The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-04-24
CONSUMPTION FAR
FROM TERRITORY
IS OFFICIAL belief
Study Of Pending Bin Shows That
Quota Called BY Govern
ment Is Exceeded
HAWAIIAN MILITIA MEN NOW
TWICE AS MANY AS ASKED
Department Headquarters still IN
Dark Regarding Plans
Of Authorities

sssl -------
CONSUMPTION is a long way from
Hawaii, even If the eselective draft
measure now before the two lrooaes Of
congress becomes law and goes im
medihtely into effect. II
Army officers at department head.
quarters yesterday declined 20 make
any statement regarding the matter,
for as they expressed II, they are still
IN utter darkness Regarding the aims Of
the war department, owing to the lack
81 definite information from Washing
ton.
Others who have studied the text Of
the bill before congress point TO the sec-l
tions which provide for the raising Of
two eontingents Of half million each,
together with the increase Of the regu-
lnf army and. the national guard to their
full war strength, as the basis for their
belief that Hawaii win not feel con-.
scription for the first draft of Eve
hundred thousand men, in view of the
fact that her national guard strength
Is almost double what is expected Of
her under the terms Of the measure.
IL is practically certain however, that
the first step which will be taken should
the bin become law, is the registro-
tion Of all male citizens in the Islands
ayaiinble for military duty. Out Of
these will be chosen, under the regulp-
tions which the President shah make
public, those men who are required for
active duty with the Colors
Task a Big One
1t is believed at headquarters that
congress Immediately after the pass.
age Of the draft bin will pass such leg
islation as win create the machinery
for the taking of this military census,
or make such provisions as lfhc emer-
gency requires The task Of gathering
the names Of those liable for military
service Is going to prove a huge one,
If the experience Of Great Britain when
she finally decided upon CONSUMPTION,
may be taken as an example for this
country Here in Hawaii IL will Of
course prove less difficult than upon
tho mainland, declare army officers who
have investigated tho matter.
Wten The lists Of those available for
military duty have been compiled the
rest Of the work Of getting the men
for the Colors will be comparatively
simple, although--and here again the
experience Of Great Britain is going
TO prove Of enormous advantage TO the
United States IL may be necessary to
create service courts which shall pass
upon the cases of professionals, such as
Demonstrations objectors,s and the like,
who are exempt under the terms Of the
measure.
Terms Of Conscription
The tcxt Of the bill provides that
enlisted men required to raise and
maintain the organizations Of the regu-
lar army and 10 Complete and maintain
the organization embodyiDg the mem
bers Of the national guard drafted>into
the service of the United States, at the
maximum legal strength as by this act
provided, shall be raised by voluntary
enlistment or, II and wherever the
President desires that they cannot
effectively be so raised or maintained,
then by seleetiVe draft; and all other
forces hereby authorized shall be raised
and maintained by soleetive draft ex-
ehsively, such draft shall be based
upon liability to military service Of
all mele citizens, or male persons who
have declared their intention to be
come citiEcns, between the ares Of ~
and rs years, and shall take place and
be maintained under such regulations
as the President may prescribe not
inconsistent with the terms Of this act.
Quotas for the several States, terri
tories and the District Of Columbia, or
Subdivisions thereof, shall be deter
mined in proportion to the population
thereof, and credit she'll be given to
any State, territory, district or snbdi-
vision thereof, for the number of men
who have entered the military service
Of the United States under the nrnr'',
sions Of this act from such State, terri
tory, district or snpdlyision, As mean
bers VI amy federal force hereby au-
thoIized. ~ tf
How Hawaii stanas
A little arithmetic will show how un-
der these regulations Hawaii will
stand, and what is the distance be.
tween this Territory and eonseription.
Take for example the total number Of
men TO be drafted ON the first contin-
gent plus the men ia the army and
Inational guard at war strength, and
compare Il with the total population
of the United states. Figuring II out
gives approximately ninety-four men
out Of every ten Thousand Of popula-
ton.
The population Of the Territory is
approximately two hundred Thousand
persons, which, ON the above basis
would give Hawaii's quota for the army
ct less than two thousand men and
officers. The last official figures given
for the strength Of the national guard
in the Islands puts the total at four
Thousand five hundred men who have
AL . ~ 4