Arizona republican., 1917-08-07
RANKS OF NATIONAL ARMY
 OPENED TO FRIENDLY ALIENS
 WHO WAIVE EXEMPTION RIGHTS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-The ranks of the new national army were opened formally today to friendly aliens as volunteers. A ruling by Provost Mar shal General Crowder communicated to the local selection boards directs that all such aliens who waive their right of exemption on nationality be promptly accepted for service
 General Crowder sent this telegram to the governors:
 Reports reaching this office recently indicate that in some quarters the be- lief prevails that friendly aliens who have not declared their intention to become citizens but are ready and Willing to serve, are disqualified from entering the military service of the
 United States and therefore that they must take out first papers before they can be accepted. It is to be regretted that such misunderstanding should
 have arisen. The qualifications for voluntary enlistment in time of war are not more restricted for service in the new national army than for the regular army. Such alien non- -declar- ants are virtually volunteers. The se- lective service act provided for their registrations; but it did not regard them as being under any liability to service and it therefore gave them full
 liberty to claim eXemtpoion when called by local boards
 Now that information reveals their willingness in large numbers to de- cline this exemption and to accent service in this war against the com
 mon enemy of our civilization, it should be fully understood that their service is heartily welcomed, and they should be accepted whenever upon summons they fail to claim their right of ex- emption.
 "They are assisting the cause of their own country by aiding the United States to triumph in this war The more of them that enter the service the better, for in this way will be removed the cause of dissatisfaction 1 heard in some quarters that, although ! the quota was based on total popula-
 tion including aliens, the actual draft
 reached only citizens and declarants 1 Local boards are directed to facili- l tate in every way the acceptance of l friendly alien -declarants for mill itary service and thus to enable them to do their share to assist the country which has given them a refuge and an honorable living"
 General Crowder's office also issued instructions to guide registered men who are either at officers training camps or who have applied for ad- mission to the second series of these camps of these camps which will open this month.
 | The instructions to local boards di-
 rect that where a candidate at a train ing camp is called by his local board for physical examination, he may pro- cure a certificate from his command ing officer showing that he has been examined and file that with the board: instead of making personal appearance in response to the summons The board will thereafter treat him as
 found qualified for service unless ap- plication for exemption is filed sub sequently in his behalf. If the can-
 didate wins commission at the camr
 after he has been called by the board
 for examination, but before he is &C.,
 tually drafted he is required to furn-
 ish a certificate from his command
 ing officer showing his appointment The state adjutant general then will credit the board with one drafted man
 If the candidate is not commissioned before his local board calls him fol , military duty, he must report to the , board unless the war department shal
 have ordered him to duty at the train ing camp, in which event credit vii l be given the board involved on its quota , under the draft.
 Where the candidate has been com.
 missioned hes is called by the board he is required to file certificates show ing his status and also an application for exemption on the ground that h, is already in the military service. II that event he is exempted but doe , not figure in the credit account of hi district
 There was some discussion today a | to the status of divorced men who arr paying alimony. It has been suggested that in some cases the former wives o such men are solely dependent upon tn 5 alimony payment and the removal o
 the men would work hardship upol them. No specific request for ruling ', has been received but it is remarke, 7 as probable that if the question i ', raised the same rule that applies to al n other discharges for dependents woul d (COntinued on Page Two)
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