The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-16
DRAFT DRAWING
HOLDING HOSTS
OF FARGO MEN
AT ATTENTION
Hundreds Watching Close
ly Development of Plans
at Washington
MANY GET NUMBER
AT AUDITORS OFFICE
Inspect County Registra-
ton Lists Daily-Chance
for Advancement

Fargo men, subject to the military
draft, are keenly anxious as to the
plan the government will adopt in
drawing names, and are watching,
with unusual interest, news relative
to developments at the capital.
The list OF names posted at the
county court house, in the office OF
Auditor w. r. Tucker, is being scrut-
inized daily by a score of men. who
are getting their new numbers un-
der the serial numbering plan adopt
ed by the government in all exemp-
tion districts.
Papers Have Task, Too.
Announcement Of the order in
which each registrant is drawn rep
resents a task of real magnitude for
the newspapers in the big population
centers of the country. II is probable
that a majority of newspapers will
print on the first day following the
drawing only the names of men who
are likely to be called for the first
army of $4,000 from their immediate
localities.
In any state the allotment OF quo
tas by districts may range widely.
One district might be called upon
for several hundred men and an
other for only a few, due to credits
for volunteers. distribution of regis
trants or other factors which the
governors and adjutant generals are
considering in making their allot-
ments.
Numbers to Vary.
Another fact that may prove puz-
zling is that the rotation numbers
will not be the same in every dis
trict. For instance, IL the largest
distract has .0e0 men registered and
the smallest ISL, 1000 numbers
would have to be drawn. The first
serial number might be 6,775, indi-
eating that No. SITS would be first
to the call in every district register
ing that high, while it would mean
nothing to all districts with fewer
than 6,775 registrants.
The second number drawn might
be 25. Then in all small districts
No. 25 would represent the first call,
while in districts having 6,775 or
more registrants. No. % would be
second in the call.
Failure Considered Desertion.
With the draft close, the war de-
partment has sounded a note of
warning to registered men. By fail
ing to heed the directions in the reg
ulations they may commit a capital
crfme-desertion-an in war time
the penalty is long imprisonment or
death, 1t was stated.
Unless a registered man appears
for physical examination at some
board or proves that he is unable to
appear. within 10 days after notice
is mailed ordering his appearance,
he will be notified that he is held
for military service.
Later an order Is mailed ordering
him to the mobilization camp for
service. Then If he fails to appear
he is a deserter and liable to heavy
penalty.
Delays in Big Cities.
The burden Of finding out what to
do Is saddled upon the registrant.
Posting Of the name at the local
board is deemed sufficient notice, but
an order Is sent by mail. Again Cen
eral Crowder emphasizes the neces-
sity OF men watching the newspa-
pers for announcements and visiting
their local boards to ask questions.
Best Material TO Officer School.
Many inquirers ask whether draft
ed men have chance to rise from
the ranks to commissions. Shortly
after the drafted men are gathered
AANO AAOb1AAEdAAOlA GdsllpEg LIG IlDbL
likely officer material will be picked |
out and put into another training |
camp to make officers. The war de- |
partment is already working on plans |
for this camp.
With the Construction of canton |
meut camps barely under way, the |
war department has found 16 addi- |
tlonal mobilization camps for the ma
tional guard must be built at once.
States 20 Control Drafted Men.
Continuing its policy of supervised |
state control the war department |
announced that handling 81 the men |
called Tor the draft army win be left |
to the state authorities up to the |
time the men are sworn into federal |
service, This means that the select
ing of the men who are to be ex- |
discharged or declared fit for |
service and the mobilizing thereaft- |
en- OF these men IN each state will be i
under dlrectton Of the state govern
ments.
In statement issued through the
bureau Of public Information Provost
AiarshaI General Crowder said: = /
As soon is the drawing Is over |
The state ofigials acting under fed
eraI control will be responsible for
CONTINUED on Page Two.