Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-09-21
EXCERPTS fROMDRAFT ORDERS
EXPLAINING REGARDING voLuN-
TARY ENLISTMENT AND RE-
SISTANCE TO DRAFT

The following articles, which are
taken from orders issued by Provost
Marshal General Crowder, concern var
| ious phases of the draft law with
| which many are not familiar:
CD ACCEPTANCEs ON PHYSICAL.
EXAMINATION BY LOCAL BOARDS
BEEN REJECTED ON PHYSICAL
THORITIES. =
Some men who have been rejected as
| on examination for commissions, of1ic-
ers training camps, and otherwise have
! been accepted by local boards as physi-
selected man usually feels that his case
has been prejudiced by this result It is
to be remembered that no mans physi-
cal condition remains constant from
month to month or even from day to
day. Local boards can not be controlled
by the result of prior physical examina-
! tons, and no exception in the operation
in such circumstances. It is to be re-
! membered however, that a man may be
| commissioned or assigned to a. training
and also that before he is finally accept
| ed for duty in the National Army he
| will again be examined by the military
P) ENLISTMENT OF PERSONS AF-
TER EXEMPTION OR DISCHARGE.
Persons may not be exempted to per-
| init them to enlist nor, under the presi-
has once been called by a local board
| thereafter enlist even after he has been
exempted or discharged from draft. This
regulation may be modified e by the presi-
| the present, exempted or discharged
registrants may not enlist voluntarily.
| 1t is further to be remarked that an APP
| man to enlist would be ground upon
which a local board might inquire
whether his certificate of exemption or
GSf5 not FR t9 9e 9R FRoR
SERVICE IN, THE ARMY OR NAVY
| NO GROUND FOR EXEMPTION OR
! DISCHARGE.
Many registered men who have been
selected for military service have applied
| for exemption or discharge on the ground
that they have been discharged from the
for physical disqualification and some
| times merely upon expiration of enlist
ment. 1t seems scarcely necessary to say
| that prior service or discharge from the
| army, navy or marine corps is not ground
| for exemption or discharge from draft,
and that such application can receive no
| consideration.
| Press reports and other advices receiv-
ed indicate that in one or two widely
separated districts, individuals. misin--
formed as to the purpose of the law and
misguided as to its result, are threaten
ing forcible resistance to the draft.
There is nothing to resist at this stage
in the execution Of the law. All male
inclusive, have been enrolled for military
service A preliminary call has gone
forth to some such persons but the i'm
mediate and actual object of this call is
merely to provide an opportunity for
such persons, or for someone else in re-
spect of them to present to the govern
ment reasons why they should not be
finally ordered to report for military
d,,{x, and
present these reasons, they nave SIMPLY
neglected to take advantage of an oppor-
tunity that was Offered solely for their
benefit The failure of persons to take
advantage of this opportunity does not
Interfere with the raising of the army
and interest the government only as pun
not desire to, make any such claims or, if
for any other reason they fail to appear;
their names are automatically posted
or discharged. Automatically also, they
are indicted into the military service
and made subject to military law. Fail
ure to appear merely hastens this auto
When the time allowed g for for n making
will be enrolled as in, the military ser
pear as Soldiers: From this point on,
they will be under the swift and sum
! mary procedure of cOurts-martial. Fail
ure to report for military duty When or
Desertion in time of war is a capital Of
Tense. Deserters may be apprehended by
either civil or military authority and, af-
ter the mandate of the federal govern
, ment has gone forth, the whole strength
of the military arm of the government
is available to <apprehend deserters, II II
Demonstrations against local boards
are simply futile strokes in the air. All
the records necessary to hold such per-
, quarters and at the National capital, an6
since local boards have no occasion tc
use any force in simply offering bene'
fetal opportunity to registered persons
there is no field for resistance. If resist
ance is attempted later when the army
seeks to apprehend deserters 1t will in
stantly encounter troops of the fedora
government.