AMERICA.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 January 1918, Page 5

AMERICA.

AMERICA'S RECRUITS, j ' WASHINGTON January 3. Brigadier-General E. H. Crowder, tvlio is in charge of the recruiting section of the Department of War, has recommended the registration of men becoming 21 years of age since the first draft was taken, thus adding 700,000 to the drafts annually. \ UNITED STATES RECRUITING. GREAT NUMBERS DEALT WITH. Receivede 8.45. WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. Draft reports show that out of 9,500,000 men registered, 3,000,000 have been examined. 1,057,000 were certi- ! fied fit for service, whereof 687.000 i have been mobolised and 170,000 are . ready for mobilisation. 1,500,000 for exemption were received. Mr. Crowder anticipates that single men without dependents will be suf- * ficent to supply draft needs. INTENSE COLD IN AMERICA, ICEBOUND SHIPS IDLE. Received 8.45. NEW YORK, January 4. The temperature, for nearly a week, has been below T zero. Coal shortage is holding up 150 ships. The authorities are using tugs to clear ice floes and release barges at the icebound' coal piers. . AMERICAN RAILWAYS TAKEN. STATE OWNERSHIP NOT INTENxv_^. Received 8.45. WSHINGTON, January 4. President Wilson’s address to Congress to-day will explain reasons for taking over railways and the appropriation of 150 million dollars for financing the scheme. It is believed he will explain that this only is a .war measure and not intended as the forerunner of government ownership.