The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-07-25
All Youths Without
Dependents Draftees
CONTINUED From Page y

Norris announced his opposition
to the theory Of compulsory military
service in a letter to Rev. G. A
Moon, minister of Lincoln, Neb.
in which he said it was "abhorrent'
to compel young men to serve hl
the army in peace time.
He said that he did not believe
present world conditions confronted
the nation with "such imminent
danger" as to justify changing the
governments established policy OF
depending upon volunteers for the
army.
1--WE are not surrounded" he said
"as were Switzerland, Holland, Bel
GUM and Denmark, nations which
could be confronted almost on a
moments notice with an army OF
invasion. :.
ITO compel our young men to
serve in the army in time of peace is
to me abhorrent. do not see the
necessity or the reason for it. It
is not only unnecessary, but its
enormous annual expense would be
so great our people would not Sus-
tain such a move"
Senate Committee Agrees
The Senate Committee has virtu-
oily agreed on the major provisions
Of the Burke-Wadsworth bill which
would require registration of all
men from IS to IS and select from
among them those required by the
army for one years training. Dis
pute over the exemption for con-
sicentious objections, however, de-
layed final approval. In present
form the bill would limit exemptions
only to those belonging to religious
orders opposed to military service
Exemptions of genuine conscientious
DIRECTORS regardless of religious be-
beliefs is being considered.
The plan for 100000 reserves ir
five years was described to the
House Committee by Colonel A. L
Twaddle, chief Of the mobilization
branch Of the general staff. Under
the army's CONSUMPTION plan, he
said, $4,000 men would be under
arms next October / - 100000 con-
scripts, 100000 in the Regular Army
and 100000 in the modified Ma
tional Guard.
BY April, 1941, he said the tota.
would be 1,415,000 = consisting Of
an additional AGO. 900 conscripts, u.s.
900 more regulars and 10000 more
Guardsmen.
In October, 1871, the Army woulc
total 100000 men, including an
other 100000 conscripts and 25,00(
more Regulars.
BY May IS, 1945, Twaddle esti-
mated the United States woulc
have a well trained army including
5000, 900 reserves.
20 Years Ago
Washington, July Is. = (UP) -
Congress preoccupation with the
question of compulsory military
training recalled to millions Of
Americans today a hot summer
day % years ago when Secretary Of
War Newton D. Baker drew cap
sule from a glass bowl and an aide
called out its number-"258".
Thus began the World War con-
scription on July 20, 1917. Before
the end of the month the holders OF
registration cards numbered 258 hao
been indicted into the Army.
If congress enacts the pending COM
pulsory military training bill, tnous-
ands Of men who na dnot been born
in 1917, or were too young then to
remember, will be called for military
service within the next IA months
by the same method.
It was a tense moment In the eau
Gus room of the Senate office build
ing when Baker drew the first num-
Der in the lottery that was to call
more than 1,00,000,000 young men
to arms.
When Bakers aide called 1888" a
score of reporters dashed for the
door to flash the magic number tc
the 3,000,0 900 citizens who had regis
tered for the first draft. To those
who held that number it meant re-
porting few days later to the local
draft board either for military duty
or to claim exemption.
Many Hours to Finish
That lottery began at 9 a. M, and
did not end until 5 a. m. the next
day. Press Association wires carried
almost no other news. The num-
bers filled many newspaper columns
of small type. But it was the days
biggest news, affecting the lives of
millions.
Registration OF all males between
the ages of q and 81 was COM
paratively simple matter. Under
wartime pressure, 1t took place in
one evening at all the nations poll
ing booths 10 days after the selec-
tive service system became law.
But lack of preparation postponed
until early September, 1917, the day
when the conscripted youths report
ed to the wooden barracks that were
to be their homes for many months.
Experiences Of the World War
will greatly influence the working
Of the new universal service. The
War Department plans to eliminate
many Of the discomforts and inc
qualities encountered IN administer
ing the first draft.
Plans to Register
Washington. July 25-(UP)-The
Joint arny-navy selective service
committee has completed prelimin-
airy plans to register all American
men between 70 and 0B years OF age
under the pending compulsory mill
tary training bill.