Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-07
EXPECT DRAFT
IN FEW DAYS
Forty Spins of Wheel to Call
100000 to the Amer
ican Colors

Washington, July 7.-Selection
! day for the new national army is
approaching as rapidly. as the local
exemption boards in the various
States complete their organization,
give serial numbers to the registra-
tion cards and forward certified
copies to Provost Marshal General
Crowder. Indications are that the
| drawing will be held next week, but
no otnclal statement has been made
! as to the War Departments plans.
Administration officials still main
tain strict silence as to the method
to be followed. With the recent
statement by Secretary Baker that
the drawing would be held in Wash
ington, however, coupled with the
stress laid upon the serial number
ing of registration cards, the general
outline of the plan is clearly in
dicated.
1t is understood that it is propos-
ed to place, in single jury wheel in
washington one complete set of
numbers. When number is taken
from the wheel the man in each
| exemption district whose card bears
that serial number will be drafted.
Thus, as each number is drawn, ap-
proXimately 10000 men will be
drafted, or one in each exemption
| district. If 100000 men are to be
| called before the exemption boards
, in the first selection, which seems
probable, only forty numbers would
need to be drawn. 1t is also possible
that as many as 100000 will be
drawn to provide against exemp-
| tions.
Aliens Registered
There are numerous complications
which must arise, however, and the
method of solving them can be
known only when the administration
makes known it's plans in detail. For
Instance, the number of registered
individuals in each district who are
liable for military service will cer-
tainly not be the same. Aliens are
registered, but not liable for duty.
| All this must be considered in
framing the regulations. Provision
must be maze also to balance as far
as possible, the chances of military
duty between the men in each dis
trict, so that disqualification of a
large number in any particular dis
trict for any reason will not put
upon those qualified additional like
lihood of being sent to the front.
| Various ways of accomplishing
this correction of chances so as to
make the resulting draft as fair as
human ingenuity can contrive have
been suggested. The matter has had
President Wilson's personal consid-
GRAFTON in line with his pledge that
the method employed would be just
in every respect.
While the first contingent of the
new army, under the bill, is limited
i to 100000 men, an additional 1885,
900 or 10000 will be needed to
make up the reserve battalion of this
force. Reserve battalions are now be-
ing recruited for all regular regi-
ments and will be recruited for the
| National Guard when 1t is drafted
into the federal service. The organ
ization of the national army will be
on the same basis.
Draft to Regulars
1t may be necessary, also, to draft
enough men to fill up the regulars
and National Guard to war strength,
although no decision to this end has
been reached as yet. The regulars
are now close to war strength and
the guard units are recruiting rapid
ly If possible, they will be COM
pleted by the war volunteer system.
There is one other consideration
which will effect the total number of
men to be drawn. Opinion varies as
to the number of exemptions which
/ bS LOT the various causes
outlined in the exemption regula-
tions. A rough estimate of at least
fifty per cent. exemptions for physi-
cal or other reasons has been gen.
orally employed in computing the
probable size of the task before the
exemption boards.
1t is not known whether the gov
ernment plans to call double the
number of men actually needed on
the first selection in order to pro-
vide against these exemptions. Pos
sibly only the smaller number will
be taken, to be filled out by later
selections until the ranks are full.
If the exemption factor is allowed
for the first drawing, however, ii
seems likely that a million or a mil
lion and a half names would be pro-
vided for at that time, the men to
appear for examination in the or
der in which they were drawn and
the cards of those not reached in
any district where the quota was
filled before they came up before
the board, to be returned.
Another factor which is being
worked out in the selection regula.
tions is the provision of the law re.
quiring that each State be giver
credit at the drawing for the number
of men it has supplied as volun.
teers in the Regular Army or the Ma.