Middletown transcript., 1917-08-11
SHARP WARNING
To DRAFT MEN
Those Who Resist Take Chance
of Execution For Deserti0n.
AUTOMATICALLY DRAFTED
Will Use Federal Troops If Necessary.
Oklahoma Posses Drive Ban
dts Into Hills OF Five
Counties.

Washington.-Registered men who
resist the Selective Draft law face
military courtmartial for desertion and
the possibility of execution for deser-
ton in time of war. The whole mill
tary and civil power of the Federal
Government and the civil power of the
states, cities or counties will be en-
ployed to bring them to book.
Statement BY Gen. Crowder.
| This was announced in a formal
statement by Provost Marshal-General
Enoch H. Crowder in response to re-
ports from North Carolina, Georgia
and Oklahoma of anti-draft disturb
ances.
No official word came from Okla
homa, where the most serious situa-
ton prevails. 1t was believed the
Governor, both in his official State
capacity and as the direct agent of
the President in the execution of the
Draft law, is confident that order can
be restored without military aid There
will be no hesitation, however, in en-
ploying Federal troops if they are
needed.
General Crowder's statement, formu-
lated after conference with officials of
the Department of Justice, follows:
press reports and other advices re-
ceived indicate that in one or two
widely separated districts individuals,
misinformed as to the purposes of the
law and misguided as to it's result
are threatening forcible resistance to
the draft.
There's nothing to resist at this
stage in the execution of the law. All
male persons between the ages Of 81
and 80, inclusive, have been enrolled
for military service. A preliminary
call has gone forth to some such per-
sons, but the immediate and actual OBJ
ject of this call is merely to provide
an opportunity for such persons, or for
some one else, in respect of them, to
present to the Government reasons
why they should not be finally ordered
to report for military duty.
Automatically Drafted.
eff such persons do not appear and
present these reasons, they have sim
ply neglected to take advantage of an
opportunity 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 interests the Govern
ment only as punishable crime of
omission. If they do not desire to
make any such claims or, if, for any
other reason, they fail to appear, their
names are automatically posted as
having been called and not exempted
or discharged.
Automatically, also, they are in
Quoted into the military service and
made subject to military law. Failure
to appear merely hastens this auto
matte process.
Face court-MartiaI
when the time allowed for making
these claims has elapsed these per-
sons will be enrolled as in the military
service. They will then be ordered to
appear as soldiers. From this point
on they will be under the swift and
summary procedure of court-martial.
Failure to report for military duty
when ordered to do so constitutes de-
sertion. Desertion in time of war is
O capital offense. Deserters may be
apprehended by either civil or mill
tary authority and, after the mandate
of the Federal Government has gone
forth, the whole strength of the mill
tary arm of the Government is avail
able to apprehend deserters, if it is
necessary to use such force.