Evening star., 1940-02-24

For many years the professional
stats of the two departments have
been studying the problems of a
wartime mobilization. The pro-
posed law, a 1887 revision of an
earlier plan, and the regulations for
selective service, were worked out
long before the start of the present
European War.
The new plan closely follows the
1917 act. Like its World War model,
administration will largely be in
the hands of civilians. 1t author
ICES the President to register and
induct into the armed forces all
male citizens between the ages OF 18
and As. Army, Navy and diplomatic
personnel will not be required to
register. From the date and hour
set forth in his induction notice,
every man called to the colors be-
comes subject to military law. Liza
bility to service will continue for
six months after the date set by
the President as the end of the
emergency.
Exemptions Allowed.
The proposed law forbids bounties,
substitutions and purchased eXemp-
tions. High Federal and State Of
ficers will be exempted, but only
while in office. For reasons of es-
Sential occupation or dependency
the President may defer service
Members of recognized religious
sects, whose teachings are opposed
to war, will be exempted from COM
batant, but not from other service
The law carries stiff penalties. Ar
rests and prosecutions will be the
responsibility of the Justice De-
partment.
Under present plans the initial
registration will cover all men be-
tween the ages of 81 and 81. On
the day set by the President those
within the prescribed ages will be
required to register in their voting
precincts. Each local board will
shuttle the registration cards hap
hazardly. Chance, therefore, will
determine the sequence of the serial
numbers. The National Selective
Service Headquarters will then pre-
pare a code list, on which the Sc
rial numbers will be arranged in
the order in which they are drawn
by lottery in Washington. 1t could
easily happen that the serial No. l
assigned by a local board after its
shuttle, might turn out to be the
last number drawn in the lottery
and hence the last number liable for
selection for military service.
QUESTIONABLE to Be Sent Out.
A few days after registration each
man will receive a questionable
He will be given five days in which
to fill out this QUESTIONABLE. The
answers will determine his classifi-
cation by the local draft board. Un-
der the proposed law registrants
will be divided into four classes as
follows: Glass available for serv-
ice Immediately; class 2-deferred
because of importance to the Ma
ton of the registrant's civilian oc-
cupation; class 3-deferred because
of dependents: class 4-deferred by
law, or because induction is unde-
sirable for such obvious reasons as
insanity or physical unfitness. Un-
til a cogent reason for deferment is
established every registrant will be
considered as belonging to class l
Local boards will enjoy broad
powers of investigation and a wide
discretionary authority. Both the
Government and the registrant may
file appeals from their classifica-
tions. These will be considered by
special appeal boards. There will be
ar appeal board for approximately
each 100000 of population. In the
World War, about 4,450 local boards
were set up to administer the selec-
tive service system. In a future
emergency requiring selective serv-
ice,. present plans call for about
$500 local boards.
Quota for Each State.
After registration is completed
each local board will report its tota
of class / registrants to State head.
quarters. Consolidated totals, fol
each State, will then be reported
to Washington. If the President
decides that the Army and Navy
need 100000 men, each State will
be called on for quota proper
tionate to its class l strength. STATE
headquarters will assign each loca
board the proper quota. On re.
ceiving their assignments, loca
boards will select the required num-
ber of men, according to their ordel
number in the national lottery
skipping the number held by any
man who is in class 2, or 4. Pro.
vision has been made for "spe.
cial calls" for those of particular
skills, and individual calls by name
for men of exceptionally rare quail
ificaticns.
The actual induction process will
follow closely that used in the
World War. Each man chosen fol
service will receive from the loca
board notice to report at Ger.
tain place at a certain hour anc
| udUC. IL 1dAAo w SliO" Wy AAS VIA
be listed as a deserter. At the as.
sembly place, the local board will
check all papers, appoint leader
and assistant leaders, issue lodging
and transportation tickets and start
the group to camp.
Selective service will add not 9
single man to the rolls of the
armed service during the first 81
days following mobilization. Fol
Congress must first pass the nee.
essary legislation, and after Con-
gress has acted, draft boards must
be appointed and the selective serv.
ice machinery set up. In the first
60 days after we entered the Worlc
War the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps enlisted about 100000 volun-
teers. The protective mobilization
plan of the Army and the CORE
spending plans of the Navy De.
partment call for more than 700,.
mn neU mon in the an davS f0ll0w.