The Washington times., 1917-07-18
GREAT DRAFT
.FORU.S.ARMY
WILL LBEMADE
IN 56 HOURS
Mystery CIoaks Preparations
For Lottery That Will Desig-
nate individuals Who May
Enter Trenches In France.


tional army by lot will be staged
within ffty-six hours, according to
indications today. Either the great
reception room off Secretary Bakers
office or one of the chambers of Con-
gress will be the scene.
Everything is ready for the human
lottery-except a few dallying reg
istration districts. The little cap
sules with the fated numbers are
slowed safely in the War Depart
ment, while regulations governing
the drawing Of these master num-
bers are in the Government print
ers hands today. These rules will
be announced through the press be-
fore the drawing.
Action To Be Quick.
An air Of mystery has been thrown
about the lottery. Officials refuse to
be specific as to just how and where
they will pull the numbers, though
they did say the draft will take place
Just as soon as the last lingering red
ink draft numbers are tabulated. One
authority said that this might come
within two hours after the last gov
ernor had declared the numbers were
in-irrespective of the time of day.
The House and Senate military
committees have been chosen official
witnesses. and Secretary Baker may
pull the nrst capsule.
In general. the order in which the
master numbers are drawn here will
indicate the order OF liability for
service, though owing to varying
registrations in different districts
the numbers will be divided into
some group form.
Almost Immediately after the lot
terry, local exemption boards will sum-
mon men for physical tests. Every
man summoned must take this test,
whether or not he intends to make
an exemption claim, and heavy penal
ties attach to failure to appear.
Quotas Cause Trouble.
The method of apportionment of the
quotas, based on revised population
figures, is causing much rancor
throughout the country. Bills are
pending in Congress, and others are
ready for introduction. either to force
readjustment of the quotas. or to
make some provision for including
certain aliens.
The State Department holds that
Italians and japanese cannot be
seized for the new army because of
treaty provisions, and that aliens
from neutral countries certainly are
exempt from forced service.
While this undercurrent OF dissat-
isfaction runs. those in charge OF the
draft are going ahead on the assump-
tion that there will be no change n
present plans. Every mechanical de
tail OF the lottery has been worked
out to nicely for days and weeks and
its directors are anxious to have the
drawing over.
Calls In Reporters.
General CrOwder today called a
conference OF newspaper men who
will fash the fatefuI numbers TO the
nation. The complete drawing sys-
TEN will be explained in confidence
to prevent Misunderstanding on draft
day.
While the last touches were being
put on the lottery plans. Northern
Senators opened a spirited attack in
the Senate today against the census
draft estimates and the War Depart
ment's decision to locate national
guard cantonments and officers train
ing camps to the South.
DakotRns Make Protest.
Senator Gronna, OF North Dakota,
his State, urging him to use his IN
huence against the sending OF the
North Dakota guard to the South for
training.
Senator Watson, OF Indiana, protest
ed against sending the Indiana guard
to Mississippi, because, he said, the
climate Of Indiana was more nearly
like that OF France.
Senator Knox OF Pennsylvania said
he understood that the training lamp
at Plattsburg, which was excellent" ."
was being abandoned for one at At
lanta- (which was inadequate in size
and unsuitable in other respertc"
Senator Wadsworth, OF New York,
told the Senate the training canton
ments OF Plattsburg, Fort Niagara,
and Madison Barracks, which cost an
aggregate OF $4,000 600 were to be
abandoned, although the climate in
the fall was delightful"
"LOnE Haul" Suggested.
81 simply can't understand why tn"
War Department is doing this" said
Senator Wadsworth.
Cant the Senator see what an ad-
vantage IL will be TO the railroads
which will haul the soldiers 10 the
South" asked Senator Nelson Of
Minnesota
Senator Weeks Of Massachusetts
charged that the advice Of General
Wood, commander OF the Southeastern
Department, and the surgeon general
OF the army, was not asked in the 10
cation Of the camps in the South.
Protests OF Senators on the can
tonment question were based on the