Ripley County democrat., 1918-05-17
Provost Marshal Wants Them to
Gather Data for the War
Department.
need SKILLED MEN FOR ARMY
Information Required ls to Be Taken
From ouestIonnalres Of Drafted
Menz-Artisans TO BE Picked
From All Sections

is undertaking to organize q volunteer
army Of school teachers throughout
the entire land. SO as to secure an
efficient Industrial army to stand be-
hind the men with guns In their hands
and enable the United States to fight
the great war to 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 c0un-
try patriotism. will come to the aid Of
the government.
In order to enforce the selective
draft system the country was organ
ixed 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
total of 100000 men. About 1,500,-
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 Ia necessary for the provost mar
shal's once 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.
Pershlnp 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 call for 5000
spruce lumbermen; that is, men who
had knowledge Of the numbering and
logging business. who could go into
the woods and get the spruce lumber
necessary TO make airplanes. Then
there Ia call for motor mechanics,
| and for men skilled In many other
lines Of industry who as soldiers Will
perform az great a service In support
ing the army at the front as will those
| men who are working industri0usly for
the government all along the line In
order to make the fighting forces ef-
fectlve.
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'
tion can be obtained Is through the
voluntary assistance Of some particu'
lar class Of people. It has been de-
cided that the school teachers Of the
country by giving little 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 o.
the men 80 as to make up the various
| lists that are necessary to make tht
army the great machine which It i
designed to be.
Il Get Fsoss Frem cuestlonnslre.
In order to get this Information mil
lions Of cards have been printed ans
sent to the various local boards, upoi
which Is to be copied from the ques
tionnaires on flIe with the boards tn
necessary information respecting eacl
individual selected man that the pro
yost marshal's Office desires. Up0l
this card the man will be classified as
cordlng to the findings Of the loca
board, but the important feature vii
be his classification as to Occupation
ana skin In any particular profession
trade or Industry his familiarity wit
tools and instruments. or ether KIND
! Of work. II win make no differenc
what his occupation may be. the infol
nation concerning the man will be pt
, upon the card and these cards sent !
the provost marshal In Washington.
!. It Ii proposed to classify at lea
100000 men who will be svailabl
! for service In the United States :
!. soldiers. They win be put In uniforl
, and subject to the same discipline
/ the other selected men. Instead of p
. INK trained with guns and for nghtin
4 they viii be trained for particular dni
> that IL needed.
1 II is the intention Of the provo'
Q marshai's ofilce to make the selectit
( Of men fof these Industries % -
! cause the least possible dlsturban'
+ among workingmen. Or In the indu
o tries Of the country. The selection
Q win be made from all sections Of 4
country and in such manner -
i cause the least trouble.
vi The greatest difficulty which z
: provost marshal's Office has expel
. enced Ii connection with this Work
! thaf Df obtaining the information
ille with fea various local boards u
z otIicers believe. however. that the sol
= tion IL fhe dtficulty viii - found
a Ire voluntary assistance q the sehe
tenchers Throughout re oauntxy.