The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-16
CLASS ONE NEEDS MEN
All Now Eligible Will
Have Been Called to
Colors by October.
TIM E is sHOR 7
Army Wishes to Avoid
Possible interruption
of Troop Movement
to France.
T IN E IS SHOR 7

Washington. Aug. 15.--CIass 4,
under the age limit of the origi-
nal selective service act. will
have been entirely exhausted by
October !.
The war department man.
program requires that 100000
more men qualified for full mill.
tary service be made Immediately
ayaila bic.
Serious interruption I'm the fiow
of American troops to France
with the consequent handicap 10
the battle plans of The allied
Ieaders-wiil result unless the
now nearly depleted reservoir of
draft eiigibics Is replentshcd at
the earliest possible moment.
Approximately 5000 900 men
must be added to the present list
of regfstrants In order that, with
all exemptions allowed. at least
1000. 900 fit-to-fight men will re-
main In class /.
This required number OF men
may be had only by including
within the draft age limits men
between thirty-two and forty-five
and between eighteen and twenty.
This was the situation outlined by
Provost Marshal General Crowder to-
night in a statement discussing the
war departments plans for carrying
into effect thee provision of the new
man-power bill now pending in con-
gress, The urgency OF the demand
for lighting men has presented the
necessity of taking preliminary steps
TO provide for the registration and
classification OF the men to be as4ecs-
ed by the proposed act Ia advance uf
action by congress.
ssrfApn Ia Hfcraf1xr va n t.S
lost" says General Crowde-.
Draft officials ali oter the country
have been advised to make ready 70
proceed prom pity as soon as congress
has acted and the president, by proc
lamation, has fixed the date OF regis
tration.
While Gen srai Crowder's statement
is concerned b.in >'pt,'v win the
PR, aratioas for the expe .i."us han
dir X OF tie tremendous task en-
fronted by his department. occasion
Is taken to emphasize the war depart
ment's conviction that an army of SUIT
ficient strength to win victory In the
field can be secured only by raising
the draft age limits 20 As and lower.
ing them to Is. Careful investigate
OF actual figures from insurance com
panies and census computations and
the experience of his once in pre-
vious registrations. General Crowder
says. have led to the estimate that ar
adequate supply OF rnan-power can De
produced only by including the addi-
tional seventeen annual classes as sug
gested by the war department In the
pending bill.
The department expects pSompt and
favorable action by both the senate
and the house. Regis ration day may
be as early as September s and not
later than September Is.
IF the bill. as introduced. Il
passed" says the provost marsha
general, ut will be necessary. between
! the date of its passage and October
to register and begin to classify By
questionable 100000 men no.
heretofore included in the draft age
limits; or approximately one ana one.
third as many men as were regis
this has been done, draft calls upor
the new class must start to fill tbs
places in the training camps OF those
men going to France.
Assurance having been given thai
the legislation will receive immediate
consideration upon the assembling o.
the house. and of the senate, this Of
flee. in it's preliminary Instruction.
sent out to draft executives In the va
rious states. has proceeded on tht
| assumption that the new registration
might be held early in September. =
! for example. the bill Is passed by Au
gust 81, or soon thereafter, II would
| be necessary Ter the presidents proc
| lamation to fix a registration date n.
soon as possible. allowing ample tim
| to be given for posting of his procla
nation in every region of the coun
tContinued on Second Pagel