Smyrna times., 1944-04-13
BOARDS INDUCT
MEN UNDER 26
Delaware Draft Boards Rush
to Call Men Under 26, Old
er Inductees Stayed
HUNDREDS AFFECTED

Delaware's 10 draft boards-with
hundreds of older potential induc-
tees stayed temporarily from the
call-have begun a rush to get
men under 26 into combat training
to aid the Army in replacing antic-
ipated battle casualties. Meanwhile
at Washing manpower officials said
the new order suspending the
drafting of men 26 years and over
in essential war supporting jobs
would give such registrants a max
imum holiday" of about 90 days
from military service. This 90-day
respite, it was stated, would, how
ever, vary greatly from one area
to another, depending entirely on
the number of registrants between
1925 available for reclassifcation
in each board.
May Re-Start Process
Delaware boards, for instance,
having only a few deferred youths,
may re-start the process of induct-
ing men, particularly those in the
26 to 20 age group, inclusive, with
in short time, it was stated.
Meanwhile, it was announced at
State Selective Service headquart-
ers that the Delaware local boards,
four in Wilmington, two in rural
New Castle County, and two each
in Kent and Sussex Counties, had
already begun to reconsider lists
of men in the over-25 group pre-
viously scheduled for induction or
pre-inducvtion examinations this
month. Hundreds of Delaware men
are affected by the order, some re-
ceiving the benefit of the tempor-
ary stays and others in thte 1925
group being subject to call as rap
idly as possible.
Remove Names From List
Following receipt of orders Sat
urday from Col. Albert w. Fore
man, state director, based on ,di-
rective from Maj.-Gen. Lewis B.
Hershey, national director, Della
ware boards started temporarily
removing the names of all men 80
years of age through 81 from the
call list, as well asst he names of all
men 26to 20 years, inclusive, who
are in war supporting activities.
With the induction dates for Della
ware boards set for April 81, %,
and rs, the boards were preparing
to send out induction notices, or,
in a few cases, already had mailed
notices, when the draft rules were
suddenly altered by national order
Saturday. The boards must now
cut down their lists in accordance
with instructions in the bulletin is
sued by Colonel Foreman.
Halts Induction
Colonel Foreman exercised dis
cretionary authority in issuing his
bulletin, which goes step further
than the Hershey order and tenn
porarily halts induction or pre-in-
duction examination of all men 80
or over regardless of their occupa-
tions. AS for the men in the 26
to 20 age group, only those not in
war supporting activities are to be
called for induction and for pre-
induction physical examinations.
In considering which men in the 26
to 20 group to send up for induc- |
tion or physical examination now,
the boards are faced with the prob
lem of determining individually |
what constitutes a war supporting
activity. Board officials said that |
they have no lists of such activities |
and will use their own judgment,
just as they do in determining
hardship cases. The opinion was
expressed by several officials that |
the benefit of any doubt will be
given to the men.
Call Men April 1920
Delaware boards will call men
for pre-induction physical examina-
tions to be held April II to 20, in
elusive, and April "a. Since five
days notice is usually given for the
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