Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-05
DEATH MAY AWAIT
THOSE Who RESIST
Registered Men Who Fail to APP
pear Will Be Classed as
Deserters.
NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE
Crowder Makes Statement in Re-
spouse to Reported Disorders
in Several States.
NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE
tBy Associated Pres,.I


tered men who resist tho selective
draft law face military court-martial
for desertion and the possibility OF
execution for desertion in time Of war.
The whole military and civil power Of
tho Federal government and the civil
power Of the States. cities or counties
will be employed to bring them to
book
This was announced In formal
statement tonight by Brigadier-Gen-
eral Crowder, provost-marshal-gen
eral, in response to reports from
North Carolina, Georgia and Oklahoma
tho power OF the Federal government
has not been invoked by the Gov
ernors OF the three States nor by the
agents Of the Department Of Justice.
Tho only official notice received in
Washington OF the disturbances was =
telegram from the Governor OF North
Carolina saying that tho registered
men Of two townships In that State
might refuse in body to comply with
tho summons for examination.
NO OFFICIAL REPORT
COMES FROM oIAHoAl-.-
No official word came from Okla
homa, where tho most serious situa-
tion prevails. 1t was believed the Gov
ernor Is confident that order can be
restored without military aid There
will be no hesitation. however, In en-
ploying Federal troops II they arc
needed
General Crowders statement. formu-
lated after conference with officials OF
the Department Of Justice, follows:
Press reports and other advices re-
eeived indicate that In ono or two
widely separated districts individuals,
misinformed az to tho purpose OF the
law and misguided rs to it's results,
are threatening forcible resistance to
tho draft
There Is nothing to resist at this
stage In tho execution of tho law. All
male persons between tho ages OF
twenty -one and thirty inclusive have
been enrolled for military service A
preliminary call has gone forth to
some such persons, but the hmm ediate
and actual object Of this call Is mere
ly to provide an opportunity for such
PERSONS. or for some one else in re-
spect Of them. to present to tho Cow
eminent reasons why they should not
be finally ordered to report for MILL
tary duty. If such persons do not ap-
pear and present these reasons they
have simply neglected to take advan-
tage OF an opportunity that was Of
fered solely for their benefit The
failure OF persons to take advantage
Of this opportunity does not interfere
with the raising OF the army, and in
terests the government only as a pun
ishable crime of omission. If they do
not desire to make any such claims
or II for any other reason they fail
to appear. their names are automati-
cally posted as having been called and
not exempted or discharged. Auto
matically, also. they are indicted into
the military service and made subject
to military law. Failure to appear
merely hastens this automatic process
SUBJECT TO SUMMARY
COURT-MARTIAL PROCEEDINGS
When the time allowed for making
these claims has elapsed. these per-
sons Will be enrolled as in the mill.
tary service. They will then be or
dered to appear as soldiers. From
this point on, they will be under the
swift and summary procedure of court
martial. Failure to report for mill
tary duty when ordered 10 do SO con-
stitutes desertion. Desertion in time
OF war is capital offense. Deserters
may be apprehended by either civil or
military authority. and. after the man
date of the Federal government has
gone forth. the whole strength Of the
military arm of the government Ia
available to apprehend deserters, IL It
is necessary to use such force.
Demonstrations against local boards
are simply futile strokes In the air.
All the records necessary to hold such
persons are already on file at State
headquarters and at the national cant.
tai. and since local boards have no oc-
| casion to use any force in simply Of
ferinS beneficial opportunity to reg
istered persons. there Is no field for
resistance. If resistance is attempted
later when the army seeks to appre
bend deserters, 1t will instantly en-.
counter troops of the Federal govern
ment.''
In practice. under General Crowder'.
construction OF the law, registered
men who do not appear for examina-
ton will be posted to tho district
boards as selected for military SER
vice as soon as the 1ve-day period
| allowed than IN mt II ~