Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-07
COURTMART|AL FOR
MEN WHO RESIST
SELECT|VE SERVICE
Provost Marshal General
Crowder Sounds Warning to
Those Who Seek to Escape
Law of Nation

| WASHINGTON. Aug. 4.-Registered
men who resist the selective service law
face military courtmartial for desertion
and the possibility of execution for de-
sertion in time OF war. The whole mill
tary and civil power of the federal gov
eminent and the civil power of the
states, cities or counties will be en-
ployed to bring them to book.
This was announced In formal state
ment tonight by Brigadier General Enoch
H. Crowder. provost marshal general, in
response to reports from North Carolina,
Georgia and Oklahoma, of anti-service
disturbances. AS yet the power of the
federal government has not been invoked
by the governors of three states nor by
agents Of the department of justice. The
only official notice received in Washing
ton OF the disturbances was a telegram
from the governor Of North Carolina say
ing that the registered men of two town
ships in that state might refuse in a
body to comply with the summons for
examination.
No official word came from Oklahoma,
where the most serious situation pre-
walls. II was believed the governor. both
in his official capacity and as the direct
agent of the president in the execution
of the army law, is confident that order
can be restored without military aid.
There will be no hesitation, however, in
employing federal troops If they are
needed.
General Crowders statement, formu-
lated after conference with officials of
the Justice department follows:
Press reports and other advices re-
ceived indicate that in one or two wide
ly separated districts. individuals, mis-
informed as to the purpose of the law
and misguided as to its result, are
threatening forcible resistance to the
select service law.
There is nothing to resist at this
stage in the execution of the law. al
male persons between the ages of n
and 80 inclusive, have been enrolled for
military service. preliminary call
has gone forth to some such persons
/ but the immediate and actual object
of this call is merely to provide an op-
portunity 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. If such persons do
not appear and present these reasons,
they have simply neglected to take ad-
vantage Of an opportunity that was Of
fered solely for their benefit. The fall
ure of persons to take advantage of
this opportunity does not interfere with
the raising of the army and interests
the government only as punishable
crime of omission. If they do not de-
sire to make any such claims or, If
for any other reason, they fail TO APP
pear, their names are automatically
posted as having been called and not
exempted or discharged. Automatically,
also, they are indicted into the mill
tary service and made subject to mill
tary law. Failure to appear merely
hastens this automatic process.
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 10
appear as soldiers From this point on,
they will be under the swift and sum-
mary procedure Of courts martial. Fall
ure to report for military duty when
ordered to do so constitutes desertion.
Desertion in time of war is a capital
offense. Deserters may be apprehended
| by either civil or military authority
and, after the mandate of the federal
government has gone forth, the whole
strength of the military arm of the
government is available to apprehend
deserters. if it is necessary to use
such force.
Demonstrations against local boards
are simply futile strokes in the air. All
the records necessary to hold such per-
sons are already on file at state heac-
quarters and at the national capitol and
since local boards have no occasion TO
use any force in simply offering bene-
fetal opportunity to registered persons,
there is no field for resistance. If re-
sistancc is attempted later when the
army seeks to apprehend deserters, II
will instantly encounter troops of the
federal government"
In practice, under General Crowder's
CONSTRUCTION of the law, registered men
who do not appear for examination will
be posted to the district boards as Sc
llected for military service as soon as the
ive-day period allowed them to put in
an appearance after they have been sum-
moned has elapsed. Two days more will
elapse after their names reach the dis
trict board to await appeal action by the
individual. They will then be posted to
the adjutant general of the state as Sc
lected to fill the quotas OF their district.
MOBILIZATION IN AUGUST.
Orders for the mobilization of the Sc
Iected men will be given some time dur
Ing the present month. If the resister
| falls to obey that order, he will be set
machinery of the army will be set in
motion TO bring him in. In addition, all
state and municipal police authorities
and all United States marshals will be
used to apprehend him. When it is clear
that he is willfully absenting himself
with no intention of reporting to the
army, a charge of desertion will be
placed against him. From that time on,
any civil officer who arrests him will
earn a reward of $50.
If found guilty by court-martial of de-
sertion. the individual may be sentenced
to death. and only the president can
save him from punishment.
General Crowder believes that the re-
sisters I'm Oklahoma and elsewhere are
acting under a delusion. fostered prob
ably by agitators, that they are conduct
ing a political campaign against the Sc
Ilective service law, whereas the time for
that. passed when the registration was
lcompleted. The government takes no in
teresr in their proceedings now unless
they fail to report to their companies
when called. There is no question in
volved Of civil courts or local juries.
Thirteen army officers will pass on the
cases of the men when they are brought
to book, and the armed strength of the
nation is available to bring them to