The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-07
ALIENS WANTED
AS VOLUNTEERS
|. In THENEW ARMY
Those Who Waive Rights
To Exemption Will Be
Promptly Accepted
FIRST PAPERS
| NOT NECESSARY
Crowder Issues Instruc-
tons For Register
~. ed Men

! Washington, Aug. THE ranks
! of the new national army were open
ed formally yesterday to friendly
aliens as volunteers. A ruling by
Provost Marshal General Crowder
communicated to the local selection
boards directs that all such aliens
who. waive their right of exemption
on nationality be promptly accepted
for service.
General Crowder sent this tele-
gram to the governors:
Reports reaching this office in
dictate that in some quarters the
belief prevails that friendly aliens
who have not declared their inten-
ton to become citizens, but are
ready and willing to serve, are dis
qualified from entering the military
service of the United States and
must take out first papers before
they can be accepted. The quail
fications for voluntary enlistment in
time of war are no more restricted
for service in the new national army
than for the regular army. Such
alien -declarants are virtually
volunteers. The selective service act
provided for their registration but
II AOl ICS DIS DClIlk uIl-
der any liability to service and it
therefore gave them full liberty to
claim exemption. Now that infor-
nation reveals their willingness in
large numbers to accept service in
this war it should be fully under
stood that their service is heartily
welcomed and they should be ac-
cepted whenever they fail to claim
exemption.
THE more of them that enter the
service the better, for in this way
will be removed the cause of dis
satisfaction heard in some quar-
tiers that, although the quota was
based on total population including
aliens, the actual draft reached only
citizens and declarants.
Local boards are directed to fac
ilitate in every way the acceptance
of friendly alien non declarants for
military service and thus to enable
them to do their share to assist the
country which has given them a re-
fuge and an honorable living"
Men at Camps.
General CFowder's office issued al
so instructions to guide registered
men who are either at officers train
ing camps or who have applied for
admission to the second series Of
these camps which win open this
month.
The instructions to local boards
direct that where a candidate at a
training camp is called by his local
board for physical examination he
may procure a certificate from his
commanding officer showing that he
has. been examined and file that with
the board instead of making per-
sonal appearance in response to the
summons. The board will there
after treat him as found qualified for
service unless application of exemp
ton Is filed subsequently in his be-
half.
If the candidate wins a commits
sion at the camp after he has been
called by the board for examination
but he is actually drafted, he Is re-
quested to furnish certificate from
his commanding officer showing his
appointment The state adjutant
general will them credit the board
with one drafted man.
If the candidate is not commits
stoned before his local board calls
him for military duty he must re-
port to the board unless the war de-
partment shah have ordered him to
DUTY al the training. camp In winch
event credit will be given the board
involved on its quota under the
draft.
Where the candidate has been
commissioned before he is called by
the board he is requested to file GER
tfficates showing his status and al
so an application for exemption on
the ground that he already is in the,
military service. In that event he
is exempted. but does not figure in
the credit account of his district.
There was some discussion today
as to the status of divorced men who
are paying alimony. II has been
suggested that in some cases the
former wives of such men are solely
dependent upon the alimony pay
ments- and the removal of the men
would work hardship upon them. No
specific request for a ruling has been
received but it is remarked as prob
able that If the question is raised
the same rule that applies to all
other discharges for dependents
would At the case. tits not the pur-