Evening star., 1944-04-12
Office Here Processes
Men Over 26 for Navy
Despite Draft Order

Notwithstanding protests from Sc
lective service, the Navy today
processed % men who reported at
the Naval Recruitment Center, 1920
G street NV, without regard to
age.
Fifteen of the men were over 26
years old.
The officer in charge said he got
his instructions to induct all the
men reporting last night from the
Navy.
None of the men over 26 was asked
to sign voluntary enlistment papers,
he said. Selective service instruc-
tions were that no man over that
age should be inducted unless he
volunteered or his papers showed he
was employed in unessential work.
Not Yet Sworn In.
Early this afternoon the men were
going through the routine of induc-
ton, but had not yet been sworn in.
At the same time, conditions for
deferment contained in memoran-
dunn to local employers issued by
William E. Leahy, District of Co
lumbia selective service director
made it apparent that few employees
under rs in Washington can be de-
ferred.
As for employees under %, the
memorandum states "it is extremely
doubtful that an exception could be
made in the case Of any registrant"
under that age.
Transport Personnel Favored.
The list Of critical activities is
sued yesterday by national selective
service headquarters apparently
embraced only one manufacturing
activity carried on locally, radar
manufacturing. Selective Service
Director Hershey also authorized de-
ferment of rail and motor transport
personnel directly engaged in moV-
ing war freight. Communications
was also included.
According to the memorandum,
registrants for deferment must be
certified by a representative of the
Federal agency responsible for the
completion of the approved pro-
gram, such as the Office of Defense
Transportation in case of railroad
employees or the Army or the Navy
in case of needed radar equipment.
Mr.. Leahys memorandum said his
office expects soon to receive a list
of essential plants engaged in these
programs by the 1nteragency Com
mittee on Deferments.
List of Criteria Given.
Thereafter a representative of
the Federal agency responsible" the
memorandum reads, will be au-
thoriZed to certify such minimum
number Of registrants under 26 who
are found, on an individual basis, to
be absolutely indispensable thereto. -
The criteria necessary for con-
Slderation were listed as:
Cd. The plant or activity has been
recognized as essential to compile
ton of one of the approved critical
prog1 ANS.
CD. The registrant has been certi-
fed by the agency representative,
after personal investigation, as be-
ing individually indispensable to the
program and irreplaceable either
through outside recruitment or the
transfer of other workers from less
critical duties within the plant.
80 The deferment claimed is for
the minimum period of time during
which it is anticipated his services
will remain indispensable;
(4 The deferment, if granted,
would not exceed any quota of reg
istrants under 26 allowed for the
program;
60 The registrant has had a pre-
induction physical examination and
has been found qualified for gen.
eral military or naval service.
Men Over rs Warned.
A warning that the deferment of
those above 26 may not be lengthy
one was included in the memo
randum.
While present emphasis, it read,
is on the need for registrants under
rs years of age, employers should
take note of the fact that local and
appeal boards have also been in
structed to strictly apply deferment
criteria in the classification of reg
istrants 26 through 20 years of age.
in anticipation of the probability
that future needs of the armed
forces may require an upward revi-
sion in the deferment restriction so
as to embrace all physically fit men
under 30"