The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-03-28
THE NEXT DRAFT
Statement by War Department
Sets Speculation at Rest.

Sets Speculation at Rest.
The following statement relative to
the next draft of men for the Army has
been issued from the Office OF the Pro-
yost Marshal General at Washington
and sent TO The Republican for publ
cation
There has been great deal of spec
ulation in the press concerning what
has been termed The date of the next
draft" Almost every week, announce
ments have been made ami these an
nouncenents. being mere guesses, have
resulted in an unrest and uncertainty
that has been unfortunate
As matter of fact the state of pre-
paredness Of the Army to assimilate re
cru;ts varies from day to day and from
week 10 week ard the most scientific
manner Of recruiting the forces will be
to withdraw them from civil life as fast
as they cao be assimilated by the Army
and no faster. According 70 this plan
men will be indicted INTO the service in
very small groups apportioned among
the various States from week to week
to week or from month to month as
they are needed. In order to distribute
the burden equally over the various
States, however, it is necessary TO
make arithnetical c mputatons of the
share OF each STATE and it is not prac-
ticable t. make these computations for
such small numbers. For mere book
keeping facility, therefore, it is neces-
sary to assume a total of considerable
size ard to apDortion it among the
several States as their immediate bur
den. This total is called a national
quota ana the various shares are called
state quotas. The announcement of
the quota does not mean that any such
great number Of men will be called to
military service at once, and, has no
necessary relation to the date of call
for the reason that constantly chang
ing situation causes changes in the
number Of men who are to be called to
the cOlors.
1t is unwise to attempt to make a
forecast of the number of men that will
be called for immediate military service
in advance of the development of the
whole complex problem of supply and
transportation. 1t is also unwise to
make public announcements of specific
figures which might serve the enemy as
a precise basis for determining the
plans for military participation of the
nations in this war. 1t is necessary,
however, to compose the present unrest
and uncertainty by some public an
nouncement and for this reason the fol-
lowing is authoriatively stated.
The next national quota will be an
nounced and apportioned among the
several states as soon as pending legis-
lation authorizing a change in the basis
of computation is enacted by Congress.
This legislation has been passed by the
Senate and faborably reported by the
House Military Committee. The num-
Der that will he assumed as a basis for
computation will be SOC, 900, which is
well within the authorization of clause
4 of section l OF the Selectve Service
Act of a second increasement of 500, 600
men, increased by the recruit training
units authorized by clause OF said
Section l, and by the special and tech
nical troops authorized by Section 2 of
said Act. 1t cannot now be announced
what the total number to be called to
the colors each month will be but it
may be stated that no more men will
be called than can be properly accom-
modated and promptly assimilated.
There are difficulties confronting the
nation in the supply of labor appur-
tenant to agriculture. Glass |, from
which new levies are to be withdrawn,
will contain many more men than are
at present required for the Army. 1t
would be most unscientific and fatu-
Gus step if the men in Glass were call
ed Unfortunately without regard to
the labor situation in agriculture.
Therefore, the Local Boards will be d.
rected to fill their quotas in the order
of liability Of men in Class | as deter
mined by the national drawing, except
that, where it is shown that regis
trant is completely and assiduously en-
gagged in the planting, cultivation OF
reaping of crop, his call to the colors
shall be deferred to the foot of the
quota of his board as long as he con-
tinues to be so engaged. Whenever
any registrant, whose call to the colors
has been deferred by reason of his en-
gagement in agriculture, is shown to
have been idle on the farm on which he
is engaged or to have trihed with the
deferment that has been accorded him.
the boards will forthwith induct him in
to military service if his order number
has been reached in the meantime. The
effect of this expedient is to grant fur
loughs from service prior to actual call
to the colors to the men so greatly need