Evening star., 1948-07-29
Employers Are Urged
To Give Time Off for
Draft Registration

The District Commissioners today
urged employers to give their en-
ployes sufficient time to register
under the draft as they proclaimed
the August 30 opening of draft reg
istration for men in the 1926 age
group.
The Commissioners estimated that
approximately $4,000 Washington
men will have to register between
August 80 and September 18.
At the same time, Frank D.
Norton, chief of the District Office
of Selective Service Records, said
the location of registration places
will be announced within the next
10 days. The registration places
will be open from am. to pm.
on the days designated for the
various age groups.
Nom Residents to Register.
Mr.. Norton said large number
of men are expected to register who
do not claim the District as their
legal residence. They will register
here, Mr.. Norton explained, but their
cards will be sent back to their
home States.
The Commissioners urged all men
in the 1925 age group to familiarize
themselves with the rules governing
registration and to comply with
them
AS District draft officials prepared
to Get registration machinery in
motion, the Army reported a heavy
upsurge in voluntary enlistments
throughout the country.
Volunteers May Cut Draft Calls.
1t. Gen. Willard s. Paul, chief
of Army personnel, held out some
hope for draft-age men when he
said that if enough men continue
to volunteer the new draft calls
would be reduced accordingly. He
said the number to be called the
first month had not been deter
mined as yet.
IF we get enough volunteers we
probably won't have to draft any
body" the general told reporters.
Despite the volunteer upsurge,
draft officials are proceeding with
preparations to organize a military
manpower stockpile from which the
armed services can draw as needed
beginning around October l.
$4,000 Enrolled in Two Weeks.
Gen. Paul reported that 1905
snapped civvies for uniforms dur
ing the first two weeks of July
compared with $4,000 in June. OF
the recruits obtained this month
1888 went to the Army and the
balance to the Air Force.
He also said a total of 759 youths
of Is had volunteered and been
taken into the Army during the
first three days they were accepted
under the Selective Service Act
which authorizes enlistment OF
youths between 18 and 19 who vol
unteer TO serve one year followed
by an extended period in the re-
serves. They thus become exempt
from the draft.
The Army, which also has been
concerned over a shortage of Of
fcers for its expanding troop
strength, also reported that appli-
cations by reserve officers for ac-
tive duty were now being received
IN greater numbers.
During the day Secretary of the
Army Royal said there had been a
misunderstanding about state
ment at Fort Knox Tuesday by Gen
Paul who was quoted as saying, the
Army might find it necessary to fur
Tough number of the new draftees
because of a lack of accommoda-
tions. The Army will be ready to
accept ali selectees as assigned
without any necessity of furlough or
other delay in actual induction, u
Mr.. Royal said.
! 1t was explained by other officials
that Gen. Paul referred to volun-
teers and not inductees. However
this does not mean that the Army
will diminish its efforts to bring in
as many volunteers as possible, 1t
D