The Washington times., 1916-06-21

To Launch Campaign
For More Recruiting

A vigorous city-wide campaign IL to
be started at once to obtain recruits
for national guard units ordered into
the regular service to bring each or
ganization up to war strength.
II recruiting officers do not obtain
the necessary number OF men, General
Harvey states that he will make
draft upon unorg anized militia OF the
District.
The unorganized militia includes
every able-bodied man in the District
OF Columbia, who is not a criminal or
insane or member OF limited num-
Der or excepted classes, between the
ages OF eighteen and forty-hve years.
Hundreds OF men have offered them
selves for service with the District
suardsmen. but moro are wanted.
Exempt From Service.
The classes OF persons exempted from
service In the national guard include:
The Vice President OF the United States,
the officers. judicial. and executive, OF
the Government OF the United States;
persons In the military and naval SER
vice or the United States: customs
mouse clerks, artificers and workmen
employed In the armories, aTsenals. and
sons employed by the Unitea asia States se In
the transmission Of the mail: mariners
actually employed In the sea service
OF any citizen or merchant within the
All persons who because of religious
beliefs claim exemption from military
service shall be eligible for noncom-
blatant service. These exemptions are
provided by United States statutes.
Members OF the police force and fire
departments Of the District. clergymen.
officers of the District courts. and teach
ers In the public schools are exempted
In the District of Columbia in addition
to those named In the general statute
covering the entire United States.
Retired Officers Called.
Definite steps to get more were taken
this morning when orders were received
by fourteen retired officers of the ma
tional guard ordering them to active
duty for recruiting service at once.
report at national guard headquarters
tonight at o'clock to Col. X. ID.
Simms. who has been designated az
chief recruiting officer. and they are
campaign that will be Immediately
| started.
the orficers affected in the order are
Col. r. ID. Simms, Lieut.. Col. Arthur
Lieut.. Col. &. Fred Cook. Lieut.. Col.
Clarence v. Sayer, Major Sam l.. F..
| Piper, Major Ed L. Webster, Major e.
Eugene Edwards. Major komolus A.
Foster, Capt. George q. Dennison. Capt.
benjamin q. Pool, Capt. Harry. Walsh,
Capt. Alfred McGonegal, Lieut.. Will
lam A. Duvall.
Must Get Men.
Instructions given these officers by
General Harvey are simple and to the
point.
They are to begin at once the mos'
vigorous campaign possible to secure
men needed in the ranks OF the or
ganizations that take the field today
and for the reserve battalion thai
has been authorized by law. They
will spare no effort in making the
most thorough canvas Of the DistEicl
are engaged in such work they are or
active duty and entitled to the pay
and allowances of their respective
grades in the service,
The reason for the taking of such
unusual measures to secure recruits
panies, and batteries now In the field
with the exception OF the signal com
pany, must be recruited to about dou
BILE their present strength.
Below War Strength.
At inspection OF. the Third Infantry
yesterday II was found that In spite o.
enthusiastic response made to the In
= vitation TO Join the service and despite
activity OF the recruiting officers, tn,
average strength of companies in thu
regiment Is under sixty-five men.
The war strength of a company o.
infantry is $50 enlisted men and three
officers.