Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-15

remaining from the first draft
and those Liable to call IN the
second draft.
Washington, D. c., March 12.-Pro'
kvost Marshal General Crowder today
made the first official announcement
of the time Of the second draft. 1t VIII
be ordered as soon as congress
amends the law to compute the basis
of appoT tionment among the states on
the number Of registrants in class
instead Of on the basis of population.
For purposes Of computation 800. 900
men will be considered as COMPOSING
the second draft, although no such
number will be called to the colors at
any one time.
Men in deferred classif1catfons, the
provost marshal general announced
will be called in small numbers "A
we'll az men In class 1, for the purpose
OF utilizing special technical qualffcar
tons.
DRAFT TO BE GRADUAL
The provost marshal general makes
the definite statement, however. that
there will be no sudden withdrawal
Of great numbers of men from In.
dustry and agriculture during the com
ing summer, but that they will Be
drawn in relatively small groups
spread throughout the year. To give
the exact numbers, he says. would be
to give the enemy military informa-
ton. While General Crowder sets no
time in his statement it has been
Hnt a -
equipment for the men of the second
draft would become available in April
and as action on the desired leeisla-
ton is expected before that time the
first calls are expected soon after.
ward.
FARMERS TO GO LAST.
There are difficulties confronting
the nation in the supply OF labor ap
purtenant to agriculture says the
provost marshal generals statement.
1.-THE local boards will be directed to
fill their quotas in the order of Ia
bility Of men in class 1 as determined
by the national drawing, except that,
where it is shown thst q regfstrant Is
completely and assidiously engaged In
the planting, cultivation or reaping of
a crop, his call to the colors shall be
deferred to the foot of the quota Of his
board as long as he continues to be
so engaged.
NO STACKING PERMITTED
whenever any registrant whose
call to the colors has been delekred
by reason Of his engagement in aHt
culture is shown to have been Idle On
the farm on which he is engaged, or
to have trifed with the deferment
that has been accorded him the boards
will forthwith induct him into military
service II his order number has been
reached in the meantime. The effect
Of this expedient is to grant furloughs
from service prior to actual call to the
colors to the men so greatly needed in
the production OF this years crop.
There is now pending before con-
gress a bill authorizing the secretary
OF war to grant furloughs with or
without pay to men in the army to en-
able to engage them In agriculture
pursuits.
LABOR PROBLEM STUDIED
"As to further means to protect
agriculture, a new regulation has been
promulgated authorizing agricultural
students in their senior year in land
grant colleges to enlist in the enlisted
reserve corps of the quartermasters
department. This will make it pos.
sible to defer the draft call Of such
young men in order to enable them to
perfect themselves as agriculturists.
THE whole industrial and agricul.
tural situation is being subjected to a
very comprehensive study in order to
discover any means that may be taken
to protect and argument the labor
supply appurtenant to industry and
agriculture without precluding the
prompt and orderly progress Of our
military plans.
ARMY NEEDS MECHANICS
ut must be emphasized that this is
a war Of mechanics. The need Of these
several armed forces for men highly
skilled in technical and mechanical
pursuits is greater than in any former
war. Yet this need for specially skilled
men finds the nation under a neces.
sity for increasing its production in
almost every line of industry.
1.-THE provost marshal general has
called upon the states for some TO-
900 skilled artisans, and will shortly
call upon the states for 10000 young
men, graduates Of grammar schools
who will be sent before the first OF
April to various technical and other
schools throughout the United States
for two months course Of training
Regularly thereafter an increasing
stream of selected men will be sent
through educational and other train
ing institutions for this purpose.
"To sum up. it may be said that
there will be no sudden withdrawal Of
great numbers Of men from the ranks
of industry and agriculture during the
coming summer but that men will be
drawn in relatively small groups
lthre0ghout .the-y year IN such -A-wayAa