Evening star., 1941-11-30

Out of the organized drive to build
this Nation a peacetime Army OF un-
precedented strength is about to spring
the most gigantic rehabilitation program
in United States history.
Appalled, by the outright rejection Of
more than 100000 potential soldiers
for physical or mental shortcomings
during the first year of the draft, the
National Selective Service Organization,
with a determined go ahead" from
President Roosevelt, is preparing Ma
ton wide program of treatment to
remedy physical deficiencies of a large
percentage of these rejected men.
Already local draft boards throughout
the country have called up sample lots
of rejected registrants for interviews to
determine whether they would be willing
to undergo treatment for their physical
defects at Government expense, and flg-
,lres based on the survey have been Tor
warded to national headquarters here.
An overwhelming majority of the re-
iected men interviewed expressed their
eagerness to receive any treatment
deemed necessary in their cases, it was
understood, and current plans call tor
Inauguration of initial steps in the re-
habilitation program within the next
few weeks.
Although the immediate purpose IN
the rehabilitation program will be to
make available additional men for mill
tary service, Government officials have
pointed out that long range benefits OF
the program to the general health OF
the Nation are immeasurable.
Of the 100000 rejected men-about
so per cent of all draft regiStrants eX-
amined for induction into the Army
under the Selective Service and Train
ings Act thus far-more than 100000 can
be completely rehabilitated and made
available for general service in this
country's armed forces, according to Off
cial estimates And this figure is grow
ing daily as men throughout the Nation
are called up for possible service.
Full Cooperation
Under present plans, the Nations den-
lists will get the rehabilitation program
under way. Dental defects have &C
counted for more than 20 per cent OF all
reflections and the registrants with bad
teeth will be the first to feel the effects
of the Governments move for human
renovation"
The dental profession, as represented
by practicing dentists in every hamlet
in the country, has assured National Sc
lectiye Service officials its full co-opera-
t,on. Local boards will authorize treat
ment of men whom Army dental sur
peons state have correctable deficiencies,
and these registrants will be treated by
dentists in their own commumtles-ln
keeping with the selective service policy
of decentralized administration.
1t. Comdr. c. R. Wells, chief dental
officer for National Selective Service
has estimated that approximately 1O0,OOC
reeistrants rejected for dental defects
alone can be made Glass Ia mer
largely through such simple work al
filings. eradication of focal infection
treatment of oral sepsis and replacement
Of missing teeth.
Those to be rehaolutateo Will 1aii II
tho 21-to-28-year-age group now oeins
drawn on for selectee man power. Ihe!
will be called before local boards 10
examination and the gross dental de-
fects will be recorded to determine
there are any cases that obviously woult
not be accepted for military service. Al
others. including those OF doubtful
status. will be sent to Army examination
stations where thorough dental examl
nations will be made.
According to Comdr. Wells, on all case
not accepted without qualification, I'M
Army dental surgeons will state def
utely if the registrants can be made II
~ general military service. Those reg
istrants with defects found u 70
IyN will return to tlDluo