Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-07
FRIENDLY ALIENS MAY
WAIVE EXEMPTION RIGHT
Provost Marshal crowder Finds Many
Ready and Willing to EnIist-Regis-
tered Men at Training Camps Per-
mitted to Qualify Before Local
Boards.

tHc loCttl SeleCtioH DOhIuS ulISCts IuStt
all such aliens who waive their right
of exemption on nationality be prompt
ly accepted for service.
General Crowder sent this telegram
to the governors:
Reports reaching this office recently
indicate that in some quarters the be-
lief prevails that friendly aliens who
have not declared their intention to be-
come citizens, but are ready and will
ing to serve, are disqualified from en-
tering the military service of the United
States and therefore they must take
out first papers before they can be ac-
cepted.
1T is to be regretted that such a
misunderstanding should have arisen.
The Disqualification for voluntary en-
listment in time of war are no more
restricted for service in the new ma
tional army than for the regular army.
Such alien non -declarants are virtually
volunteers. The selective service act
provided for their registration, but it
did not regard them as being under any
liability to service and it therefore gave
them full liberty to claim exemption
when called by the local boards.
Should Be Accepted.
Now that information reveals their
willingness in large numbers to decline
this exemption and to accept service in
this war against the common enemy of
our civilization, it should be fully I'M
derstood 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 United
States to triumph in this war. The
more of them that enter the service the
better. for in this way viii be removed
the cause of dissatisfaction heard in
some quarters that, altho the quota was
based on total, population, including
aliens, the actual draft reached only
citizens and declarants.
local boards are directed to facii-
tate in every way the acceptance Of
friendly alien nondeclarants for mill
tary service and thus enable them to do
their share to assist the country which
has given them refuge and an honor
able living"
May Certify Examination.
General Crowder's Office issued also
instructions to guide registered men
who are either at officers training
camps or have applied for. admission to
the second Of these camps which will
open this month.
The instructions to local boards di-
rect that where a candidate at a train
ing camp is called by his local board
for physical examination, he may pro-
cure certificate from his command
ing officer showing that he has been
examined and file that with the board.
instead of making personal appearance
in response to the summons The
board will thereafter treat him as
found qualified for service, unless ap-
plicaton of exemption is filed subse-
quently in his behalf.
If the candidate wins commission
at the camp after he has been called
by the board for examination. but be-
fore he is actually drafted. he is re-
quired to furnish certificate from his
officer showing his APP
pointment. The state adjutant general
then will credit the board with one
drafted man.
Credit Given Board.
If the candidate is not commissioned
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 DO
given the board involved on it's quota
under the draft.
Where the candidate has beer COM
mjssioned before he is called by the
board, he is required to file certificates
showing his status and also an appll-
cation for exemption on the ground
that he is already in the military SER
vice. In that event he is exempted but
does not figure In the credit account
Of his district
There was some discussion today aS
to the status of divorced men who are
paying alimony. 1t has been suggested
tina. il some cases the former wives Of
such men are wholly dependent upon
the alimony payments and the removal
Of the men would work hardship upon
them.
No specific request for ruling has
been received, but 1t II remarked az
probable that II the question il raised
the Same rule that applies to all other
for dependents would At the
case.
It is not the purpose Of the govern
ment to work hardship on any depend
emit by taking away q bread winner. Il
the $25 month which = soldier can
spare from his salary will provide ade-
quately for his home responsibilities.
however, he will not be released from