Evening star., 1917-09-08
D. c. MEN CALLED
TOTAL 45PER CENT
Quota Designated Expected to
Be in Camp Meadeby
September 19.
UNDER SELECTIVE DRAFT

Forty-five per cent, not merely per
cent, of the Districts quota for the first
National Army is to go to Camp Meade
September 10, it was learned on author
ity today
With the resembling a week ago by
the War Department of the order for
forty-seven local men. or per cent,
to go to camp Wednesday, it was gen.
orally taken by draft officials and men
alike that this per cent would be
added to the 40 per cent previously
scheduled for September 10.
Later this week however. another
view became prevalent that the rev.
ocation of the order had merely set
the whole movement OF District drafted
men back two weeks. and that accord
ingly the "frst to 60" or per cent.
would move to camp September 19: 40
per cent would move October g. and
the remainder at later date
Accept First Interpretation.
Today, however. 1t appears most ike.
ly that the first INTERPRETATION Is tba
correct one. and that a full As per cant
OF the Districts quota will go to Ad.
miral. Nd, ON the date fixed. Although
district draft officials have received no
oHiclaI word from the War Department
IL is now generally understood by them
that they Will send IS per cent of their
quota September I9
1t is understood here that MARYLAND
ana pennsylvania draft officials are
working under the same impresston
me once Of the provost marshal gem
eral has announced that due to the
iack OF absolute certain information Of
zation camps. it is not deemed wise to
issue the actual call to military duty
Tor the increments to go on September
- and october until this office has
been defnitely informed and has defn-
ltely informed the governors of each
state that the camps will be ready on
the dates mentioned for the receipt of
the increments.
1T is not contemplated that there will
De any change from tentative dates al
ready announced. but. as "A measure of
insurance against change, the actual
call to duty should await this informa-
ton. which viii be given at least ten
days in advance of September 19 and
October g."
According to this announcement. such
definite information viii be given Of
hcially to the 'governor-the Commits
sioners-of the District tomorrow.
From reports Camp Meade is now well
able to care for As per cent of the
4o,5o0 men who will ultimately receive
their training there for the First Ma
tional Army.
The question of selecting the addi.
tional 40 per cent 20 GO with the 8
per cent already selected will be mere
ly matter of taking the lists of men
certified by the District board back
to the eleven local boards and taking
therefrom the first 40 per cent in the
first per cent We're in a sense picked
men. as the boards tried to select
those with some military experience.
Chance for Non-Commission Jobs.
1t was thought at the time this selec-
ton was made that these forty-seven
"hrst-to-go' men would stand highest
chances at the camp for non-commis-
stoned jobs.
Whether this now will obtain is un-
certain in view of the fact that they
most probably viii not be the first to
go, after all, but Will have as COM
panions nearly. half of the Districts
entire quota for the first National
Army.
A ruling of interest in this regard is
contained in the compiled rulings Of the
provost marshal general and states
that "a registrant whose order of liza
bllity is so late that he is not within the
quota of a local board cannot, even on
ms own request. be advanced and sent
with the quota.
iuiiilS slIeNls Nulte Il lew local
drafted men who are on "the ragged
edge" that is. men examined so late
that, accepted for service as they are
ii is yet uncertain just whether or not
they viii come within the Districts
first quota.
No matter what the military ardor of
such drafted men may be, nor how
keen their desire for service, accord
ing to this ruling his order of liability
cannot be advanced and he cannot be
sent with the quota.
This ruling, coupled with another to
the effect that there is no date set
for a second call and, so far as is
known, no second call is in present
contemplation" makes the men on ''the
ragged edge" genuinely apprehensive
that perhaps they may never get to
war.