The Washington herald., 1918-04-03

AbOIIshes Lottery.
The plan was evolved to eliminate
the human lottery system under
which the first selective draft army
was called. 1t places in Glass l all
unmarried men without dependents as
subject to the first call in the order Of
then umbers on the registration cards.
Class includes registrants next in
eligibility. Glasses 3, and ) are
graded in the same manner.
Before this system can be placed
into operation il must be approved
by Congress. The joint resolution in
tended to give the necessary power
was introduced on March 2, and re-
ferred to the Military Affairs Com
mittee where 1t has since remained.
The cause of delay was a charge by
certain Representatives that any
change in the draft system would be
unfair to the men already selected un-
der the lottery system. some of whom
are already fighting in France.
The developments for the last the
Jays which make apparent the neces-
sity of raising an army greater than
ever before conceived is said to have
muIlified the objections to the classi-
fication scheme. The opposition from
the first was regarded in administra-
tion circles as being purely politi-
cal
\ favorable report on the resolu-
tion from the committee is in this
way assured. The unanimous adop-
ton by Congress of the plan repre-
sented is also said to be practically
certain.
The last reports from the adjutant
generals office give the approximate
strength of the United States army,
which includes National Guard Re-
serve Corps, and national army units
- l23,SO0 officers. $4,000 men. The
bulk Of this total is under orders to
move. The destination is Europe and
the date of departure depends only
on shipping facilities.
Plenty Of Space.
BY carly summer there will be am
pie space in the Cantonments for the
new forces that must be called under
the seIectiYe draft system. More
than NO.OOV of the total military
strength given In the proceeding para
sraph were obtained through the
draft. These men have been trained
and are now ready to do the work OF
real soldiers.
ANOTHER draft of 500. 900 has been
authorized and is now being sent
to the eantonments for training
This win increase the size of the
army to more than 1000. 900, but be-
fore Secretary Of War Baker left
fSAs<France. which was even before
the existing emergency arose, he
told the Military Affairs Committee
he could see II would be necessary
in the immediate future to call still
another 100000 by draft.
The total draft authorized by
Congress to date Is 100000. Be
fore this figure can be exceeded
there must be new legislation. The
adoption of the classification sys-
tenn wiIl-be the first step in that
direction.
Every report from Europe re.
cefved at the White House and the
War Department is said to empha'
size the increasing need of mar
power to withstand the onslaughts
Of the Teutonic armies. Tho assur-
ance OF support made to Gen. Foch
by President Wilson through Maj
Gen. Pershing makes IL certain the
administration will use every en-
deavor to avoid delays. g
II Is regarded as likely that Sec
retary Baker already has recon-
mended increases which will bt
available to Congressman when tht
new legislation Is taken up for con,
sideration.
The latest reports TO the War De-
partment did not arouse the same
amount OF optimism as those received
- Monday The official dfsDafehee
said the allied arIniess under Gen.
Foeh were making ready to counter
another blow from the Germans. I,
coSriSuED ON PAGE TWO.