New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-08
5000 City Youths
Will Be Started
For Camp Sept. |
Washington Wires Albany
To Be Ready for "Next
Step" in Draft
Is One.hfth of Quota
Mobilization Left to States in
Latest War Department
Order
Is Qne.6fth of Quota

The end of the road along which the
city draft boards have been jogging
for the last couple of weeks came
plainly into view yesterday.
From Washington the word went by
wire to Albany. warning the state au-
thorities to be ready for the next
step"-and that is step which will
take somo 5000 young New Workers
out Of their civilian jobs and homes
and clothes and start them. via train
ing camps, for the trenches.
Federal plans contemplate that the
5000 go per cent of the city's quota Of
approximately $4,000 shall become stu
dent soldiers on September /. The
plans have reached Governor Whitman
in the form of suggestions, in defer
ence to the policy of Decentralization
to which the government is holding
over all obstacles. But what Washing
ton suggests these days is tantamount
70 an order.
Mobilization Left to State
Mobilization Of the drafted men ap-
pears 10 be left to the state. Whether
the drafted men from the city are to be
taken first to camp upstate or sent
direct to Yaphank is point to be later
determined.
September 1 will not by any means
see the city quota filled, as prospects
now appear. However, there is no
doubt that the stipulated fifth OF the
quota will be certified and ready for
the call TO the colors.
The scheme of drawing the men from
civil life in several contingents will do
much 70 simplify matters. For one
thing, the problem of transportation
will be easier of solution. Also, the
local boards, hopelessly behind the
schedule which optimistic Washington
laid out for them, will have ample time
to thrash out exemption cases and to
give more adequate attention to the in
dividual registrant.
Time is what the boards need most,
without a central authority to crack
he whip. What has been accomplished
date no one knows exactly. In view
Of the imminence of the next step"
heralded out of the capital, Roscoe s.
onkling, the Deputy Attorney General,
who represents the adjutant's generals
office here, has set himself to find out.
1853 Men Examined
Nine messengers in as many automo-
biles were sent out Of Mr.. Conkling's
Office in the state arsenal at Thirty
fifth Street and Seventh Avenue, yester-
day 10 make the rounds Of the 1879
local boards within the five boroughs.
Each messenger carried questiinaire,
and if every question is intelligently
answered the status Of New York in
the draft will be no longer mystery.
By midnight five of the automobiles
were back with reports from eighty
six districts. These, the first official
figures of the draft here, were sent off
by Mr.. Conkling TO Adjutant General
Stotesbury at Albany and to Provost
Marshal General Crowder at Washing
ton.
"Of eighty-six boards actually in
spected in all boroughs to 8 tonight"
ran the telegram, Seven had posted
call lists, but had not begun examina-
tons; seventy-nine boards show a call
of 1868. Seventy-one boards show
23,6o7 physically examined. Fifty-five
boards show qualified 1888. Fifty
boards show 1888 accepted with no
question Of exemption to be settled.
at is estimated that 10 per cent
of the able-bodied men of New York
City have filed claims for exemption
or discharge. No way of estimating at
this time how many Of these claims
will be disallowed."
Reports which travel over other and
unofficial channels showed that during
the day ffty-three boards examined
1888 men, rejected l,443 as physically
disqualified for military service and re-
ceived from OF assurances they were
ready to fight. Exemption claims were
fled to the number of 2,l08.
In percentages the figures from the
ffty-three boards work out: Physi-
cally disqualified, 90 per cent; claimed
exemption, AZ per cent; ready to fight,
20 per cent; 9 per cent unaccounted for.
A great number Of men whose ex-
emption claims have been passed on
favorably by their local boards natur-
ally have come to consider themselves
as discharged from liability to SER
vice. In reality they aren't. The War
Committee Of the Bar of the City OF
New York, through which 1000 picked
lawyers have volunteered their service
to the government, is preparing to
send TO each board a man who will
act as special United States attorney.