The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-03-14

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Washington, March 12.-Eight hun
dred thousand men are. to be called
to the colors gradually during the
present year, under the second army
draft, which begins March 20.
An announcement today by Provost
Marshal General Crowder of the mum.
ber to be called was followed closely
by an order for the mobilization of
$1,000 men during the five day period
beginning March 20, some $4,000 of
them to be assembled under the Sec
ond draft Eighty thousand will be
men of the first draft of $4,000 not
yet summoned into service.
Details of how the second draft is to
be applied will be made public later
after congress has acted upon pro-
posed legislation providing for the reg
istration of youths attaining the age
of p wears and for basing state and
district quotas on the number of regis
trants in class one. In his first official
statement ON the subject however
General Crowder assures the country
that no sweeping withdrawal of large
numbers of men at one time is contem-
plated, and that care will be taken 10
avoid interference with harvesting.
The $4,000 now called, it is under
stood, are needed at once to fill up
other divisions or units scheduled for
early departure, or to take the place
of men transferred from other divis-
ions to make up such deficiencies.
Newly organized regular divisions are
particularly short of men and heavy
drafts on national army divisions
to make these good have been neces-
sary, seriously interfering with the
training work of the national army
divisions drawn upon. The call for
new men makes it probable that no
further transfers will be necessary.
The 100000 men to be summoned
this year represent the number neces-
sary to fill up all existing divisions,
to create all the army corps and field
army troops to fill out the war ma
chine for which the framework al
ready exists, and to provide a quarter
of million replacement troops. When
they have been modified, which will
not be completed before the first OF
next year, there will be more than
forty full infantry divisions of 27,7OO
men each and all the additional units
necessary. No additional divisions of
the national army or national guard
will be created this year, although
the program for the regular army,
now composed of eight infantry and
one cavalry division, may be enlarged
The first purpose Of the war de-
partment is to complete the first field
army in France. Probably this will be
composed of five army corps OF six
infantry divisions each. 1t has been
estimated that with that force and
its necessary auXiliarieS at his dis
posal General Perishing would be able
to hold a 100-mile sector Of the battle
front, relieving the strain upon French
man power during 1918 to that extent
What that would mean to France may
be judged from published statements
Of French officials that on January l
1918. the Belgian army held about 15
miles of the western front, the British
forces about 105 miles and the French
about $50 miles.
War Departments Statement.
The next national quota will be an
nounced and apportioned among the
several states as soon as pending legis
lation authorizing change in the has
is Of computation is enacted by con
gress,' says the provost marshal gen
erals statement.
The number that will be assumed
as basis for computation will be
500 900. which is well within the au
thoriZation of clause I OF section l OF
the selective service act of second
increment of 100000 men, increased
by the recruit training units author
lied by clause of said section l ano
by the special and technical troops
authorized by section of said act.
1T cannot now be announced whai
the total number to be called to the
colors each month will be. but it may
he stated that 10 more men will bt
called than can he properly accommo
dated and properly assimilated.
There are difficulties confronting
the nation In the supply of labor ap
purtenant to agriculture. Glass one
from which new levies are TO he with
drawn. will contain many more mel
than are at present required for the
/. army. 1t would he a most unscien
titic and fatuous step If the men II
class one were called indiscriminately
; without regard to the labor situation IL
agriculture.