The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-04

4CH4dCAA46 u Ad4A1C0 4A SAAASAA W NSAAGA to the attention of the selective service boards.
 They voted to request the defer ment of Private John A. Lynch of Engine 5, a fireman five years; and Private Thomas Scadden of Engine 4, a fireman one year. It was also voted that orders be given every fireman placed in IA report this fact immediately to his superior officer.
 Chief Cavanaugh initiated the action in 8 letter to Mayor Scllly pointing out that it takes more time to train a fireman than a soldier and that if the ranks of experienced firenen are depleted by the draft the protection of vital industries will be left to inexperienced auxiliaries. We are bound to protect the munitions plants of the city and to afford the same protection to other property" the Chief said in his letter.
 A copy of his letter, together with a letter from Mayor Scully was placed before the fire board yes- terday.
 Chiefs Letter
 We are writing on the ques- tion of the trained firemen of Waterbury being drafted into the service of the U. s. army. It is therefore evident that unless ac- ton of some kind is soon taken we may find the present person. mel seriously depleted. And we are not 50 sure that any move on our part can really prevent 1t. But Maj. G. H. Baker of the office of director, selective service, Wash ington, is quoted as having said: 'Selective service regulations make provisions for the defer ment of any regiStrant who is found to be 8 necessary man in any service, the maintainance of which is necessary to the nation al health, safety or interest If this be true, MT. Mayor, may we point out that fire authorities claim 1t requires more time to properly train a fireman than 1t does soldier and that the re- moval of skilled fire fighters would cause serious loss of ef- fectivenesS. Fire protection lead- CTS allege there Is a shortage of available men with required train ing and qualification for fire ser- vice and so If the present firemen are sent into the army the task of handling 8 major fire will be left mostly to inexperienced auxil- iaries. It is claimed by the recog- nized leaders of fire departments that 1t takes from three to five years to properly train @ fireman.
 Fred Shepperd, editor of Fire Engineering, says in his publica- tion: "It has been proved that this, in a large measure, is flre- mans war" He adds: Firse losses are already increasing by leaps and bounds and we haven't yet had an enemy raid. Many vital war industries plants have al- ready been damaged or destroyed by fire. The trained flremen should be deferred for the big part, they will play in home de- fense.
 In New York city, SAP firemen were eligible for 1-A classified. ton and of this number 555 were deferred. The induction of the other 87 was before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chief Mccarthy of New York claims some of the boards which had been inducing firelnen have now changed their attitude and are cooperating with the department.
 Louisville, Ky, reports that no member of the police or fire de- partments has been drafted. De. ferment was asked for T0 flremen and two were denied. Their Fr were appealed and the defernl were granted.
 Two of our fire department members have been classified in l.A Pvt. John A. Lynch of En- zine Go. s, with a service of five years, ard Pvt. Thomas w. Scad- den of Engine { with a service of one year. A number of others have received their questionaires.
 The whole question hinges on our right and the justice of hay- ing our application for deferment