1.
GV Ext. TILT DOWN Department of Commerce building
0.05

2.
CU Sign: "Department of Commerce"
0.08

3.
GV & CU Small group of demonstrators with placard
0.13

4.
SV & CU Girls turning drums with capsules containing numbers and dates (2 shots)
0.21

5.
MCU Curtis Carr speaking SOF STARTS: "We are assured.....
0.35

6.
SV ZOOM TO CU first date capsule taken from drum
0.43

7.
CU First number capsule drawn from drum
0.46

8.
SV Data and corresponding number announced
0.56

9.
SV Number placed by date on wall chart
1.02

10.
SV ZOOM TO CU another lot of numbers and dates announced
1.12

11.
CU Date and number capsules drawn (2 shots)
1.20

12.
GV PAN audience during announcement
1.30

13.
SV Number capsule drawn
1.34

14.
MV Date and number announced ZOOM TO wall chart
1.41

15.
GV ZOOM INTO CU of partially-completed chart
1.46



Initials OS/1126 OS/1230



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The United States Government held another military service "draft lottery" in Washington on Thursday (August 5) despite the expiry of the conscription law. The lottery, based on a pure chance system of numbers and dates drawn from revolving drums, was held in the Department of Commerce auditorium in front of an audience of youths eligible for military service and their worried wives and mothers. The day before, the House of Congress approved a new conscription bill, but opposition has delayed its final hearing in the Senate -- without which it cannot become law.

SYNOPSIS: The United States Government held another "draft lottery" on Thursday, in the face of some opposition, to select its next batch of military recruits for next year. Eligible youths were selected for compulsory military service in the normal system of pure chance -- numbers and dates picked out of a revolving drum. Lottery Director Mr. Curtis Car defended the system.....

The lottery, held in Washington's Department of Commerce, went ahead despite the fact that America's conscription law expired in June. The day before the lottery, watched by anxious youths, wives and mothers, Congress approved a new conscription law -- but opposition in the Senate has delayed its hearing there. Without Senate approval, it cannot become law -- so unwilling draftees selected is Thursday's lottery still have a chance of evading military service.

In the lottery from 1-365, the number of days in the year, are drawn out of one drum. Dates are drawn from the other,and the two figures matched. If February the 10th is matched to number 21, for example, it means that those youths who become nineteen on that day are 21st on the list of possible draftees. Only 19-years-olds are eligible. Therefore, the higher the number, the less chance of being drafted. In addition, Senate opposition has new lessened the chances of conscription even further.