Smyrna times., 1940-08-01
MAY DRAFT 1926
MEN
About s Percent Of Eligibles
To Be in First Enrolment
if ConscriptiOn Bill Passes
MARRIAGES INCREASE

| Delaware can expect to send
nearly S25 men between 21 and 81
years of age to army camps by Oc-
tober for military training if the
conscription bill is enacted by Con-
gress, according to a population
formula issued at Washington. The
formula is based on census figures,
which show that 81 per cent of
the average community's popula-
tion are men from q through 80
years, who probably will be the
first to be registered. 1t is esti-
mated that 80 per cent of this age
| group would be eligible for immed-
late, unlimited service. That per-
centage will vary with different
sections, depending on health, en-
ployment, marriage, and other con-
ditions. About 8.8 per cent of that
number would be taken in the Oc-
tober 1 enrolment, according to
tentative War Department plans.
IDelaware's population, according
to the 1910 census, is 264 SOP per-
sons. Reduced by the above per-
centage, the 825 potential draftees
remain. Delaware National Guard
officers said that during the World
War, Delaware supplied between
7,4O0 and $500 men for the Army.
including the national guard This
figure represents all drafts made
during the war. They added, how
ever, that it would be impossible to
estimate the number of men elig-
ible for military training until the
various age groups register. They
pointed out that ali plans are ten
tative- The present plan for Della
ware would include four selective
draft boards, one each for Will
mington, rural New Castle County
Kent County and Sussex County
Men would register at polling plac-
es throughout the state. While no
one in authority would take the re-
sponsibility for so affirming, a
reading of the army's plan shows
that the majority of the first
draftees can well be made up from
among the ranks of the jobless.
The army's plans for the operation
of the selective service draft cloth
| ed the local boards with supreme
authority within their own juris-
dictions. This would give local
boards ample authority for con-
trolling the problem. Proof that a
registrant has job. probably
other than WPA, could be accept
ed by the board as evidence sup
porting a claim for deferred clas-
sification. With the ever-increas-
ing prospects of conscription, the
number of marriage licenses issued
at the Office of the Clerk of the
Peace has increased every week
this year over the same period of
1889, an official of the department
said. Beginning in January, when
there were about 30 per cent more
licenses issued, the increase has
steadily been maintained, it was
said. In June, there was an in
crease Of more than so per cent
above June, 1889. Most Of the ap-
Iplicants fall within the 21-24 age
range, the official said. The Clerk
of the Peace's Office expects an
even larger number of license ap-
plicants within the next few weeks.
1t was pointed out that there will
be Zero hour" for marriages
that would exempt draft eligible
from service. This zero hour would
come when the President pro-
claims the draft if Congress passes
the enabling legislation. A mar
riage after that time would not
count as a basis for military ex-
emption. The Wilmington Board
of Health reported AZ marriages
during the week, compared with
~ during the same week Of 1889.