The Benson signal., 1918-05-18
fURLOuCHs ARE To
HELP FARM WORK
WAR DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO
LET ENLISTED MEN GO HOME
TO SOW AND HARVEST.
HOW TO MAKE APPLICATION
Many Drafted Men Have Been Ex.
eused Under Vocation Provisions
Trade Tests Used to Secure Skilled
Workers for Army.

So SCtn OONlIJINtee On FuDllc AnIOTNnatfON.J
Washington.--For the purpose Of
auglaenting agricultural production 1t
Is the intention Of the war depart
ment to grant furloughs to enlisted
men to enable them to engage in farm
Ing during the present season. Com
manding officers may grant such fur
lOughs within prescribed rules when
ever 1t appears they will contribute
to increased farm production.
Furloughs may be given by COM
tonments. divisions. and departments.
They will be for short periods. large
~ for seeding and harvesting time.
They will not be granted to enlisted
men Of or above the grade Of first SER
geant. nor In an organization that
has been ordered to move or Is in
transit from points of mobilization or
training to a port Of cInbarkation. All
furloughs granted will be recalled and
the men ordered to their organizations
when they have received preparatory
orders for duty overseas.
f'urloughs granted for farm work
will be without pay and allowances,
except that enough pay will be re-
tanned In each case to meet allotments
in force on the day Of the order. war
risk insurance. and pledges on Lib
erty bonds.
For specially qualified experts In
furloughs may be granted
by the secretary of war upon applica-
ton by the secretary Of agriculture,
providing such furlOughs are volun-
tarily accepted by the persons for
whom application Is made.
individual applications for furloughs
submitted by relatives will be ON
form to be furnished by local draft
boards. Two sections are to be made
out and presented to the local board,
which can complete the form.
II the furlough is granted the appn-
cation will be filed by the command
Ing officer and certificate furnished
the soldier. II not granted, the appli-
cation will be returned with reasons
for disapproyal.
II the soldier initiated the applica-
tion he will give the name Of the per-
son for whom he desires to work, from
whom will be ascertained the need
for farm service.
Furloughs may be granted en- bloc
to men who are willing to accept them,
upon requests Of farmers, when time
consumed in travelling from the post
to the place Of labor will not exceed
"a hours. In making these applica-
tions farmers will use form Of the
provost marshal generals office, also
going to the local board.
Under provisions of the seleetive-
service law making specified vocations
ground for exemption or discharge,
apart from the necessary industries"
dealt with by the district boards, ST.
716 men were excused from military
duty.
OF the men exempted, 1865 were fed
erai or state officers; ministers. 3.976;
divinity students. 3,144 in the military
and naval service, 47,S22
County and municipal officials num-
bering $50 were discharged; CUSTOM
house clerks. III: mail employees,
1,478; arsenal workmen, 2.358; fed
cral employees designated by the pres
ident. LIT; pilots. 1,772: mariners,
2,6e8.
The alien property custodian has
been given power to sell, at private
sale without advertisement, enemy
owned live stock, feed or food stuffs,
hides and other animal products. Agri-
cultural products, fertilizers. chem
icals, drugs, essential oils. lumber,
cotton. tobacco. furniture, books. glass
and china ware, wearing apparel. jew
elry. precious stones, pictures, orna-
ments. bric-a-hrac. objects Of art.
raw or finished textile materials,
trunks. boxes. partially or completely
manufactured metals. fabrics. rubber
and rubber products, and oil kinds of
merchandise. in lots having a market
value OF not more than $4,000.
Such sales may be held at places
and under conditions prescribed by the
alien property custodian.
Federal reserve banks are to redlsr
count notes secured by farm tract
ors. according to the department OF
agriculture. Instructions have been
issued to all federal reserve banks au-
thorizing them to rediscount tractor
paper presented by any member bank,
provided 1t has maturity not exceeding
six months and the tractors are pur-
chased for agricultural purposes.
In Oklahoma. county councils OF de-
tense are securing pledges from auto
mobile owners to furnish trnnSporta-
ton to speakers for community coun-
ellis. The pledge provides that the
chairman Of the county council may
hire a ear at the expense Of any slgner
who fails TO furnish transportation at
the time promised.