Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-07-05
BmudfoIded Girl Sets Draft order.

Nearly 100000 young men Of 81. who
registered for military service on June S.
had their order in the draft classes fixed on
Thursday Of last week by second national
draft lottery. held with formal ceremony
at the Senate Office building. Washington.
Just 1900 numbered slips rolled into
capsules enough to cover the list Of new
registrants in the largest local district in
the country-were drawn from big glass
bowl and the numbers recorded in serial
order. Under the law all the new regis
trants 60 at the bottom Of the classes to
which they may be assigned. and the order
in which the number appearing on each
mans registration card came from the
bowl determines his place in the list of
additions.
Little time was lost in completing the
drawing. Instead Of requiring IL hours.
as il did last year. when l0.500 numbers
were involved. the task was done this
time in about two hours. After a brief
explanatory statement by Provost Marshal
General Crowder. Secretary Baker, blind
folded, drew the first number-246.
General March. chief Of staff; Chairman
Chamberlain and Senator Warren. Of the
Senate Military Committee; Chairman
Dent and Representative Kahn. Of Cali
fornia. of the House Military Committee,
and several army officers. each drew a
number. Then Major Billy" WeIlborn. a
yoang woman employed in the Provost
Marshal Generals Office. donned the blind
fold and proceeded TO take out capsules
with monotonous precision until the l200th
number had been recorded on the black
boards and tally sheets. and the bowl was
empty
Official and newspaper photographers
and moving picture men were in evidence
as the ceremony started. and the black
boards were photographed at the finish to
make their records permanent.
Dramatic interest that attended the first
drawing. which actually determined the
original order Of service Of ten million
reeistrants. was almost wholly lacking in
Thursdays proceedings. Since men placed
in Class are certain to be called to the
colors within few months at most the
order in which new registrants are placed
is relatively unimportant.
Numbers 1853 and 8l6 were the second
and third. respectively. taken from the
bowl.
General Crowder in his explanatory state
ment. declared the public was so familiar
with the process that it was unnecessary
TO 80 into detail.
Major Billy" Wellborn. who is accredited
with knowing more ms and outs of the
draft than any man connected with it.
drew the eleventh number. and proceeded
70 draw all the others. as the teller re-
corded them at the table and on the black
board.
The calling Of the numbers as the cap
sules were opened and the paper slips in
side were read, went on mon0tonously until
the one thousandth capsule had been
drawn. The first 1000 just filled one Of
the blackboards. and the official in charge
called Zine. while the board was being
changed and the workers rested
Draft number came out in the 644th
capsule. The i200th capsule. with num-
Der 225. was taken from the bowl at 1888.
and the drawing was over.
OF the 100000 young men who were
vitality concerned in the drawing. II is ex-
pected that 100000 physically fit who
have no dependents will be called to the
colors before the expiration Of the year
Under the law they cannot be called until
all those in Class on account Of last years
registration have been drawn.
Those OF the 10000 who are placed in
deferred classes on account Of the ques-
tionnaires which have been submitted to
them will take their places at the bottom
Of the classes to which they are assigned.
The maximum number for the drawing
was fixed at 1900 because that is the
greatest number Of men that can be taken