Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-04-26
FURLOUGHS ARE To
4ELP FARM WORK
WAR DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO
LET ENLISTED MEN GO HOME
TO sow AND HARVEST.
HOW TO MAKE APPLICATION
Many Drafted Men Have Been Ex-
cused Under Vocation Provisions
Trade Tests Used to Secure Skilled
Workers for Army.

(From Committed on Public Information.)
Neutrality-suspicious. the purpose of
a~ugmenting agricultural production it
is the intention of the war depart
ment to grant %furloughs to enlisted
men TO enable them to engage in farm
ing during the present season. Com
handing officers may grant such fur
loughs within prescribed rules when
ever it appears they will contribute
to increased farm production.
Burroughs may be given by COM
handing officers of posts, camps, can
tonments, divisions, and departments.
They will be for short periods, large
ly for seeding and harvesting time.
They will not be granted to enlisted
men of or above the grade of first SER
geant, nor in an organization that
has been ordered to move or is in
transit from points Of mobilization or
training to a port Of e~mbarkation. All
furloughs granted will be recalled and
the men ordered to their organizations
when they have received preparatory
orders for duty overseas.
Burroughs granted for farm work
will be without pay and allowances,
except that enough pay will be re-
tanned in each case to meet allotments
In force on the day of the order, war
risk insurance, and pledges on Lib
erty bonds.
For specially qualified experts in
agriculture furloughs may be granted
by the secretary of war upon applica-
ton by the secretary of agriculture,
providing such furloughs are volun-
tarily accepted by the persons for
whom application is made.
Individual applications for Burroughs
submitted by relatives will be on a
form to be furnished by local draft
boards. Two sections are to be made
out and presented to the local board,
which can complete the form.
If the %furlough is granted the appli-
cation will be filed by the command
ing officer and a certificate furnished
the soldier. If not granted. the appli-
cation will be returned with reasons
for disapprOval.
If the soldier initiated the applica-
ton he will give the name of the per-
son for whom he desires to work, from
whom will be a~scertained the need
for farm service.
Burroughs may he granted en- bloc
TO men who are willing to accept them,
upon requests Of farmers, when time
consumed in travelling from the post
to the place of labor will not exceed
"a hours. In making these applica-
tons farmers will use a form of the
provost marshal generals office, also
going to the local board.
Under provisions Of the selective-
service law making specified vocations
a ground for exemption or discharge.
apart from the necessary industries"
dealt with by the district boards. Co.
TIC men were excused from military
duty.
or the men exempted, 1855 were fed
eral or state officers; ministers. 1876;
divinity students, 3,144; in the military
and naval service, 1882.
County and municipal officials mum
bering $50 were discharged custom
house clerks, III; mail employees.
LAG; arsenal workmen, 1858; fed
eral employees designated by the pres
ident. LIT; pilots, 1,772; mariners,
2,666.