Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-01
FIRST 100000
TO BE CALLED
ABOUT SEPT.
Two Out of Every Five OF
Americas AbIezBodied Men
to Be Summoned If War
Lasts Another Year

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-While con-
gress tonight was talking it's way clos
er to the inevitable-the writing of a
selective CONSUMPTION statute on the
books-the war department, finally as
sured that the house and senate would
authorize the president to raise the ma
tion's 100000 army as he sees fit, an
nounced officially that the first half
million men would be called to the col
ors about September /, next.
Should the war last another year, two
out of every five of Americas able
bodied men will be called out.
The senate decided on age limits of
twenty-one to twenty-seven inclusive
The house voted for conscripting men
between the ages of twenty-one to forty
inclusive. Agreement to be reached in
conference committee next week prob
ably will set some average between the
two.
The war machine will begin forma-
ton in embryo with voluntary registra-
tion of men eligible.
Slackers will be gone after later. OF
the more than 100000 who will regis
ter. between 100000 and 100000 will
be drawn by the jury wheel system
After physical industrial and other
exemptions are allowed 1t is expected
100000 will remain. These will be plac-
ed Immediately in training. Equipment
is expected to be ready for them at
once.
JURY WHEEL SYSTEM.
Mr.. Baker is inclined to favor the
jury wheel system of choosing the men
to be called first. When any township
is called upon for it's quota to fill the
first 100000 increment, the names of all
of it's citizens previously registered for
military duty would be placed in the
jury wheel and the proper number
drawn. Examination of that number
would then be carried out and enough
additional names drawn to fill UP the
quota. with provisions made for eX-
emptions.
The secretary indicated that passage
of the draft bill would be followed by
further vigorous efforts to stimulate
voluntary recruiting in the regular
army and national guard. President
Wilson may issue a proclamation call
ing for 500, 900 or more volunteers for
these branches of the service. Mr.. Bak-
or made 1t plain that the war depart
ment does not plan to apply the draft
to fill Up the regular and guard forces
until the supply of volunteers has been
exhauste
Within month after enactment OF
the bill the secretary expects to set the
registration QdL6 LOT inc COAISCllPlANC
forces. A proclamation will be issued
notifying all men affected to appear
at the registration places. The election
machinery of each community will be
used to facilitate registration, and the
police forces will be employed to bring
in those who fail to appear voluntarily.
BRITISH ENFIELD RIFLES.
In connection with equipment the de-
partment announced the second million
men raised will be provided with the
British Enfield rifles.
simultaneously 1t was announced the
government is constructing two new
foreign types of field pieces-both far
larger than the present big 6-inch wea-
pons.
The congressional battle today was
rffercely fought. Prohibition for the
army, congress, executive departments
of the government, the Roosevelt divi-
sion idea. eligibility, age limits, ex-
exemptions: whether an army should be
sent to Europe at all-all these ques-
tions arose in both houses.
A feature of the day in the. lower
body was the vote of Miss jeanette
Rankin-among ninety-e;ght others
against the Kahn amendment which re-
turned the measure to virtually the
same provisions as submitted originally
to the house by the president and the
war department.