South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-07
COMP ULSION BILL
PROVES AMUSING
Many Seek Exemption From
Army Service For Con-
SCientiOuS Reasons.

LONDON. April THE clause in
the compulsion bin granting exemp-
ton from army service TO persons
who have conscientious objection TO
lighting. and for certain other rea-
sons. Is causing n lot Of amusement.
The applicants for exemption ap-
pear before military tribunal. the
PROCEEDINGS Of which are open. and
are not handled with gloves. for the
army needs men and there is no
leniency toward suspected towards
81 am certain my mother would
die II I were sent 20 the front" said
"A young clerk, when applying TO the
FuIham tribunal for exemption.
What would happen 20 your
mother II the Germans came here p"
he was asked "Oh. that is not like
j. TO happen" What is . prevent
it," The men over the e, sup
pose" Yes. that's it--,he other
chaps CLaughter.) The applica-
ton was refused.
At Exeter a retail dairyman and
ShopkHeper, in claiming exemption.
said II ne saw "a German violating
his wife or sister or butchering his
mother, he would not think it his
duty to interfere. The application
vas refused.
Became Nom COmbatant.
An applicant for exemption in
Pembrokeshire said ne would have
objections against helping and tend
ing the wounded If ne thought 1t
would make them III again for COM
blatant service. He was allowed TO Join
the nOn-com baJ;-.it corps.
A conscientious director at Maid
stone said nc could not kill his fell
lCwman. II he did he would be mis-
cradle for the remainder OF his life.
lie was exempted from combatant
service.
At Mansfield n young Quaker who
for the last 10 months has been
working as chauffeur for the British
he'd Cross society in France. said if
he were exempted he should return
10 France and continue his work. He
objected 10 nOn-cOmbatant service in
the army. His exemption was grant
ed
The Westmoreland tribunal dealt
over 40 farmers appealed for ex-
emption for men who were neces-
sary, they said. for shepherding the
immense sheep ranges Of the Pen
mines and for general farm work.
and ali but one man was exempted.
The farmers declare that they could
not work their farms with fewer
men
Refuse Applications.
The application at Exeter OF a
commercial traveller, who said he
was engaged in important work of
capturing German trade. his chief
competitors being American agents.
was refused.
AT Sandown grOcer's manager
said he might be in a small minority.
so was Jesus Christ Many who held
his views in Germany he said. had
been shot or were in prison. He VS.
prepared 10 take the same stand for
mis- principles
At Old st. a man who said he was
a socialist. and had always been
against the government. asked un-
successfully for exemption, as ne
considered human life sacred. He
was prepared to face death II nee
essary in support OF his principles.
Among the applicants on conscien-
tious grounds at Lewisham was a
young man who said he had been
student OF Esperanto for three
years, and the Esperantists consid-
cred IL was a crime to take life.
a grOcer's assistant at Chestnut
admitted that he had applied for
work on Sundays at the small arms
factory.
The clerk: Don't you think il
wrong 10 make munitions Of war.
and on 81. lay too? Yes. but I ap-
piled for kat job TO get out Of com
Blatant service.
Murder Was Murder.
At Bethnal Green an applicant de-
clared that murder was murder
whether the result OF a private or
national quarrel He would not
make shells. and II he saw his moth
or or brother being struck down bv
Germans he would shield them by
verbal protest!
At Waltham Abbey tribunal a man
enga ed as motor driver on an am
muniuon transport said he had no
objection 10 being killed himself. but
objected 20 killing others
An applicant at Coalviue said he
did not care two pence whether the
Germans came or not He would do
nothing 20 prevent them
lie was told that ne ought 10 live
on an uninhabited island and carve
a way out for himself