The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-18
tive Draft )ystem
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after a few months of the intensive
naming at the national army camps
were most gratifying. Such swift fit
ting in of men to military customs,
/ uses and regulations was hard to be-
lieve and yet the inspectors reported
almost as unit that the national
army was far exceeding all expecta-
tons. There was swing and dash
to these red blodded young Americans
/ that amazed veteran soldiers. They
had been clerks, farmers, factory
workers, miners, teachers. students,
professional men, idle millionaires.
But they all quickly became soldiers.
Many of them became heroes on the
! field of action, all of them were he
roes in the hearts of their own people.
! AS the camps were completed and
enlarged and as the officers training
camps graduated leaders, more calls
were filled by the draft boards and
the national army grew. Then the
war department began sending units
/ to Europe. Some were taken to Eng
land for last training, and others found
their last training camps in France.
And more men were called from civil
life to the environments.
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
connected with the operation Of the
selective draft and the making of an
army. He saw that many hundreds Of
thousands of youths not 81 years of
age when the law became operative,
We're reaching their majority, and con-
gress passed an act bringing such
young men under the jurisdiction of
the new law
President Wilson, with the anniver-
sary idea in mind, issued proclama
ton naming June 5. 1918, as the day
for such youths to register. This
brought about 100000 eager young
sters into the operation of the select
i've draft law, heavy percentage of
whom easily qualified physically for
service.
Amusing situations grew out of the
selective draft. 1t had been announc-
ed that men between the ages of Fl
and 81 inclusive who had persons
wholly dependent upon them for sup
port, would be put in deferred classes.
Slackers seized upon the point. Dan
Cupid did a rushing business. Men
got married right and left, for wives
surely were dependents. But the
law provided that marriage after it
had become operative would not ex-
empt. Many of these newlyweds
found themselves in khaki, regardless
of the brides they had taken, and
covered with scornful derision.
Dealing with "Objectors"
conscientious directors" pacifists
and draft resisters formed another
group with which the draft boards had
to deal. But the percentage of such
was SO small that it operated not at !
all against the success of the system |
and the government was properly re-
ientless in its dealings with them. If |
they would not fight they must work /
in prison.
The exhaustion of European man
power caused congressional action
which resulted in extending the select !
i've draft ages downward to IS and |
upward to 40, inclucive. An army of
100000 was considered. England !
already had a CONSUMPTION age limit |
of IS to 40 and even higher later in
the war This called for a new regis !
tration, and Sept. Il, 1913, approx !
mately 100000 more men, sons and |
fathers in many instances, registered ,
for military service.
The work of the selective draft en- |
tailed much preparation and labor. ,
Questionnaires were mailed to every /
registered man, which he was re-
CURED to fill out and return to the .
draft board within specified time |
These were exhaustive in every detail !
emitting nothing of information that ,
the army makers could use to apply ,
the law justly.
So, were the other free nations as !
founded by the American military eff !
bred of western energy, cour !
age and industry; so, too, were the
powers opposed to the United States |
and its allies astounded and confound |
ed to their overwhelming defeat.