Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07
CEN. CROWDER TELLS
OF THE SERVICE LAW
Head Of National Army Says the
Plan OF Draft Has Proven
Successful.
EXPRESSES HIS OWN VIEWS
All Ranks Of tho Nation Were
Quick TO Respond to the Call OF
President Wilson When Time
Game.
HIS OWN VIEWS

WASHINGTON. April Conc OF the
greatest achievements during Amer
icas first year in the great world war
was the creation Of the National Army.
The man who has largely been rcspon-
s!blc foc the creation of this great
hEhtinS machine is Major General
Enoch II. Crowder. Provost Marshal
General OF the army, who tells the
story in the following words:
Bf MAJOR GENERAL ENOCH IL.
CROWDER,
northumberland or the United
states and Creator of the
National Army.
On May Il. 1917. no advocate OF
preparedness could with confidence
have forecaSted the success OF n COM
oulsory service law. There existed no
mocha nism for the enrolment or Sc
lection CT individuals There were
many who feared the total failure OF
tie selective service law which was
eracted by Congress on May IS. 1917.
The law was unequivocal in its
terms. II boldly recltcd the military
obligations OF citizenship. 1t vested
the President with tie most plenary
power OF prescribing regulations which
should "'rikc balance between the
industrial. agricultural and economic
needs OF the nation on the one hand
and the military need on the other.
ana should summon men for service in
the place In which it should best suit
the common good to call them
II was measure OF unGucsScd sig
hihcance ana power. 1t flung a fair
challenge at the feet OF the doubters
and the REPUTATION OF their assertion
was nothing less than spectacular.
Between dawn and dark or enc
single day practically the male popu-
lation of the United States within the
age limits fixed by law for rcEistra-
ton presented themselves at the en-
roilmcnt booths with 4 registered re-
suit of nearly 100000 names. The
project had been so systenatizcd that
within forty-cisht hours practically
complete registration returns had been
assembled by telegraph in Washington.
nc remaining preliminary task was
10 determine tho order In which the
lo,ooo,Ooo rcEistrants were to be called
10 determine their availability for
milltary service. This was accom-
plishcd on July 90 by a great central
lottery in Washington which fixed the
order of call for tho whole 10000. 600
names tbs order determined, the
boards proceeded promptly to call. to
examine physically and to consider
claims for exemption of sufficient
number OF men 20 fiji the first nationa,
quota Of $4,000 mon.
At the Presidents call all ranks
or the nation. relucta ally cnterinc, the
war nevertheless instantly responded
TO the first call OF the nation with a
vigorous and unselfish co-operation
that submerged all individual interest
III Il single cadeavol toward the cen.
summation of the national task.
Il take IL that no great national nro-
Jcct was ever attempted with so com
piete a reliance on the voluntary CO.
operation OF citizens for its execution.
This law has been administered nv
Civilians whose official relation lies
only In the III ccssary powers with
Which thcy were vested ty the prcsi
dents designation of them to perform
me duties that are lad upon them.
Ihey have accomplished the task. The
system oHcrS room for Improvement.
hut the great thing they were called
upon TO do they Fave done
The Wanted efficiency or German.
oherS nothing u Compare with It,"