Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-08-07
General Crowder Issues State
ment to Governors Which
He Believes Will Recruit Ser
vice Materially
FOREIGNERS NEED NOT
BECOME u. S. CITIZENS
Instructions Regarding Men
Now at Officers Training
Camps are Also Sent to the
Various States,

washington, Aug. G.-Thc ranks of
the new national army were opened
formally today to friendly aliens as
volunteers. a ruling by Provost Mar
shal General Crowder communicated
to the local selection boards directs
mat all such aliens who waive their
right of exemption on nationality be
promptly accepted for service,
General Crowder sent this telegram
to the governors:
Reports reaching this office re-
Gently indicate that in some quarters
the belief prevails that friendly aliens
who 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 a misunderstanding should
have arisen. The qualifications for
voluntary enlistment in time of war
are no more restricted for service in
the new national army than for the
regular army.
Become Volunteers.
such alien nom -declarants are vir-
tually volunteers. The selective serv-
ice act provided for their registration:
but it did not regard them as being
under any liability to service and il
therefore. gave them full liberty to
claim exemption when called by local
boards. Now that information reveals
their willingness in large numbers to
decline this exemption and to accept
service IN this war against the com
mon 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.
They are assisting the cause of
their own country by aiding the Unit ]
ed States to triumph in this war. The
more of them that enter the service
the better for in this way will be re-
moved the cause of dissatisfaction
heard in some quarters that, although
the quota was based on total popula-
tlon including aliens, the actual draft |
reached only citizens and dcclarants. |
Welcomed Into Service.
Local boards are directed to facil- |
itate in every way the acceptance of |
friendly alien non -declarants for mil !
itary service and thus to enable them
to do their share to assist the country |
which has given them refuge and
an honorable living"
General Crowder's office also issued |
instructions to guide registered men |
who are either at officers training |
camps or who have applied for ad
mission to the second series of these
camps which will open this month.
The instructions to local boards di-
rect that where a candidate at train
Ing camp is called by his local board
for physical examination, he may pro.
cure a certificate from his command
ing officer showing that he has been
examined and file that with the board,
instead of making personal appear
lnce in response for summons. Tho
boards will thereafter treat him as
found qualified unless application for
is filed subsequently In his
behalf.
How He Will Get BY.
If the candidate wins a commission
1t the camp after he has been called
oy the board for examination but be-
fore he is actually drafted, he is re-
Iuired to furnish a certificate from
his commanding officer showing his
The state adjutant
general then will credit the board
with one drafted man.
If the candidate is not commission
ID before his local board calls him
or military duty, he must report to
he board unless the war department
hall have ordered him to duty at the
will be given the board involved on
is quota under the draft.
Where the candidate has been COM
nissioned before he is called by the
'oard, he is required to file certifi
ates showing his status and also an
application for exemption on the
;round that he is already in the mill
ary service. In that event he is ex-
mpted but does not figure in the
redit account of his district,
Alipony Payers Considered. {
There was some discussion today as |
o the status of divorced men who are {
'aying alimony. 1t has been sug-
,ested that in some cases the former |
wives of such men are solely depend
mt upon the alimony payment and :
he removal of the men would work
upon them. No specific re-
uest for a ruling has been received
'ut it is remarked as probable that II y
he question is raised the same rule
hat applies to all other discharges /;
or dependents would fit the case. It lis