The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-05-25
FIRST DRAFT
A. MILLION
President Expected to Call
Out This Number In
stead of 100000
NO EXEMPTIONS
TILL AFTER DRAFT
War Department Expects
That These Will Cut the
Million in Half

| Washington, May 25.--While Presi-
dent Wilson will have the final word in
all matters pertaining to the draft which
will provide the necessary 100000 men
for the National Guard army, war de-
partment officials made it plain yester-
day that it probably would be necessary
to draft 100000, instead of 100000, in
order to fill the ranks. Furthermore,
exemptions from service will not be
granted until after the draft has taken
place.
1t is obvious that the ordinary ex.
emptions from service prescribed by law
and the failure of drafted men to pass
the necessary physical tests for service
In the new army will materially reduce
the number of men available for service
in the field. The physical test will prob
ably remove by far the greater number
from the list of eligibles. Instead of
proceeding to weed out the entire TO-
100000 who will register on june S,
tremendous job, the war department pro-
poses to examine only the number of
men actually drafted, which would. in
any event, probably not exceed l,0O0,-
600. 1t may be that the president will
prefer to draft two increments of 500,-
900 men each, but the army officers be-
lieve that, on the average, one man will
be exempt from service on legal reasons
for every one recruited.
Immediately after the registration has
been completed the rules and regulations
for the draft will be issued by the pres |
ident, together with the necessary proc
lamation. 1t has already been decided
that district judges cannot sit on the
board of appeals which will deal with
claims for exemptions for the reason
that legal questions may arise which
must be determined by them judicially.
Provost Marshal General E. H. Crow
der said yesterday that President VIII
son would appoint the boards to deter
mine whether a particular claim for ex
emption from military service under the /
selective service bill shall be granted.
Previous to this time it had been gener-
ally understood that the boards would
consist OF three members each, one to
be appointed by the president, and the
other two by the governor of each in
dividual state. By giving the president
power to appoint the members, the
boards are expected to be removed from
all local influences.
General Crowder said that the only
regulations prescribed thus far are those
governing the registration, which will
take place June 5. He said that until
.he other regulations governing the de-
termination of exemptions, exclusions
md discharges were promulgated, fur
her information would not be given out
1t his Office, as it might prove mislead-
ng. He emphasized the fact that the
termination of exemptions and dis
.harges was a second step in the mo-
,ilizing of the national army and quite
eparate from registration. All men be-
ween the ages of twenty-one and thir-
y inclusive must register June 5. :
even convicts and alien enemies are
equired to register" says a statement
ssued yesterday, adding, however, that ,
hose liable should not confuse registra-
ion with actual drafting for service in
he army. The statement points out
lso that the application of the draft and
alling selected men to colors will fur t
ish the opportunity for those who be- h
eve they should be exempted to sub
nit their claims. The process of selec- 7
ion will be carried out, it adds, "by lot Ii
Y the fairest system that can be de- q
ised." S