El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-12
j. s. TRANSPORT
WINS IN FIGHT
Refuses to Surrender to
U-Boat and Lands Three
Direct Hits on It.

died with German shrapneI, an
American transport is now in port,
bearing witness TO the heroic resist
ance of her gun crew who outfought
the enemy and brought the ship
through safely.
Attention was drawn 10 the incident
in connection with the case Of Edward
Otis. OF Riga, Russia, formerly quar-
termaster on a United States trans
port who is charged with espionage
and is being held in S25,0OO bail.
Otis, it is alleged. tempered with
the mechanism which controlled the
transports course in the submarine
zone. 1t is charged also that he ran
the American flag upside down and
that he reported false reading of
the carriers log.
The transport fought the U-boat
Off refusing two demands TO surren-
der The chief engineer was wounded
and his clothing virtually was shot
from his body but when he was car
his place.
The shot that closed hostilities was
third direct hit. It landed fairly
on the periseope deck of the sub
underesa craft was seen to dive or
sink. The crew, exhausted but en-
thusiastic, did not linger to investi-
gate the fate Of the enemy ship.
grant colleges to enlist in the enlisted
reserve corps of the quartermaster's |
department provided their class stand 1
ing is such as to place them in the up 4
per third Of their class. By this means 1
it viii be possible to defer the draft /
call Of such young men in order to i
enable them TO perfect themselves as \
agriculturists and thereafter to pro-
tect them in such services as it may ]
seem that they should perform in the
best interests Of the nation.
Would Protect Labor supply.
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 Ia
Dor supply appurtenant TO industry
and agriculture without precluding
the prompt and early progress Of our
plans
A War Of Mechanics.
1T must be emphasized that this IS
a war Of mechanics. The need of the
several armed forces for men highly
skilled in technical and mechanical
pursuits is greater than in any for
mer war. Yet this need for specially
skilled men finds the nation under a
necessity for increasing its produc-
lion in almost every line of industry.
OF men from industry
must be made and these Withdrawals
must take men who might otherwise
Je deferred on account of their special
and skill
To Obtain Skilled Men.
The necessary number OF such
skilled men will be obtained in one
" these ways:
First, men already in the military
Will be taken from the line regiments ,
md assigned to the staff organiza-
ions and departments where their ,
kill is needed.
Second, men classified by the Sc
ection boards, even though they may
AVE been placed in a deferred CLASH
icatsOn, will be withdrawn with great !.
are and particularly from the in .
iustries of the nation for special ser
ice in staff corps and departments
Third. young men Of draft age (.
With certain educational qualifications
will be indicted into the service and
ent to universities. colleges and
and secondary schools to I
e instructed in technical arts until l
hey have acquired such proficiency
s will justify their assignment TO the
peclal units that are being organized ?
n considerable numbers. 4
10000 to BE Sent to Schools. !
In accordance with this plan, the :
rovost marshal general has already :
allied upon the states for some 10000 :
killed artisans and will shortly call
pon the states for 0,0e0 young men, %
raduates Of grammar schools. who
7ill be sent before the first OF April ,
0 various technical and other schools
throughout the United States for a
wo months course of training. Reg 9
larly thereafter an increasing stream !.
Z selected men will be sent through 4
EDUCATIONAL and other training insu-
utions for this purpose.
ITO sum up 1t may be said that ;
here will be no sudden withdrawal /,
Z great numbers OF men from the
anks Of industry and agriculture dur
AZ the coming summer. but that men
iii be drawn in relatively small r
roups throughout the year in such a \
ray as to create the least possible !
Interference with industry and agrl- I,
ulture. Men in the deferred classes 7
$ well as men in class one viii be !;
elected in small numbers either on
ccount OF their special technical c
or for the purpose OF =
ending them to schools where they
-in be given an opportunity to ac-
uire such qualifications" n
The war department is prepared 10 q
upply clothing and other equipment =
for all the men TO be 4
allied out. Acting quartermaster =
eneral George w Goethals Is now =
ressing vigorously the deliveries Of 7
inter clothing to build up the re- 4
erVes necessary for next winter. =
The original issue TO men modified !
n April would be winter clothing but y
hortly thereafter they would be 4
iven sumner khaki Ample stores OF .
ummer outfits for the entire army I
re on hand. Huge stocks are avail =
bic both here and abroad.
An Illustration OF the progress
lade with clothing stores lies in the
act that every man sent abroad IS