The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1917-07-20
SHOULD YOU ENLIST
NOW, OR WAIT?

There seems to have been an i'm
preston throughout the State that
instead of enlisting now, men should
wait. This impression has been dis
PEELED TO great extent as shown by
the record of the Atlanta Recruiting
District. An average of over 40 men
per day have enlisted for the past
. ten days. But for the benefit of
those few who are still doubtful the
following statement by your Recruit
ing Officer;
First, your government tried in
every honorable way to keep your
country out of war, and finally as
last resort called Congress together
for the purpose of laying before that
body the facts of Germany's abuse
of American rights and the ruthless
murder of its citizens. Congress, by
an overwhelming majority, declared
that state of war exists between
Germany and the United States. Ger
many was the aggressor; she made
war on the United States by attack
ing her merchant marine on the high
seas, and sinking her ships and MUIR
derlng her people,-this, in violation
Of international Law The United
States, the nation which stands for
freedom and right, could not stand
This condition of affairs longer, and
declared war.
Second, the plans of the war de-
partment were next hurriedly, but
carefully, drawn and ever3 effort
made to carry these plans out. It
was considered by the war depart
ment that the Regular Army would
2e raised by voluntary enlistment to
full strength by June Both. Unfor-
tunately, this plan did not succeed
by about $4,000 men. This shortage
IS embarrassing to the Government.
and should be rectified at once. It
was the intention to train men in
July and August and use them in
September to help train the big Ma
tlonal Army to be called to the Colors
It that time. However, this failure
can be corrected, and it is believed
will be corrected by the immediate
'espoase to the Governments call.
Third, the first increment of 500
J9J men for the National Army was
20 have been selected in july and
August and ordered to report for
training in September. This will
5e done and in order to give ample
lime for the exemption boards to
act the actual draft will begin in a
very few days.
Fourth, the second increment of
100000 men for the National Army
viii be selected in September and
october, with orders to report No
1cmber 1st.
Fifth, all National Guard Units
IRE now under orders for mobiliza-
Ion and training.
Sixth, It was no doubt the inten-
ION to send all these units, Regu-
.ars National Guard and National Ar
my to France in the early Spring of
1918.
Seventh, careful estimate of the
lumber OF men to be selected from,
Georgia after deducting all men who
VII probably be exempt, only about
$4,000 men will be left from which
he draft will actually be made as
shown by the following table:
Total Registration for Geor-
gia, about o5o noo
9O% of this number mar
RED and probably exempt $50 600
Total unmarried 1on ooo
Of this number the
following will pro-
badly be exempt on
account of reasons
mentioned:
Dependent families.
o 70' ------------ 5000
ar'leFS' 50fo - 10000
Munition Workers.
o u, ------ 1885, 5000
Physical Disabili-
W. 49, -------- 5000 $1,000
Total available for selection $4,000
iotal to be selected from
georgia -------- ------- $4,000