The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-04-10
NEED SKILLED MEN FOR ARMY
Information Required 10 to Be Taken
From ouestionnalres Of Drafted
Men-Artisans to BE Picked
From All Sections.

and enable the United States to fight
the great war to a successful conclu-
sion. It is very big undertaking and
like many Of the efforts put forth by
the government at this time much de-
pends upon the voluntary assistance
Of loyal and patriotic people. The
matter has been taken up with Presi-
dent Wilson and he has expressed the
opinion that the school teachers Of
America, those who are now engaged
In teaching the children Of the coun-
try patriotism, will come to the aid of
the government.
In order to enforce the selective
draft system the country was organ
ized with 5000 local boards to pass
upon the returns which the selected
men made. In the Office Of each local
board, comprising the district which
the board controls, are the answers to
the questionnaires of something like a
total Of 100000 men. About 1,50O,-
600 have already been selected for the
fighting forces Of the National army,
but there remain in various classes
men who could be extremely. useful to
the government on account Of the
knowledge and skill which they have
attained in their daily occupations.
It is necessary for the provost mar
shal's Office at Washington to obtain
Information as to the qualification, ex-
perience and adaptability Of these men
to the work which is necessary In con-
nection with the war.
Pershino Needs Skilled Men.
For instance, not long ago General
Pershing wanted 1000 bricklayers. He
wanted them not as civilians, but as
soldiers. He needed them for particu-
lar work which was to be done
for the support Of the army In France.
Then again there was a call for 5000
spruce lumbermen; that is, men who
had knowledge of the lumbering and
logging business, who could 60 into
the woods and get the spruce lumber
necessary to make airplanes. Then
there is call for motor mechanics,
and for men skilled in many other
lines of industry who as soldiers will
perform as great service III support
ing the army at the front as will those
men who are working industriOusly for
the government all along the line in
order to make the fighting forces ef-
fective.
Now the provost marshal's Office is
in need Of the Information that is on
file in the offices of the various local
boards, and the only way this informa-
ton can be obtained is through the
voluntary assistance of some particu-
lar class of people. It has been de-
ciied that the school teachers of the
country by giving Nittle Of their
time each day to the work can obtain
from the local boards the information
which the provost marshal must have
in order to secure the classification Of
the men SO as to make up the various
lists that are necessary to make the
army the great machine which It Is
designed to be.
Get Facts From QUESTIONABLE.
In order to get this Information mill
lions Of cards have been printed and
sent to the various local boards, upon
which Is to be copied from the ques-
tfonnaires on file with the boards the
necessary information respecting each
individual selected man that the pro-
vost marshal's Office desires. Upon
this card the man will be classified ac-
cording to the findings Of the local
board, but the important feature will
be his classification as to occupation
and skill in any particular profession,
trade or industry; his familiarity with
tools and instruments, or other kinds
Of work. It will make no difference
what his occupation may be, the infor-
nation concerning the man will be put
upon the card and these cards sent to
the provost marshal in Washington.
It is. proposed to classify at least
100000 men who will be available
for service In the United States as
soldiers. They will be put in uniform
and subject to the same discipline as
the other selected men. Instead Of be-
ing trained with guns and for fighting,
they will be trained for particular duty
that is needed.