The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-05
Six Hundred 21-Year-Old To.
pekans Register for Army.
Happy, Enthusiastic Lot as
They Sign Their Names.
REGISTRATION LIGHT THIS A. M.
But Booths Will Be Open Until
8 O'clock This Evening.
Hundreds of rs Glass Already
Have Gone to War.

Registration of the class or 1913
was very light in Topeka today
Both local boards reported that
the registration of the twenty-one-
year olds was much smaller than was
expected. At o'clock this afternoon
board No. had registered only
about sixty-five or seventy men OF the
new class, and board No. had done
very little better, with a registration
of less than one hundred.
One of the reasons advanced for
the light registration of the 1913
youths this morning was that many of
them are already in the service. To-
peka sent nearly 1000 men to the col
ors in the national guard. Most of
these men are already in France. and
most of the national guards. or a fair
proportion of them. were men who
would have been twenty-one years old
between June 5. 1917 and June s. 1918.
Many Joined Regulars.
The regular army and the navy have
taken heavy toll from the class. too
enlistments of rs men being numerous
in both branches this month. 1t is
thought that Topeka has already sent
more than 800 of her 1918 class 10
the colors with the regular army, the
navy and the national guard.
Some of the boys who presented
themselves this morning brougnt
along their sweethearts and their fam
lilies to watch the process. There was
no hesitation in answering the ques-
tions asked and 1t was apparent that
the men have become accustomed TO
the workings Of the draft and came
prepared to answer the Quesuons m
telligently.
Registration cards issued to the men
| registering in the class of 1913 are un-
numbered. The card is issued merely
to show that the man named on the
card has presented himself and is duly
registered The new system OF un-
numbered registration cards Is expect
ed to do away with the confusion be-
tween registration numbers and order
numbers. Henceforth the order NUM-
ber is the only number the regis-
trants will have to remember.
Attitude Is Different
Whenever a man registered In June.
1917, put in an appearance at the
local board rooms in search of In
formation, the difference between the
two classes was most noticeable. The
class of 1T men had had considerable
experience in dealing with the boards
and their actions and manner were
free from restraint or bashfulness. The
seriousness of the situation had worn
off. But the r1en coming in to reg
lister with the '18 class wore all the
pristine bashfulness of the class of
1917 on the 1917 registration day
Faces were worried, not thru fear OF
the war, but thru fear of not answer
ing the questions properly.
Local board No. 1 announced this
morning, in spite of the light regis
istration, that a heavy drive was ex-
pected on the registration clerks this
evening after the downtown offices
, had closed and the men were at 1eis-
ure. Board No. 1 said that a regis
tration of about 200 men was expected
at that office.
Board No. Largest.
Board No. 2, covering the largest
| territory. was expecting a total regis
tration of about $50 or 400 men by
o'clock this evening, when the regis
tratfon offices are to close.
The men registered today will be
issued the standard questionnaires in
the near future it is expected. Then
they will be called for physical ex-
animation and classification. Regis
trants of the class of '18 placed in
class 1 will be placed at the foot Of
the present class 1 list and will be
called in their turn. 1t has not yet
been announced just what method will
be used in determining the order
numbers of the new registrants. The
questionnaires will be issued on orders
to be received from Provost Marshal