Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-12
T0BE ORDERED
WHEN CONGRESS
AMENDS LAWS
Supplies and War Material
Will be Computated on
Basis of $4,000 Men.
DEFERRED CLASSES
TO SUPPLY FEW MEN
April is Anticipated as Time
For Calling Men into
Service.

For Calling Men into
Service. /
Washington, March 12.-Provost /
Marshal General Crowder today made!
the first official announcement of the
time of the second draft. 1t will be
ordered as soon as congress amends
the law to compute the basis of APP
portionment among states on the |
number of registrants in Glass i in
stead of population. For purposes Of
computation 100000 men will be con-
sidered as composing the second draft
although no such number will be
called to the colors at any one time.
Men in deferred classiications, the !
provost marshal general announced,
would be called in small numbers. as
well as men in Glass for the purpose
of utilizing special technical qualifi-
cations or sending them to school to
acquire such qualifications.
The provost marshal general makes
the definite statement, however, that
there will be no sudden withdrawal of
great numbers of men from industry
and agriculture during the coming
summer, but that they will be drawn
ilf relatively small groups spread
throughout the year.
!: 10 give exact numbers, he says
would be to give the enemy military
information.
While General Crowder sets no time
in his statement, it has been stated
previously that supplies and equip
n,ent for the men for the second draft
would become available in April and
action on the desired legislation is'ex-
pected before that time. The first
calls are expected soon afterward.
"There are difficulties confronting
the nation in the supply OF labor"
says the provost marshal generals
statement. at would he most un-
scientific and fatuous step if the men
in Glass 1 were called indiscriminately
without regard to the labor situation
in agriculture. Therefore, the local
boards will be directed to fill their
quotas in the order of liability OF men
in Class 4 as determined by the ma
tional 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
by reason of his engagement in agrl-
culture, is shown to have been idle
on the farm on which he is engaged
or to have trif1ed with the deferIpent
that has been accorded him. the
boards will forthwith induct him into
military service If 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.
"There is now pending before con-
sress a bill authorizing the secretary
of war to grant furloughs, with or
without pay, to men in the army t.
and agricultural pursuits. These fur
loughs will be granted after consider
alton of the circumstances of the
individual case.
.'As to further means to protect
agriculture, new regulation has been
promulgated authorizing agricultural
students in their senior year in land
listed reserve corps of the quarter
masters department provided the
class standing is such as to place them
in the upper third of their class. BY
this means it will be possible to defer
the draft call of such young men in
order to enable them to perfect them
selves as agriculturalists and there
after to protect them in such service
as it may seem that they should per-
form in the best interests of the ma
ton.
THE whole industrial and agricul-
tural situation is being subjected to a
very comprehensive study In order to
discover any means that may be taken
to protect and augment the labor sup
ply appurtenant to industry and agri.
culture without precludtng the prompt
and orderly progress of our military
plans. r.
.It must be emphasized that this il
a war of mechanics. The need OF the
several armed forces for men highly
skilled in technical and mechanical
pursuits lis greater than in any former
war. Yet this need for specially
skilled men finds the nation under q
necessity for increasing its production
in almost every line of industry
Withdrawals Of men from industry
must be made and these Withdrawals
must take men who might otherwise
he deferred on account of their spe.
cial qualifications and skill. The
necessary numbers OF such skilled
men will be obtained in one of three
ways. rs
First, men already in the militar,
service VINO nave sucn speciai sn4s
win be taken from the line regiment!
and assigned to the STAFF organization
and departments whore their skill II
needed. Second, men classified By
the selection boards. even though the.
nav have been placed in deferred
classification. Will be withdrawn witt
great care and particularly. from thu
Industries Of the nation for specia
seryice in staff corps and Department.
G Third, young men Of draft age Will
certain educational qualihcations VII