Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-14

n capacity declared by the President
to DO nopcombatsnt."
Tho regulations referring to them
reads:
Amy person who is found by local
boards to be member OF any we'll
recognized religious sect or organize
tion organised and existing May is.
1917. and whose then existing creed or
principles forbid its members to par
ticipate in war in any form, and whose
religious convictions are against war
or participation therein. in accordance
with the creed or principles of the said
religious organizations"
DUTIES TO BE ALLOTTED
NOT YET MADE KNOWN
Tho duties which may be allotted to
these men have not been made known.
There are numerous army organza
lions, however. such as the hospital
corps, quartcrmaster corps known as
noncombatant troops in army orGaniza
ton. There will be- in addition. many
labor battalions. messengers. motor
drivers, clerks and the like who will
have no active part in the lighting. al
though they will be much exposed
to shell fire in bringing supplies up to
the line and taking wounded back as
are the active regiments. Presumably.
DIRECTORS will be placed in these units.
where their work will be to save ives,
not to take 1t.
The President within, a day or two
will issue regulations defining the nom
combatant corps to which the conscien-
tious objccto<s will be assigned. This
will reach the class of men who al
ready are planning to attack the con-
stitutionality of the law. AS "selec-
tive service" law. the name by which
it is officially known. and about which
1t Is constructed. il will provide service
OF all sorts.
1t is believed that many of the con-
scientious DIRECTORS will be assigned
to the work behind the lines. IN NUM-
tion and other supply factories. should
the government be compelled to take
over and operate such plants.
MOVEMENT or TROOPS
TO GO AS SCHEDULED
Secretary Baker declared to-day that
the movement OF the new troops to
their environments will go forward as
scheduled. He denied that Their, will
be any shortage of clothing or equip
men,.
Tho new national army Will be
coaches. Other equipment will not be
available in large enough quantity. and
in almost every case the journey will
be less than twelve hours.
The National Guard troops. who will
have to travel for several days. in
many cases. to reach their canton
nents. will be equipped with tourist
sleepers in the usual way of the army
regulations. With regard to the pos
sible withdrawal of all exemption privi
leses. Provost -Marshal-General Crow
der said to-day:
Reports are 10 the effect tia. in
some districts az high as so pc: cent
of persons called arc claiming e1emp-
ton on the ground OF dependen. rela-
tives. There is moral certainty in
the extravaganza OF such percentages
that hundreds of unfounded claim are
being included in these totals.
I'm the absence OF stern repression
by the local boards OF .unmeritorious
claims. the law will he nullifiel and
the raising of an army prevented
The welfare of persons who have
filed bona hde claims under the present
generous clauses of the exemptions
regulations is seriously imperlled by
persons who have flcd claims without
merit"
NAVY DEPARTMENT
CORRECTING ITS ERROR
In telegram to all tho Governors
OF the States, General Crowdo sayu
the attention Of the Navy Department
has been called to It's error in ordering
navy recruiting stations TO accept
drafted men who have alread; been
called. The Navy Department is also
correcting this order hy telegraph to-
day.
"A man who has been called" Cen
eral Crowder says cannot Voluntarily
enlist in the military or naval service
II he does so. he is not rclie-cd of
the penalties attaching to failure to
report 10 the local boards when or
dered."
The provost acknowledgement also
explained to the Governors to-day the
duties of the person designated 10 take
appeals In all dependency cases and
such other cases as may be appealed