Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
WILL PERMIT MEN
DRAFTED TO ENLIST
May Join Regulars or Guard Vol.
UNFAIRLY during Next 10
Days.
80 STATE BOARDS CHOSEN.
May he Two Months Before the yinat
Selection and Mobilization OF Men
for New National Army.

Washington, July 22.-Those selected for
service under the draft will be permitted
to enlist in the regular army or National
Guard at any time prior to their call for
examination before exemption boards.
probably ten days hence, Provost Marshal
General Crowder announced tonight. They
will not be allowed. however, to join the
marine corps.
The first men actually drafted prob
ably will be detailed to the regular army
in order to bring that branch up to its
full war strength Of 100000 X the 5000
enlistments needed are not obtained before
examinations begin. Tho rest will be put
into the National Guard.
Exemption machinery for virtually the
entire country is complete. The provost
marshal generals Office said tonight that
the names Of members of the appellate
boards in the last of the States probably
would be announced tomorrow. Those
for 80 States were given out yesterday.
Washington. July 22.-The selection and
mobilization of the 6S7, 900 men called to
the colors through Fridays lottery may
not be completed for nearly two months.
In the opinion OF officials connected with
the draft. This means the men will
not be ready for their training camps
prior to the 1st Of October. 1t was orig
the early part of September.
A sufficient number of men may be
accepted within a month to enable the
President to fill the regular army to it's
war strength. This would require 10000
men. Officials also predict that approx
mately 100000 additional men will be de-
clared mt for service in a months time
to fill UP the ranks of the National
Guard. This means that approximately
one-fourth Of the draft will be completed
by the latter part of August
with the routine work connected with
exemptions. allowing for the possibility
that three of every four called will be
exempted or physically disqualified, it
seems improbable that we will have
quota Of $4,000 men ready before the
last of September" said one official.
Provost Marshal-General Crowder is
prepared to expedite the examination Of
those called in the draft and every step
will be taken to hasten the selection Of
the men. The granting Of exemptions and
discharges will be done under the most
stringent rules. Army officers in charge
Of the draft do not intend that the exemp-
ton regulations shall be interpreted loose
ly. Every man called for service must
show cause II he claims exemption. This
probably will be the most important step
taken TO hasten the selection of the men.
The dependent relatives clauses, the in
dustrial occupations clause and the regula-
tons governing physical disabilities will
be enforced to the letter. Local and dis
trict board judges throughout the country
will be expected to interpret the law WISE
ly. but every effort will be made by the
provost marshal general to have them in
terpret 1t in strict Justice. This means
officials said to-day. that II the boards
enforoe the spirit Of the law in granting
exemptions and discharges fewer of the
men called will escape and the draft will
be completed sooner.