Show Selective Service Law Brought Out 24 Million THE first selective service or draft law of the World war was passed May 18 1917 It applied to all men of the ages of twenty one to thirty inclusive and was later amended to provide for two supple supple- supplementary supplementary drafts June 5 1918 and August 24 1918 in addition to the original draft of June 5 1917 By a astill astill still later enactment In August 1918 notes the Indianapolis News the draft ages were extended to include eighteen to forty five years and the first registration held heldon heldon on September 12 1918 produced about registrants The first registration June 5 1917 1917 brought out nearly young men the second on June 5 1918 brought and the third August 24 1918 a total of nearly Americans of mili mili- military tary age The administration of the law was In the hands of the War department under the supervision of the Pres- Pres President President ident and with the assistance of local draft boards with appeal boards for tor each congressional dis- dis district triet The President issued hIs first In- In Instructions In to the exemption boards July 2 1917 and the first men draft draft- drafted drafted ed were called to service September 5 1917 The order In which the registrants reg- reg registrants were to be called to deter deter- determine determine mine their availability for military service was settled by a drawing of numbers at Washington in the sen sen- senate ate office building on July 20 Quotas were apportioned to each of 1 the states and territories and the District of Columbia |