Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-10-03
SKILLED FARMERS
IN DEFERRED GLASS
THEY ARE TO BE LISTED WITH
THOSE NECESSARY IN OTHER
OCCUPATIONS.
BUILDING WORK IS CHECKED

Government Acts to Stop All Need
less Construction at Once-Naval
Lieutenant shiri< 10 Commended for
q Daring Rescue
(From Committee on Public Informatfon)
Washington.-Agreem has been
reached by the war labor policies
board, Provost Marshal General Crow
der, the Secretary of war, the secre-
tary of agriculture and the secretary
of labor on plan to put into deferred
classification such persons in the new
draft as are necessary in agriculture,
industry and other occupations.
Three advisers are to be associated
with each district draft board to pre-
sent facts respecting the supply OF
necessary workers in these three occu-
pational groups. The agriculture adj
visers will be nominated by the sec
rotary of agriculture. They will
gather accurate facts concerning the
requirements of agriculture for the
various classes Of workers in their own
districts. They should have informa-
ton also as to the needs of such
classes in other districts that workers
not sufficiently necessary in one dis
trict to entitle them to deferred classi-
fication may have opportunity to go to
other districts in which they are
needed.
The department of agriculture has
sent a QUESTIONABLE to each county
agent asking him to furnish reliable
information regarding the farm labor
needs in his county. The facts are re-
Quired to assist the district draft
boards In keeping in agriculture the
(a) necessary skilled farm laborer in
necessary agricultural enterprise" (de-
ferred class p; (b) necessary assist
ant associate or hired manager of
necessary agricultural enterprise" (de-
ferred class 81; (c) necessary sole
managing. controlling or directing head
of necessary agricultural enterprise"
deferred class ~.
What the draft boards desire are
facts as to necessary skilled workers
The unskflled workers apparently are
not to be considered for deferred
classification; they are regarded as
more important for the army than for
agricultural enterprises and general in
dustry. The department of agriculture
points out that necessary skilled farm
labor should not be confused with in
experienced help that, with a little
training, can do very well some kinds
of farm work.
The commander of the United States
naval aviation forces, foreign service,
reports the heroic action of Lieut.. FL
bert Walker Shirk, United States ma
val reserve force, in reScuing q Bel
gian soldier who had fallen overheard
from the q. S. S. Lorraine on June %,
1918
On hearing the cry, ''man over
board" Lieutenant Shirk dived from
the promenade deck of the vessel, 80
feet. and supported the soldier. who
had been stunned by his fall into the
water. A swift tide carried both men
a third of a mile from the Lorraine by
the time a lifeboat reached them.
During this time the soldier twice re-
leased his hold upon the life preserv-
er and sank, but Lieutenant Shirk
dived and brought the man back to
the surface.
Secretary Daniels has officially COM
Mended Lieutenant Shirk for his dar-
ing action, and has recommended to
the secretary of the treasury that a
gold life-Saving medal be awarded him.
The recent creation of motor trans
port corps to take over from all other
corps complete control of all motor
vehicles in the army will entail the
execution of plans of great magni-
tude and scope.
The personnel and equipment of
this corps with each American army
will comprise almost as many men
and officers as were engaged on both
sides in the battle Of Waterloo. enough
motortrucks to stretch in an unbrol-
en- line across the state of Ohio. if
they were parked end to end with five
foot spaces between them. and
enough motorcycles and other We
hicles TO stagger by their numbers
the great masters of warfare in other
times than these
The actual number Of men and Off
GERS provided by the motor transport
corps to each American army is to be
154. TAT. The army motortrucks
with this unit will number 4O,SO3.
There will be 24.25O motorcycles,
1905 passenger carrying motorcars
and 6.59S ambulances, with a total of
approximately 100000 drivers and
riders. The officers will number
4.29S and the noncornmissioned OFF,
GERS $4,000.
Following a cali issued by the ma
tional council of defense. applica-
lions for enrolment in the volunteer