Evening star., 1950-07-08
District Draft Boards
Await Induction 0rde,
Before Calling Men

Draft boards in the Washington
area today were waiting orders
from National Selective Service
headquarters on when to start in
ductions-and how many men to
put into uniform.
Sliced to almost non-existent
forces by previous budget cuts,
the draft boards are faced with
what may turn out to be a tre-
mendous job.
Frank d. Norton, deputy direc-
tor of the District Selective Serv-
ice System. summed up the stu
alton this way:
Were going organization
now. But, we can make abso-
lutely no move until orders come
down from National Selective
Service Headquarters"
Staff of Seven Clerks.
Headquarters for the District
Selective Service-and for all Is
local boards-are located in Tenn
porary Building No. 2 at 1901 D
street NV. Mr.. Norton's staff
consists of seven clerks and a
liaison man from the Army. Col.
Walter Welsh.
The law under which the in
ductions will be made, recently
was extended until July 8, 1851.
1t provides that all men in the age
bracket from Is to 26 must reg
lister. These 18-year-olds, however,
will not be called to service.
The draft act has been in effect
since June 1948, replacing the one
in existence during the war. In
November and December of 1948
and January Of 1949, the District
draft boards inducted 185 men.
Inductions were ordered stopped
at that time, however, and no men
have been sent to the armed forces
by the draft boards since.
Mr.. Norton said that, after the
National Selective Service Head
quarters sends down an order on
how many men to induct, the
machinery of his Office can go into
operation Immediately.
52,342 Registered.
He said that, as of June 80,
there were 52,342 men registered
between the ages of 18 and 26. OF
that number, 47.137 are over 19
and eligible for draft, if not ex-
empt for some other reason. He
did not release the figures of the
men who were in the la classi-
fication, the group that would be
called under the present law.
Those now over 26, but registered,
total 1924.
The classif1cations that exempt
candidates from the draft are:
IA, occupational deferment; 3-A.
dependents; 4-A, previous mill
tary experience; 4-F. rejected for
physical reasons, and 5-A. those
who have become 26 years of age
since registering.
Mr.. Norton issued plea for all
those between 18 and rs who are
not registered to do so at once.
Points to Law.
He pointed out that men in
that age group must have regis
tered since June. 1948, to comply
with the law. Those who regis
tered before 1948 are holding
draft cards that are no longer
valid. he added.
Mr.. Norton said a number of
men had come in during the last
week with draft cards from before
1948. They were registered and
given new cards.
The draft director also asked
anyone registered who has
changed his address or his status
to notify the draft board, in writ
ing. of the changes. He said a
policy had been established not
to take such information over the
telephone because of the posi-
bility of errors.
Minutes after President Tru-
man made his announcement
yesterday, the District draft
headquarters began receiving tele-
phone calls from people trying 10
find out when they would be in
Quoted. The answer was the same
to all-orders from above were
awaited.
Out in the nearby counties, the
picture was somewhat similar
draft boards lightly manned, but
ready to go.
Prince Georges County has be-
tween 1000 and 5000 registered,
according to Mrs. Preston De
Vaughn, head of the Upper Marl-
boro Selective Service Board.
Mrs. De Vaughn said the draft
board Office at Upper Marlboro
has been open only on Tuesdays
and Wednesdays since March 7.
She said she is prepared to put
the office on a six-day schedule,
If she receives orders to that ef-
feet.
About 100 youths, who are re-
quired to list their names when
they become 18. have been regis
tering each week, Mrs. De Vaughn
said.
The Fairfax County Selective
service board has 4.440 men regis
tered. There is one clerk on duty
at the board for a halliday each