Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-06

in time Of war is q capital onenSe. u.
serters may be apprehended by either
civil or military authorities and, after the
mandate of the federal government has
gone forth. the whole strength OF the MIL
/ itary arm Of the government Is available
to apprehend deserters. If 1t is necessary
/ to use such force.
| Demonstrations Are Futile
Demonstrations against local boards
are simply futile strokes IN the air. All
the records necessary to hold such per-
sons are already on file at state head
quarters and at the national capital and
since local boards have no occasion to
use any force in simply offering bene-
/ fetal opportunity to registered persons,
there is no field for resistance. If re-
sistance is attempted later when the ar
my seeks to apprehend deserters, 1t will
instantly encounter troops OF the federal
government
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 as Sc
lected for military service as soon as the
five day period allowed them to put in an
appearance after they have been sum-
moned has elapsed. Two more days will
elapse after their names reach the dis
trct board to await appeal action by the
individual. They will then be posted to
the adJutant general of the state Sc
elected to fill the quotas of their district.
! Orders for the mobilization the Sc
! lected men will be given some time during
the month. If the register 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 h m
! in. In addition, all state and municipal
police authorities and United States mar
shals will he used to apprehend him
When It is clear that he is wiifully alb
senting himself with no intention Of re-
porting to the army. a charge OF deser-
! that time on, any civil officer who arrests
him will earn reward OF $50
! May Ee Sentenced to Death
If found guilty by court martial Of de-
sertion, the individual may be sentenced
to death and only the President can save
him from punishment.
General Crowder believes that the re-
acting under a delusion, fostered probab-
ly by agitators, that they are conduct
ing a political campaign against the
draft whereas the time for that passed
when the registration was complete. The
government takes no interest in their pro-
! ceedings now unless they fail to report
when called There is no question involv-
ed of civil court or local juries Thirteen
army officers will pass on the cases of the
men when they are brought to account
and the armed strength Of the nation Is
available to get them.
: AS to those who are aiding or abet-
I ting the registers the situation is diff
ferent. 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, 1t
! Will use every energy to stamp out dis
, orders designed to prevent the execu-
! ton of the federal laws. For this pur-
: pose the President has legal power to
/ employ the army in any state without
! reference to the state authorities. In
! practice, however, such a step would
| not he taken until the governors asked
/ for military forces to restore order.
They would be furnished promptly By
! department commanders, without red
! tape or delay.
! General Crowder also took action to-
day to reduce the number of applica-
tions 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
asserted to support such claim and the
action taken by the board.
I In cases for discharge for physical
disqualifications, this does not apply,
as these are not cases where exemption
is claimed, but are the result of re-
lection by board. The specific reason
for rejection will not be published
General Crowder's telegram follows:
The names of all registered men
are on list arranged in the order in
which they Will be called for military
service. Wherever any registered per-
son IMPULSES upon local DOard ana
improperly secures a certificate of ex-
emption or discharge he advances the
time Of all other uncalled persons on
the list.
For this reason every registered
person and. to some extent, every per-
son in the community is more or less
/ directly interested in seeing that the
true facts are brought to the attention
Of the government. For every local
board person has been designated
who will receive information of such
cases and take appeals to the district
board or inform the local board.
For this reason. the public is en-
titled to know the grounds upon
which claims for exemption or dis
charge are being asked by registered
men.
The local boards. therefore, should be
instructed Immediately to make available
to the press from day to day the names
OF persons claiming exemption or dis
charge, the ground on which such claims
are based and, in general. the number Of
cases that are being disposed Of by the
Nyr1 l ls H.