Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-03
To Call 625,O00
 Men Sept. First
DATE TENTATIVELY SET FOR
 FIRST CONTINGENT
LOCAL BOARDS NAMED
Exemptions Are to be Left to Local Bcards-No Announcement is Made Will Be.

Washington, July 2.-Preparation for the mobilization of the first con- tingent of 25,0O0 troops of the new national army advanced another step today when President Wilson promuI- gated the regulations to govern ex- emptions from military service.
 Local and appeal exemption boards already have been appointed and the issuance of the regulations will permit them to organize immediately and pre- pare for the concluding phases of the task of getting the men under train ing for duty in France.
 Three Steps in Organization.
 In the order which they must come, theer are three steps in the organiza- tion process of the national army as prescribed by congress. They are registration, selection and exemption. The first step has been carried through. The regulations issued today cover in detail the operation of the third step, exemption.
 Information concerning the second step in the series. however. is still lacking and officials are guarding close " the method by which selection is to be applied.
 The exemption regulations annonc- ed that the boards will be advised of the selection process later although none of the steps prescribed axcept the organization of the boards can be car ried on until the selection ma chinery has furnished the names of tl;e men of whose fitness and desira bility for army service the boards are to judge. There is one hint. however. as to how the selection machinery is to work
 The local boards are directed upon organization to take over from the registration precincts the cards and lists of the men registered June 5, and as their first duty to provide a serial number for. each registration card: This has given support to the belief that the selection is to be by numbers. Reports were current recently that the selection drawing was to be made in Washington.
 Process of Selection Unknown
 Presumably the process of selection will be announced only q short time before it is put in operation When that wigIl be is not known Septem Der 1 has been the tentative date set for calling the 625, 900 of the first con- tingent to the colors for training Pro- cess with construction of the sisteen divisional cantonments for the troops will govern that action. however. It is now believed there will be no serious delay.
 No Delay of More Than Three Days.
 The exemption process will not take a great deal of time. It is difficult to calculate the time the local boards will need in passing on the cases that come before them. The regulations provide. however, that decision in any case shaI; not be delayed more than three days by the local board or an additional five days when an appeal is taken to the district boards The whole process probably can be carried through in less than thirty days.
 There were no surprises in the ex- exemption regulations. Tha task of passing upon the individual cases is left entirely to the local boards While the president reserves the right to designate industries necessary for the public good, the question of whether of any individual engaged in these industries essential is left to the boards.