The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-21
100000 DRAFT
ELIGIBLES TO BE
IN FIVE CLASSES
Provost Marshal General
Announces Sweeping
Change in System,
QUESTIONABLE IS NEXT
New Plan to Simplify Selec-
tive Conscription Approved
by President.

WARRINGTON. Oct. 20.-A sweeping
change In the machinery Of the selectivs
draft. based on division of the 5000. 900
remaining registrants into Ave classes in
order Of their eligibility for military SER
vice. was Announced to-day by Provost
Marshal General Crowder. Details Of the
plan. which has been approved by Presi-
dent Wilson, are not disclosed. It 10
calculated. however. to do away with
virtually all the complicated machinery
OF the first draft and to make the oper-
ations Of the local boards hereafter little
more than rubber stamp proceedings.
The plan was worked out at confer
ences with local and district board Of
f:cials and approved by the various State
authorities. It's chief features are that
every registered man will know his ex.
act position and be able to arrange his
deemed necessary in any important in
duetry or needed at home to support his
family will be called to the colors unless
the military situation Is desperate.
Detailed regulations to govern the new
system are being made ready for dis
tribution to local and district board
members. Gen. Crowder In a formal
statement assured them that they would
have ample opportunity to famillarize
themselves with these regulations before
the machinery provided Is called into
use. As the next call to the colors Is
to be made under the new plan, this as
surance is taken to indicate that the
second call Is not TO be expected before
the first Of the year. although no author
itative statement on this point was
available o-night
Text of Announcement.
Following is the text Of the announce
ment:
with the completion Of the draft OF
the first army OF $4,000 men new
system will be installed for the creation
Of succeeding armies which will greatly
lessen the labors of the local and district
boards. SO far has this been accom-
plished that II is believed that under the
new system so per cent. OF the work will
be eliminated, while the forms to be
used will not exceed twenty in number
as compared with approximately IS:
forms which the present system requires.
Along with the reduction OF labor
there will be provided a system which
will classify each one of the 5000. 900
men who have not yet been inducted
into military service and each man will
have been given his place in the national
scheme of defence.
ITO do this II has been determined to
obtain from each man complete infor-
nation of character which will deh-
nitely Ak his economic worth as COM
pared with his fellow registrant. and
from the information thus obtained to
place him in one of FIVE classes. each to
be called in turn as the need arises
''The method Of obtaining this infor-
nation is through a questionnaire.
series of questions calculated to produce
the information required. This docu-
ment will be mailed to every registrant
not yet In service. on a day to be fixed.
seven days being given to each regis
trant to complete and return the same.
Every opportunity will be offered to each
man to complete his QUESTIONABLE fully
and without error.
Assignment to Glasses.
1.-The local boards will then examine
each QUESTIONABLE and assign each reg
istrant to one OF Ave classes.
"These classes will be based upon
every conceivable condition. from the
family o, occupational standpoint, that
should properly be advanced by man
desiring to he excused from military
duty. Class one will be the first called
for physical examination and service.
and when 1t Is exhausted. II the nations
needs are such as to make 1t necessary
class two will follow and thus each man
registered will ultimately take his place
II needed.
Every opportunity for appeal from
Continued on FiJth Page.