Evening star., 1940-09-23
Draft Board Issues
Statement 10 Clarity
Registration Questions
Men on Trips Allowed
To Register Wherever
They Are on October Is

AS President Roosevelt at Hyde
Park today issued detailed regula-
tions carrying out the purposes of
the Selective Service Act. the Army
and Navy Selectiye Service Board
here took further steps to clarity
and speed plans for mobilizing the
Nations man power.
The board was in conference with
representatives OF the adjutants
general of many States, smoothing
the way for swift application Of the
new law setting up Americas FIRST
peacetime conscription army.
The board pointed out in a state
ment the means by which men eli
gible for selective service-those
from 81 to 36-may comply with the
law if absent from home on reg
istration day, october l6. This
statement was issued:
"All men affected by the Selective
Service Act planning business or
pleasure trips on October 16, which
has been proclaimed an official
registration day by the President,
may continue with their plans and
register wherever they happen to
be on that date. '''
Can Register Amy Place.
Numerous calls have been re-
ceived by the committee requesting
information regarding the status of
men absent from their homes on
October Is. The committee said
there was no necessity for a man to
remain at his home to register as it
would be permissible for him to
register at any proper registration
place throughout the country. The
officials where he registers will for
ward his registration card to the
local board having jurisdiction in
the area in which he lives.
Men who leave the country prior
to October l6 or who are outside the
continental United States must reg
lister within five days after their re-
turn to the United States, but they
are not prevented from going abroad
at this time. the committee said.
Those men who are absent from
their homes on registration day are
merely required TO give registration
of1lctsls, in the area in which they
happen to be, their home addresses
in order to comply with the law and
the Presidents proclamation. The
committee is we'll aware that many
men have planned trips and has no
intention Of disrupting such pro-
grams"
The committee warned. however,
that 1t was necessary for all men be-
tween the ages of 81 and 36. except
those specifically exempted by law,
to register. In most States regis
tration will be conducted by the
regular election machinery. ANY
prospective regiStrant will be able to
find out the location of the nearest
registration place from police offi-
cials where he happens to be. The
board added:
The proclamation recsntly issued
by the President requiring registra-
ton of young men applies only to
those In the Continental United
States, and registration times for
persons in Alaska, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico will be issued by the
Chief Executive at some future date"
Army's Plans.
Meanwhile, the War Department
had completed tentative plans to
start the selective service army of
with hardening" course of Is
weeks. to be followed by extensive
field training.
In further line with the compre-
hensive program of safeguarding
the health OF the trainees. it was
revealed that the Army will call
more than 1000 Red Cross nurses
into active service during the next
nine months. This announcement
came from Miss Mary Beard. ma
tional director of the American Red
Cross Nursing Service. who pointed
out that the organization had about
1900 graduate nurses registered In
Its first reserve" ready to serve in
any emergency wherever needed.
Another announcement was the
assurance of the Federal Housing
Administration that housing loans
would be insured without taking into
account the possibility of entrance
into the military service by any pro-
spective borrowers" kilograms to
this effect were sent BY Administra-
tor Stewart Mcdonald to banks and
savings and loan organizations.
Absolute fairness in the drawing of
conScription numbers has been as
sured in the double shuttle" sys-
tenn designed by the War Depart
ment, it was pointed out.
Under this plan, there are two
sets OF numbers-serial and order
numbers.
The serial numbers will be used
by the local draft boards. They will
receive from national headquarters
registration cards bearing numbers
from l to 10,000-if a district needs
that many. On registration day.
October is, the men will receive local
numbers as they register.
That night the Governor of each
State will relay from the local
boards their highest numbers.
Master Serial Numbers.
The director of selective service
then will prepare a set of master
serial numbers running up to the
highest registration number re-
ported. These will be placed in
capsules and put in a glass bowl for
the drawing. AS each serial num-
Der is drawn, it will become an order
number.
For instance. if 800 were the first
number drawn, it would become
order No. l, and the men holding
this number in each community
would be the first called to the
colorS.
In the case of a small district, the
same rule will apply. Say there are
only 100 registrants. Then the first
drawn serial number under 100 will
call out the first man in that dis
trict. 1t might be 3 or Al. The
second small number will tag the
second man and 50 on.