The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-12
- Assoclated Press.l


Washington. March 12y-Proyost
Marshal General Crowder today made
the drst oficial announcement OF the
time OF the second draft, II viii be
ordered as soon a. congress amends
the law to compute the basis OF Rp-
portionment among states on the
number OF Tegistrants in Class /
instead OF population. For purposes
oil computation 100000 men win be
considered as composing the second
draft, although no such number will
be called to the colors at any one
time,
Men in deferred classifications. the
provost marshal general announced,
would be called IN small numbers as
1yeu as men in Glass i for the pur-
pose OF utilizing special technical
! qualifications or sending them to
school to acquire such qualifications,
The provost marshal general makes
hthe definite statement. however. that
there will be no sudden withdrawal
OF great numbers of men from in
dustry and agriculture during the
coming summer but that they viii
tbe drawn in relatively small groups
spread throughout the year. To give
exact numbers, he says, would be to
give the enemy military information.
time in his statement, it has been
stated previously that supplies and
equipment for the men Of the second
draft would become available in
April and action on the desired leg
islation is expected before that time.
The first calls are expected soon aft
.srWard.
Needs Of Labor.
There are difficulties confronting
this nation in the supply Of labor,
says the provost marshal generals
statement
1T would be a most unscientffc
and fatuous step il the men in Glass
d were called indiscriminately with
out regard to the labor situation in
agriculture. Therefore. the local
boards win be directed to fill their
quotas in the order OF liability of
men in Class / as determined by the
national drawing, except that, where
it Is shown that a registrant is COM
pletely and assiduously engaged in
the planting. cultivation or reaping
Of a crop his call to the colors shall
be deferred to the foot Of the quota
OF his board as long as he continues
TO be so engaged.
Wherever any registrant, whose
call to the colors has been deferred
by reason Of his engagement in agri-
culture, Ia shown TO have been idle
on the farm on which he is engaged
or TO have trffied with the deferment
that has been accorded him, the
boards will forthwith induCt him into
military service il his order number
has been reached in the meantime.
The effect OF this eXpedient is to
grant furloughs from service prior to
actual call to the colors to ths men
so greatly needed in the production
Of this years crop.
To Protect Farmers.
There is now pending before
congress a bill authorizing the secre-
tary OF war to grant furloughs, with
or without pay, to men in the army
to enable them to engage in indus
trial and agricultural pursuits. These
1urloughs will be granted after con-
sideration Of the circumstances OF
the individual case.
"As a further means to protect
agriculture a new regulation has |
been promulgated authorizing agri- |
cultural students in their senior year
ia land grant colleges to enlist in /
the Enlisted Reserve corps Of the /
quartermaster's department provided |
their class standing is such as to |
place them In the upper third OF their /
class. BY this means IL viii be pos
sOble to defer the draft call Of such |
young men in order to enable them to |
perfect themselves as agricultural /
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