Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-07
Army Open to
 Friendly Aliens
RULING BY PROVOST MARSHAL
 GENERAL cROWDER
MAY NOW VOLUNTEER
To be Promptly Accepted for Service Upon Waiving Their Rights of Ex- emption on ationaIity-TeIesran Sent to Governors.

| Wa ashington, Aug. 6.-The ranks of | the new national army were opened | formally today to friendly aliens as | volunteers. A ruling by Provost
 Marshal General Crowder communi- 1 cated to the local selection boards di- ] rects that all such aliens who waive i their rights of exemption on nation 1 ality be promptly accepted for service i General Crowder sent this tele- gram to the governors:
 1 Crowder's Telegram to Governors. Reports reaching this office recent | ly 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. It is to be regret ted that such misunderstanding | should have arisen. The qualifica tions for voluntary enlistment in time of war are TO more restricted for service in the new national army than for the regular army. Such alien non-de- clarants are virtually volunteers. The selective service act provided for their registration: but it did not regard them as being under any liability to serve. and it therefore, gave them full i liberty to claim exemption when called by local boards. Now that informa- ton reveals their willingness in large numbers to decline the exemption and to accept service in this war aaainst the common enemy of our civilization, it should be fully understood that their service is heartily welcomed and they should be accepted whenever up- summons they fail to claim their right of exemption.
 The More the Better.
 They are assisting the cause of their own country by aiding the Unit lFl fl %,-sY-, more of them that enter the service the better, for in this way will be re- moved the cause of dissatfsfa ction heard in some quarters, that although the quota was based on total popu- lauon, including aliens, the actual draft reached only citizens and de- clarants.
 Local boards are directed to facili- tate in every way the acceptance of friendly alien non- -declarants for mil itary service and thus enable them to do their share to assist the country which has given them a refuge and an honorable living"
 General Crowder's office issued also instructions to guide registered men who are either at officers training camps or who have applied for admis- sion to the second series of these camps, which will open this month There has been considerable question in the minds of these men as to how they should proceed.
 Instructions to Local Boards.
 The instructions to local boards di- rect that where a candidate at training camp is called by his local board for physical examination he may procure a certificate from bis com manding officer, showing that he has been examined, and file that with the board instead of making personal ap- pearance in response to the summons The board will thereafter treat him fnJnd OI1aIifiad fnr application of exemption is filed sub- sequently in his behalf
 If the candidate wins a commission at the camp after he had been called by the board for examination but be- fore he is actually drafted, he Is re- quired to furnish a certificate from his commanding officer, showing his appointment. The state adjutant-gen era! then will credit the board with one drafted man.
 If the candidate is not commission ed before his local board calls him for military duty, he must report to the board unless the war department shall have ordered him to duty at the train ing camp, in which event credit will be given the board involved on its quOtO in the draft.
 Where the candidate has been com miSsiOned before he is called by the board he is required to file certificates showing his status and also an appli- cation for exemption on the ground that he is already in the military ser vice. Tn that event he Is exempted but does not figure in the credit ac- count of his district.
 Status of Men Paying AIimony.
 There was some discussion today IS to the status of divorced men who are paying alimOny. It has been suggest ed that in some cases the former wives of such men are solely dependent up on the alimOny payments and the re- mOval of the men would work hard ship upon them. No specific request for a ruling has been received, but it is regarded probable that if the question is raised, the same rule that applies to all other discharges for de- pendents would fit the case. It Is taking away a bread winner. If the S25 a month which a soldier can spare from his salary will provide ade- Quately for his home responsibilities, however he will not be released from military service, each case must be considered it's merits.