New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-23


tenn. recently put into force by the war
DEPARTMENT as a more definite means Of
procedure than that undergone in the first
draft CALL is now in full swing.
As applied TO the City Of New York this
system involves the mailing Of approx
mately $4,000 ques6onnaires to men
available for army service, but who were
not called out in the first draft. So stag
gering is the eXtensiveness and intricacy
Of the QUESTIONABLE system that IT IS well
to clear up a few Of the more involved
points by compact summary of just eX-
actly what this new plan Is. The follow
ing is a clear and concise statement of the
draft requirements as now in force;
1. THE QUESTIONABLE Commencing
at noon last Saturday week each Of the local
boards in every city, town and village OF the
United States began 10 mail daily to per
cent Of the registered men the 0uestonnalre,
and posted the names Of the men to whom
Il had been sent in its Offices. This question
naire must be answered and sworn TO, with all
supporting afidavits, and must be returned
20 the local board on or before the seventh
day after the mailing o. the QUESTIONABLE or
the posting OF the notice.
p PENALTIES.-Fai to so return the
Questionnaire within the time limit may result
in Imprisonment for not more than one year.
loss Of right for exemption. or deferred
classification and immediate induction into
the military service.
8. PERSONS CONCERNED.-All persons
who were over twenty-oLe years Of age and
under thirty-onc years of age on juno .,
1917. must answer This includes persons
who have heretofore been exempted by either
board, volunteers now in the military service,
men who have no claims for exemption or de-
ferfed classification. men who have already
been sent 10 the mobilization camps and re-
turned because of physical unhtness, and
every other person within the draft age, eX-
cept men indicted into the military service
under the draft and who have been accepted
st the camp.
4. NOTICE AND TINE LIMlT.-The ques-
tio,uaire. with the notice. will be mailed
Failure to receive it on account Of change in
address mistake of the postottice or other
cause does not excuse returning or extend
the time. Registrants who fail TO receive the
questionable should inquire at the local board
and examine the posted list.
3. DECISION OK CLASSIFICATI0N.-Th The
local board will decide upon the classified
ton and mail a notice OF its finding.
6. Registrants have the right
within five days after the decision of the
local board, 10 appeal TO the decision of the
district board. the five days running from
the date Of the decision, even though the
mailed notice for some reason is not re-
ceived. The date OF the decision can be as
certained from the local boards classification
sheet
T. MEDICAL EAANINATION.-P Physical or
medical examinations will be made in all
cases including those heretofore exempted
or rejected, hut will be made after the re-
turn Of the questionable and the decision OF
the local or district boards, or both, on
new fve-day notice sent or posted by the To-
cal board. If "a Tegstrant who has been held
as physically qualified for service is dissat-
isfed with the examination he may request
a determination by the medical advisory
board. Every person held TO be physically
disqualified unless the disability is obvious
without medical examination" must be re-
examined by the medical advisory board. An
appeal from the decision Of the medical ad-
yisory board to the district board is also
provided.
The declaration of Senator Reed the
other day that young men should begin
compulsory military training in the
United States at the age of eighteen years
finds support in The st. Louis Post-Dis-
patch which asserts:
Glow soon we could begin this universal
training system in view of the necessity OF
rushing the training of drafted men for ae-
tive service in the field is a question Of ex-
pedicncy. We have about 100000 men avail
able for this purpose under the draft, and
every year about 100000 men are added to
those of the present draft age for whose reg
istration legal provision should be made.
I'VE do not agree that young men under
twenty-one should be called TO the colors for
active service. II we utilize all the men Of
draft age We will not need to call the boys
into service. They should be permitted TO
complete their education and training for
life work in conjunction with training for
military service. II will be time to talk
Of calling immature youths to the colors
when the supply Of men is exhausted Our
first task Is 20 get registered men ready for
active service al the earliest possible me-
ment'
"The Spokane Spokesman-Review," in
urging the compulsory military training of
young men below the present draft age,
declares that the trouble is that the draft
now calls young men Of skill and expert
ence from work to which they have be-
come thoroughly accustomed, while the
younger class, men who are Just begin
ming to enter professions, and who have no
particular fitness for their jobs because of
their age and lack of experience, are
absolutely exempt from any service.
Arising from the present draft system
is, indeed, fast-growing demand for uni
versal military training on the part Of a
great many army officers Of high rank and
civilian leaders who recognize the necessity
OF such training Secretary Baker. on the
other hand is opposed to any such legisla.
t'on' arguing the hope that America will
a be able to keep out of any future wars
\ The question or theory Of world disarma.