonstrate that he contributes to the
L rhN will a IA