Montgomery County sentinel., 1918-03-22
The Next Draft.
War Department, Office Of the
Provost Marshal General,

Washington, D. c.
There has been great deal Of specula-
ton in the press concerning what has been
termed The date of the next draft.
Almost every week announcements have
been made and these announcements.
being mere suesses, have resulted in an
unrest and uncertainty that has been un-
fortunate.
As matter Of fact, the state of pre-
paredness of the Army to assimilate re-
cruits varies from day to day and from
week to week and the most scientific man.
ner of recruiting forces will be to withdraw
them from civil life as fast as they can be
assimilated by the Army and no faster.
According to this plan. men will be in
Quoted into the service in very small groups
apportioned among the various States from
week to week or from month to month as
they are needed. In order to distribute
the burden equally over the various States,
however, it is necessary to make arith-
metical computations Of the share of each
State and it is not practicable to make
these computations for such small numbers.
For mere bookkeeping facility, therefore,
it is necessary to assume total Of con-
siderable size and to apportion it among
the several States as their immediate bur-
den. This total is called national quota
and the various shares are called state
ountoa Tho announcamanf nf the Ount n
does not mean that any such great num-
Der of men will be called to military ser
vice at once. and indeed. has no necessary
relation to the date Of call for the reason
that constantly changing situation causes
changes in the number Of men who are to
be called to the colors.
1t is unwise to attempt to make FORE
cast of the number Of men that will be
called for immediate military service in
advance of the development of the whole
complex problem Of supply and transpor-
tation. 1t is also unwise to make public
announcements Of specific figures which
might serve the enemy as precise basis
for determining the plans for military par
ticipation of the Nation in this war. II is
necessary. however, to compose the present
unrest and uncertainty by some public
announcement and for this reason the fol-
lowing is authoritatively stated;
The next national quota will be an
nounced and appOrtioned among the sew
eral States as soon as pending legislation
authorizing a change in the basis Of COM
putation Is enacted by Congress. This
legislation has been passed by the Senate
and favorably reported by the House Mill
tary Committee. The number that will be
assumed as a basis for computation will
be 800, 900, which Is well within the au-
thorization Of clause Of section Of the
Selective Service Act Of a second incre-
ment of 100000 men. increased by the
recruit training units authorized by clause
Of Section l. and by the special and
technical troops authorized by section 2
of said Act. 1t cannot now be announced
what the total number to be called to the
colors each month will be. but 1t may be
stated that no more men will be called than
can be properly accommodated and
promptly assimilated.
There are difficulties confronting the Ma
ton in the supply Of labor appurtenant to
agriculture. Class |. from which new levies
are to be withdrawn, will contain many
more men than are at present required for
the Army. II would be most unscientfic
and fatuous step II the men in Class Iwere
called unfortunately without regard to
the labor situation in agriculture. There
fore. the Local Boards will be directed to
fill their quotas in the order Of liability Of
men in Class as determined by the ma
tional drawing. except that, where 1t is
shown that a registrant is completely and
assiduOusly engaged in the planting, culti-
walton or reaping Of crop, his call to the
quota of his board as long as he continues
to be so engaged. Whenever any regis
trant, whose call to the cOlors has been
deferred by reason Of his engagement in
agriculture, is shown to have been idle on
the farm on which he is engaged or TO
have trifled with the deferment that has
been accorded him, the boards will forth
with 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 the men so greatly
needed In the production Of this years
crop. This is not, however. the only ex-
pedient to be adopted to conserve the sup
ply Of labor appurtenant to agriculture and
to mobilize all means for increasing the
harvest for the agricultural season Of 1918.
There is now pending before Congress a
bill authorizing the Secretary Of War to
grant furlouehs, with or without pay. to
men in the Army to enable them to en-
gage in industrial and agricultural pur-
suits. The purpose Of this bill is to relieve
serious situations in particular instances
10 which men who are the main stay OF
farms have been inducted into the service
either through voluntary enlistment or
selection and whose services during the
present emergency in agriculture are
needed These furloughs will be granted
after consideration Of the circumstances
Of the individual case in which they arise
and when the military situation is such
that they can be granted without too great
disruption and disore Of the Army
or of any particular organization Of the
Army.
As to further means to protect aericul-
ture new regulation has been promulgated
authorizing agricultural students in their
senior year in lsnd-srant colleges to enlist
in the Enlisted Reserve Corps Of the Quar-