Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-10
REGULATIONS
ON WEIGHT AND HEIGHT
ISSUED by Surgeon-General Gorgas to
Govern Physical Examination
of Drafted Men.
MAY MEAN RECALL OF SOME
Changes Communicated to Governors
or Various States for Information
OF Local Boards-Prompt Action
Urged by Provost Marshal.
fBy Associated Press

10y EEe6b.J
WASHINGTON. August s.-Rcvised
regulations to govern physical exam
ination Of men registered under the
selective draft were issued to-day by
surg con General Gorgas. or the army,
ana com to the Governors OF
the States for Information of local
boards. The changes deal for the most
part with questions OF proportionate
weight and height. but may result in
the recall OF some men rejected here
totore on physical grounds.
Inc new regulations grant an UNDER
weight allowance Of from Ave to six
POUNDS Tor men between sixty-four and
si1ty-seven inches in height; seven to
eight pounds between sixty-seven and
si1ty-nine inches; nine to ten pounds
between seventy and sevcnty-four
inches. and twelve pounds above
seventy-fye inches. The effect of the
instructions Is TO reduce the normal
weight requirements for tall men.
An additional half-lnch allowance in
chest expansion also Is Flowed to men
sixty-eight inches in height. where
there Is no sign Of disease.
aiES WITH POOR TEETH TO
BE CLOSELY sCRUTINIZED
Men with poor teeth will be more
closely scrutinized hereafter. Where
dental work will restore the teeth.
they Will either be enrolled and the
work done by army dentists. or al
lowed time to have the work done for
Themselves.
a punctured ear drum is found TO be
no barrier. provided the hearing is
half-normal. Notifications are made
also In sight requirements. which will
give physicians wider latitude in ac-
ceptins mon, despite some defects OF
vision.
observation-disclosures Crowder has
urged prompt action by the local
boards in certifying as held for SER
vice men who make no claim for dis
charge or exemption. A daily report
to the district boards Is required at the
close OF each days work, and. SINH
larly. district boards will report each
night to the acknowledgement the men
finally accepted.
The government will call upon
local and district boards to furnish
one-third OF their quota on Scptem-
Der l." General Crowder's message
says, under the heading: The First
Call to the Colors."
- FUR DAILY
REPORTS or PROGRESS
Then follow the requirements for
daily reports OF the progress as out
lined. which General Crowdcr says arc
inserted Ito point the way to expedi-
ton and in order to insure that no
State and no local board shall be
placed in the unenviable position of
not being able to answer here with
cha nm tht-l - "a.
named.'
Local boards are urged not 10 stop
examining men when tho quota has
been reached. The boards should be
certain beyond doubt that enough men
have been certified. the statement says.
In another supplemental ruling, Cen
eral Crowder states that men serving
prison terms for misdemeanors are not
exempt by reason Of tina fact. II the
peace authorities will not release them
for military service. they will be re-
quired to present themselves for ex-
animation when their prison terms
have been completed.
Wholesale claims for exemptions
from the army draft. reported from
many sections. caused Provost-Marshal-
General Crowder to telegraph the Gov
ernors OF the States o-night directing
tnat local DoardS reduce discharges
for dependency to a far more restricted
class. and to very necessities and clear
circumst noes"
MANY OF REGISTRANTs
CLAIM DEPENDENT RELATIVES
In some districts as high as 80 per
cent of the registrants called for ex-
animation are filing claims for dis
charge on the ground OF dependent
relatives. Such a condition indicates,
General Crowder said, hat unfair ad-
vantage is being taken Of the reEula-
lions designed to protect men who
properly should be exempted from
military service. and actually threat
ems to interfere seriously with the
raising of the national army.
The message to the Governors fol-
lows in part:
Section . OF the selective service
law Kemp no person from military
service on the grouno OF dependency.
1t only authorizes the President to ex-
clude ur discharge from draft those
in a status with respect to persons de-
pendent upon them for support which
renders their exclusion or discharge
advisable
"The controlling necessity is to raise