Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-15
WILL SELECT MEN
FOR AVIATION CORPS
Candidates for Commissions
as Flyers May Be Enlisted
in the Reserve Service
Legal ADVISORY DUTY
Defined in Order Just Issued From
the State Draft Head
quarters

william O. MurdocE, iu charge Of
State draft headquarters at Harrisburg.
gave notice to local boards today Of sew
eral changes IN the selectlve service reg.
ulationa
Candidates for commissions as nycrs
observers and balloonist5 in tho aviation
section Of tho signal corps may be en-.
listed in the aviation reserve corps 10y
aviation examining boards. according to
the new orders. Such draft rce.s;rants.
upon proper record having been made,
arc to be regarded MS IL the military
service Of the United States. Men Of
draft age discharged from any branch
of the naval or military service OF the
United States are to be examined ard #
physically ht are to be inductcd into
military service Immediately.
Another notice Issued today relates
20 tho duties Of legal advisory boards
in which Mr. Murdoch says:
Inquiries indicate that many mem
bers Of legal advisory boards and men,
bers Of some exemption boards and some
State officials arc under the impression
that members CT lega! advisory boards
have authority to advise exemption
boards concerning Interpretation. con-
struction or application OF selective
service law and selective service regula-
tions. Legal advisory boards have no
such functions. Their primary duties
are to advise registrants and aid regis .
trants in making proper and truthful
answers to questions and securing such
supporting affidavits as may be required
in particular cllsses Of cases.
In a message to the draft headquartrs
Provost Marshal General Crowder sets
forth that answers TO the draft qucs-
tionnaires must state specifically just
what the registrant's occupational d'Iali.
fications are. For example. railroad
man" will not do; the registrant mus,
state what branch of railroad work he
Is by training best fitted for.
Coincident with the mailing Of the
questionnaires to all registered men by
the fifty-one local draft boards in this
city to find out definitely the man-power
OF the nation between the ages OF twen-
ty-one and thirty-one the restrictions
on the enlistment OF men liable To GER
tifcatlon for military service by the
various recruiting stations become op-
erative. either at noon or late tonight
The Naval Reserve shut down at noon
today, but the navy and the Marine
Corps headquarters at 1915 and 1909
Arch street. respectively, are open until
lato tonight for registered men "
more will he accepted hereafter unless
a letter from the local draft board Is
presented releasing the applicant as not
likely to be called until near the last.
The army station closed Thursday noon
10 registered men.
The avalanche of registered men who
have applied at the army recruiting sta
.ions all over the country has resu ted
In more than $4,000 enlistments within
the last few days. It is reported. En-
'istments In the navy have been produce
tive TO 4 lesser degree ard the Marine
Corps stations also made high records.
II is estimated that close to 10000
questionnaires will be sent out ulu-
mately. the different boards mailing them
in punches of 8 per cent at a time. They
will be coming back next week and for
many days thereafter. as the registrant
must I'll out and return them within
seven days from the mailing date.
Some person qualified to give instruc-
uons on making out the QUESTIONABLE
will be present every day. starting Mon
day. at each board headquarters to an
swer all questions and assist the regis
trant in complying with the directions.
Provost Marshal General Crowder ex-
pressed confidence tod ~ that the system
will work smoothly and equitably and
that within the next two months the
will be properly COM
pleted.