The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-10-25
OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE men Who ARE
SUBJECT TO DRAFT
WAR DEPARTMENT WANTS THE
TRAINING OF TELEGRAPHERS,
TELEPHONE MEN AND LINES.
MEN.

AS the United States proceeds with
it's military preparations the public at
large has an opportunity to get bet
ter conception of the gigantic scale
upon which the conflict will be waged.
One instance of this is in the call
which has just been sent out over the
Middle West by the War Department,
Central Division from the headquar-
ters at Chicago. This call states that
it will be necessary to train immed-
lately a force of $4,000 telegraphers,
telephone men and linesmen for SER
vice with the signal corps. This may
seem an extraordinary large number
for such service, but when one reflects
how vastly the means for communica-
tion have multiplied, how trenches
must all be connected with staff head
quarters, how military telegraph and
telephone lines must be constantly set
up and repaired, how observation ba-
looms and airoplanes each carry a
wireless operator to transmit infor-
nation regarding the movements and
position Of the enemy to officers and
gunners, the need will be comprehend
ed.
The allotment Of men from each
state is made on a population basis
and the War Department has called
upon North Dakota to furnish 800
men trained in the element of tele-
praphy, not counting allied branches
of the signal service, for which fur
ther enlistmepts will be required.
The task Of securing and instructing
these men has been laid upon the
State Council of Defense which is now
preparing to meet the call. The inn
mediate direction of this work falls un
der the control of the committee on
Education of which DR.. H. R. Brush of
the State University is chairman. In
securing the quota of men there are
two limitations; the men must be
drawn from the list of those register
ed for draft and must be able to pass
the medical examination as for other
branches Of army service. It is not
intended to attempt to draw trained
men from the regular service of the
railroads, telegraph and telephone
companies inasmuch as the regular
needs of the country cannot be de-
MED.
The Council of Defense has allotted
the 300 men to the various counties of
the state according to the ratio estab-
lished. instruction will be begun at
number of points-Fargo, Grand
Forks, Wahpeton, Minot, Devils Lake,
Williston, Jamestown, Bismarck and
Dickinson-to each of which a certain
number of counties are assigned. This
will not prevent men from any of
these counties from taking work at
other centers where individual prefer
ance is expressed. The schools will
be under the supervision of local COM
mittees on which educational institu-
tions, commercial clubs, Y. M. C. AS,
telegraph, telephone and railroad COM
panles will be represented. The course
of study has been outlined and will be
published later. It is intended to ex-
tend over approximately 20 weeks and
will comprise, telegraphy, telephony
and radio inesman work. Upon the
completion of the work certificate
will be given to the student who upon
presentation Of it to the officer in
charge of the army camp, will be at
once turned over to the signal corps.
The higher educational institutions of
the state are preparing to give those
who show special aptitude more ex-
tended work to fit them for higher po-
sitions.
This is fine chance for any man
liable to draft and, with the exper-
ience gained in actual service for the
government, will provide an excellent
opportunity for a future career when
: the war is over.
The counties assigned to the Devils
Lake District are, with the quota from
each-Rolette S, Towner 5, Pierce s,
Ramsey 8, and Benson 6. These num-
bers are for telegraphers alone, for
whom there is the chiefest immediate
need. They do not include calls for
telephone men and linesmen. The
Chairman for this district is, Fred j;
Traynor Of Devils Lake, to whom cor
respondence may be directed and who
will forward enrolment blanks upon
duplication.