The Washington herald., 1918-04-13
DRAFT BOARDS
MUST CERTIFY
ONLY PERFECT
Gen. Crowder Orders that
Men Fit for General
Service Be Called.
u. S. TO TREAT OTHERS
House Fights Amendment
to Support This Plan, but
Passage Is Assured.

Local draft boards were warned last
night. in a telegraphic order from
Provost Marshal General Crowder. to
hll quotas under induction calls only
with registrants known to be physi-
cally qualified for general military
service.
Men physically At for special or lin
tied military service may be inducted
only under calls specifically designat-
ing that such inductions be made.
Various Groaps.
All registrants originally placed In
class 1 are being examined for the
purpose Of grouping them with re-
spect to their physical qualifications.
The provost marshal's order follows:
Under section les one-half OF the
Selective Service Regulations and
Manual of Instructions for Medical
Advisory Boards, registrants are
grouped, with respect to physical
qualifications, in group A. comprising
registrants physically qualified for
general military service: group B.
comprising registrants physically quail
flied for general military service only
DtlllB VI dCLCSAS'
group c, comprising registrants ply
sically qualified only for special or
limited military service, and group d.
comprising registrants totally disqual-
flied and rejected. All local boards,
in filling quotas under induction calls,
should be warned against ordering
men to report for military duty who
fall in any group except group A, un-
less under special calls specifically
designat ting that men in other groups
be inducted."
Involves Expense.
Much time has been lost and great
expense incurred in the past in send
ing to training camps men who could
not pass the army physical tests.
For registrants suffering from tenn
porary physical defects, Surgeon
Gen. Gorgas has q scheme for re-
clamation. These men will be treat
ed at the expense of the government.
Several hundred thousand men will
be made available for the army under
this plan. it is estimated.
Lieut.. Col. Frank Billings has been
transferred from the Provost Mar
shal Generals Office to the Surgeon
Generals Department to take charge
of this work. Col. Billings also will
be in charge OF the reclamation work
among the wounded soldiers returned
from Europe.
Legislation making 1t certain that
no man OF Glass will be drawn in
the next general draft call will be
passed by the House today.
A fight against this principle was
beaten last night by a vote of 81.
to 11S. An amendment was adopted.
giving credits in the call in pro-
portion to men who have volunteered.
Warm Debate.
A vigorous debate, which at times
grew bitterly personal. ragged all day
But by adjournment the anti-admin-
istration men had been thoroughly
beaten in several roll calls. A par
liamentary tie-up held off the for
mality of passage until today.
Republican leaders took an 4ctivt
part in supporting the measure. anG
at several junctures the Republican
vote turned the decision to :he ad
ministration. Chairman Dent, OF the
Military Committee. spoke and votet
against the department program. anC
leadership in the administratio 6
fight was taken by Representative
Kahn, OF California.
The bill provides that the various
draft districts shall produce men fol
CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX.