Milford chronicle., 1917-01-05
ALL MEN LIABLE
FOR ARMY SERVICE
President Can Draft Every Qualilid Citi-
zen for Militia War Department Rules.

President Tan GraIt Livery Aluaiuld ltl-
zen for Militia War Department Rules.
Every able-bodied male citizen Of
the United States between the ages Of
eighteen and forty five years is held
liable for service in the National
Guard in war time, without further
Act of Congress, by War Department
regulations for the government of the
guard issued under the national de-
tense Act. In a circular prepared
nearly two months ago but made
public the last of December, the Mil
itia Bureau directs that where a Ma
tional Guard regiment is called out
for war service, a reserve training
battalion to fill vacancies at the front
shall be organized out of the National
Guard reserve and by voluntary en-
listment.
"If for any reason" the order con-
tinues, there shall not be enough re-
serVists or enough voluntary enlist
ment to organize or to keep the re-
serve battalions at prescribed strength
a sufficient number Of the unOrganized
militia shall be drafted by the Presi-
dent to maintain such battalion or
other lesser reserve unit at the pre-
scribed strength"
The language follows closely that
of the national defense act, in which
the unorganized militia is defined as
including every able bodied male cit
izen within the prescribed age limit
or those who have declared their in
tentiOn of becoming citizens.
Dependent Families Of Soldiers.
The National Guard regulations,
which will be amplifed in great detail
later, also strikes at the problem OF
dependent families Of soldiers which
has cost the government several mil
lions of dollars already through the
ordered mobilization. Recruiting Of
Acers for the National Guard are di-
rected to discourage the enlistment
of married men or those with others
dependent upon them. Such persons
are to be accepted only for reason In
the public interest, men who wish to
become officers being the only class
specifically excepted.
II is provided in the regulations
that no officer of the guard hereafter
shalI be recognized as such under the
defense Act unless he shall have sub
ecribed to an oath binding him to
obev the orders of the President and
of the Governor of his State. Ap-
Dointments will be made on recon-
mendation to the Secretary Of War
from Governors or the commanding
officers of State or territorial units OF
the guard, and after proper physical
and mental examination by boards OF
officers. Promotions will be handled
IN the same way, and any officer who
fails in the examination as to his pro-
fessional ability cannot come up Tor
re-examination within a year.
Status of the Reserve.
After three years active service or
when the organizations are disbanded'
National Guard officers may pass into
the National Guard reserve.
The reserve is to remain an unor-
ganized body in peace times, except
for temporary purposes. 1t Will De
composed of men who have served
three years in activ, organizations
and whose enlistment contracts will
require them to serve three more III
the reserve, unless they prefer active
service. They will hold the same rank
in the reserve that they held at the
time of furlough from active service
except that when drafted into the
Federal service they will report IN
the grade of privates.