The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-05
EXECUTION IS POSSIBLE
PENALTY, SAYS cRoWDER
Provost Marshal Issues State
ment Covering Those
Resisting Draft.
WILL BE NO EVASION
Miss Exemption Chance If
They Do Not Appear Be-
fore Selection Boards.
Continued From Page Ono,

Wnen ofOereO 10 90 so constitutes de.
sertion. Desertion in time OF war IL a
capital offense.
Deserters may be apprehended by
either civil or military authorities and
after the mandate Of the federal gov
rrnment has gone forth the whole
strength of the military arm of the
government is available to apprehend
deserters II 1t Is necessary to use such
force.
Demonstrations Futile.
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 capt.
tai and since local boards have no oc-
casion to use any force in simply Of
fering a 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's
construction Of the law, registered men
who do not appear for examination will
be posted to the district boards rs Sc
lectcd for military service as soon rs
the five-day period allowed them to
put in an appearance after they have
been summoned has elapsed. Two days
more will elapse after their names
reach the district board to await APP
peal action by the individual. They
will then he posted to the adjutant
10 sfafn ,n1a 80
the quotas of their district
Face Desertion Charge.
Orders for the mobilization Of the
selected men will be given some time
during the present month. If the reg
lstrant fails to obey that order he will
be set down as absent without leave
and the machinery of the army will be
set in motion to bring him in In addi-
ton. all state and municipal police au-
thorities and United States marshals
will be used to apprehend him. When
1t is clear that he has no intention of
reporting to the army. charge of de-
sertton will be placed against him.
From that time on any civil officer
who arrests him will earn a reward
OF $50.
Death Pays Penalty.
II found guilty by court martial of
desertion the individual may be SEN
fenced to death and only the president
can save him from punishment.
General Crowder believes that the
registrants in Oklahoma and elsewhere
are acting under a delusion fostered
probably by agitators that they are
onn6raf{nU S,oli}ina1
the draft. whereas the time for that
passed when the registration was COM
pleted. The government takes no in
terest in their proceedings now unless
they fail to report to their companies
when called. There Is no question In
volved Of civil court or local juries
Thirteen army officers will pass on the
cases of the men when they are
brought to book. and the armed
strength of the nation 10 available to
bring them to book.
AS to those who are aiding or abet-
ting the reslsters, the situation is DIFF
Rerent. While the government will
make no effort to bring in men who
do not obey the summons of the local
selection boards or attempt to enforce
their attendance in any way until they
have passed into the military status,
It will use every energy to stamp out
| disorders designed to prevent the exc
cution OF the federal laws. For this
purpose the president has legal power
to employ the army In any state with
out reference to the state authorities.
Publish Names Of Exempted.
General Crowder also took action to.
day to reduce the number Of applica-
tons for exemption which news re-
ports indicate are being filed. In a
| telegram to all governors he directed
that local boards be instructed to fur
| nish to newspapers hereafter from day
to day names of all registered men who
apply for exemption, the grounds as
serted to support such claim and the
action taken by the board. In cases of
discharge for physical disqualified
tons this does not apply, as they are
not cases where exemption is claimed,
but are the result Of rejection by a
board. The specific reason for rejec-
\tion will not be published.
+ viii Act AZ Curb.
Officials believe the effect Of this
order will be to curb applications for
exemption to a large extent. Men who
do not have legitimate excuses are not
expected to court the scorn Of their
neiehbors who would recognize the
weakness of their pleas when pub
ltshed. Men whose cases are clear,
however, and who are entitled to ex-
emptions. officials believe, will be glad
to have their neighbors know their
circumstances and that 1t is not lack
| OF patriotism or fear which has
prompted them to seek relief from
| military service.