The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-07

SuCn allenS VINO waive lHelI ll5AI VI
accepted for service.
General Crowder sent this telegram
to the governors:
Reports reaching this office recently
indicate that in some quarters the be-
have not declared their intention to
become citizens. but are ready and
willing to serve, are disqualified from
entering the military service Of the
United States and therefore that they
must take out first papers before they
can be accepted. 1t is to be regretted
that such misunderstanding should
have arisen. The qualifications Tor
voluntary enlistment in time of war
are no more restricted for service In
the new national army than for the
regular army. Such alien nondeclar-
ants are virtually volunteers. The Sc
lective service act provided for their
registration, but it did not regard them
as being under any liabilities to serve
and 1t therefore gave them full liberty
to claim exemption when called by
local boards Now that information re-
veals their willingness in large num-
bers to decline this exemption and to
accept service in this war against the
common enemy of our civilization, it
should be fully understood that their
service is heartily welcomed and they
should be accepted whenever upon
summons they fail to claim their right
of exemption.
ASSISTING CAUSE
"They are assisting the cause of their
own country by aiding the United
of them that enter the service. the
better for in this way will be removed
the cause of dissatisfaction heard in
some quarters that, although the quota
was based on total population, includ-
ing aliens, the actual draft reached
only citizens and declarants.
Local boards are directed to facili-
tate in every way the acceptance of
friendly alien nondeclarants for mill
tary service"
OFFICERS IN TRAINING
General Crowders office issued also
to. guide registered men
who are either at officers training
camps or who have applied for admis-
sion to the second series of these
camps, which will open this month
There has been considerable question in
the minds of these men as to how they
should proceed.
The instructions to local boards direct
that where candidate at training camp
is called by his local board for physi-
cal examination, he may procure certifi-
cate from his commanding officer show
ing that he has been examined and file
that with the board instead of making a l
personal appearance in response to the
summons. The board will thereafter treat
him as found qualified for service, un-
less application of exemption is filed sub
sequently in his behalf.
FURNISH CERTIFICATE
II the candidate wins a commission at
the camp after he has been called by
the board for examination but before he
Is actually drafted, he is required to fur
nish a certificate from his commanding
officer showing his appointment. The state
adiutant general then will credit the
board with one drafted man.
II the candidate is not commissioned
before his local board calls him for mil
itary duty, he must report to the board
unless the war department shall have
ordered him to duty at the training camp
in which event credit Will be given the
board involved. on its quota under the
draft.
Where the candidate has been COM
mssioned before he is called by the
board, he is required to file certificates
his status and also an applica-
ton for exemption on the ground that
he is already in the military service In
that event he is exempted but does not