Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-19
HALF OF FIRST
DRAFT QUOTA
MOVING TODAY
Initial New Army Contin-
gent En- Route to Six
teen Camps
343,500 SAY FAREWELL
By a star CorreSp,ndeui

By Il star CorrcspJndcui
WASHINGTON. Sept. 10.
One-half Of the first increment OF the
National Army, summoned to the colors by
the process Of the selective draft. was set
in motion today in the direction Of the six
teen National Army training cantonments
Just 3i35OO young men in all parts Of
the country bade farewell to their homes
and started on a journey that within
year or less viii land them face TO face
with the boches on the battle line in
France
With the movement under way. several
facts Of interest to the eligbles for the
National Army came TO light today They
are:
That much larger number OF the
$4,000 called out for the first Increment
will go into the regulars and the Ma
tioual Guard than was first figured upon
by the War Department and that i'm CON
sequence additional drafts probably will
have to he made in the near future to
make up the resulting discrepancy in the
first contingent OF the National Army
Itself
That in all probability the local and
district exemption boards will he kept
all the remaining 100000 men Of mill
tary age registered on June s. in order
10 save time In anticipation Of the next
actual call to the colors
That for a long time after their mo-
bilization the young men going into
the training cantonments today,-as we'll
as those to follow them. will he without
full equipment and that some Of their
equipment win not arrive until just be-
fore they embark on the transports for
Europe,
The law authorizing the creation of the
National Army provides that the first in
crement OF this organization should consist
OF 100000, a second increment OF like size
being also provided for At the same time.
however the law allowed vacancies in the
regulars and National Guard TO be filled by
the selective draft. In deciding, there
fore, TO fix the first quota of draft at 6S7,.
900, the War Department estima ted that
the $4,000 in excess Of the half-million
would I'LL these gaps in the regulars and
the guard Since these estimates were
made however. the various auxiliary
branches Of the army have been greatly
expa anded, 1eCessitating the depletion Of
the ranks of tho regular services in order
to provide the new auxiliary units. For
example. the enormous aircraft program
provided for by Congress since the draft
regulations were fixed calls for an enlisted
personnel in the aviation service of 100 ,o0C
men.
TRANSFERRED TO AIR SERVICE.
Many regulars and guardsmen have been
transferred to this branch, leaving gaps in
the other branches that must be filled by
drawings upon the National Army rockies
particularly as the regulars and the Ma
tional Guard are the first to go to France
| Until full reports are received from thC
| various regular and National Guard units
M
| of the total number Of draft men who will
| be transferred,
In proposing 10 proceed Immediately with
| the examination Of the remaining 1000,
| 600 men not called up for examination II
the first draft, Provost Marshal Genera
| Crowder has been moved by a desire tC
| know at once just how many OF the re
naming men of military age can be dc
| pended upo. as eligible for service. Like
| wise he is ot the opinion that the mel
| themselves would prefer this so that thos'
| found not eligible for service on accoun
| of physical defects or dependency may
proceed with their personal affairs undis
| turbed by the thought that they might bt
| called into the service gt any time.
General Crowder has put his suggestion
| UP to the government of the various State
! for referendum vote by these officials
| of the ten who have replied eight fayo
the idea, one is disposed to be against It
but is open to argument, and the tentl
is flatly opposed,
EQUIPMENT SHORTAGE JUSTIFIED
In a statement issued last night Quarter
| master General Sharpe justifes the short
| age in equipment on the ground that it ha
| been impossible for the industries Of tn
| country to expand 20 the need OF the Gov
| ernment as rapidly as the army would wish
! Forced to give orders to the amount o
| $4,000 O0O, 900 in the first year Of the wal
| the department found the nations industrie
| with a total maximum output OF materia
| far below the requirements. In regard {
tentage alone, the department, needing hft
| million yards of canvas within a year, ha
had to rely on an industry the normal out
put of which is twA ty million yards yeai
When the draft men included in today
movement reach their cantonments the
will find already on hand skeleton organ
izations representing per cent Of tn
total first quota and including experience
men In this per cent are the cooks o
the camp. SO that there need be little con
fusion about getting food for the newcom
ers AS rapidly as the 34S,5OO are house
and quarters are made ready for more, tn
other half Of the first quarter will be Gale
out.
IL became known today that orders haN
been issued by the War Department to tn
Department OF Wise Of the Committee o
Public Information and to the divisiona
commanders at the various cantonment
to tighten up the censorship, particular
as to photographs as the work OF tralnin
at the camps proceeds.
| Under these rules no pictures at all ca
be taken at cantonments or National Guar
training camps after tactical training an
training in mass formation, gas attacks an
the like begin.