Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05


Gen Crowder's statement. formulated
after conference with officials Of the Pe-
partment of Justice. follows:
Press reports and other advices re-
cefved indicate that In one or two widely
separated districts individuals, misinform-
ed az to the purpose Of the law and mis-
guided as to its result. are threatening
forcfbls resistance to the draft.
There Is nothing to resist at this stage
in the execution Of the law. All male per-
sons between the ages of twenty-one and
thirty, inclusive. have been enrolled for
military service A preliminary call has
gone forth to some such persons, but the
fucmediate and actual object Of this eau
y merely U proytds an opportuu1ty ior
: such persons. or for some one else m re-
meet - them. to present 70 the govern
u3Snf reasons Why they should not be
d1aiiy ordered to report for military duty.
" such perbons do not appear and present
these reasons they have simply negiectea
to take advantage OF an opportunity that
was offered solely for their benefit:
s~The failure Of persons to take ad-
vantage Of this opportunity does not inter-
fere with the raising OF the Army ana
Interests the government only as punish
able crime of omission. II they do not
desire to make any such claims, or, II
for any other reason. they fail to appear.
their names are aulOmaUCauy pOStcu as
having been called and not exempted or
discharged. Automatically also they are
inducted into the military service and
made subject to military law. Failure to
appear merely hastens this automatic
process.
Desertion Punishable by Death.
.sWhen the time allowed for making
these claims has elapsed these persons
viii be enrolled as in the military serv-
ice. They win then be ordered to appear
as soldiers. From this point on they will
dre Of court-martfal Failure to report
for military duty when ordered to do SO
constitutes desertion-
sDesertion 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 govern
ment has gone forth. the whole strength
Of the military arm Of the government 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 head
quarters and at the National Capital
and since local boards have no occasion
to use any force in simply Offering Q
beneficial opportunity to registered per-
sons there Is no field for resistance II
resistance 10 attempted later. when the
Army seeks to apprehend deserters. II
will instantly encounter troops OF the
federal government" +
Any Not Appearing to Be Posted.
In practice, under Gen. Crowder's con-
struction of the law. registered men
who do not appear for examination will
be posted TO the district boards as Sc
the hve-day period allowed them to put
in an appearance after they have been
summoned, has elapsed. Two days more
will elapse after their names reach the
by the individual. They will then be
posted to the adjutant general of the
state as selected to I'LL the quotas OF
their district.
Orders for the mobilization of the
selected men will be given some time
during the present month. II the re-
sister fails to obey that order he will
be set down as absent without leave
and the machinery of the Army win be
set in motion to bring him in. In ad-
dition, all state and municipal police
authorities and all United States mar
shals will be used to apprehend him
When 1t Is clear that he is wil1fully abb
senting himself with no intention of re-
porting to the Army. a charge of deser.
tion will be placed against him. From
that time on. any civil officer who ar
rests him will earn a reward of $50.
If found guilty by Sourt-martial OF
desertion the individual may be sen
fenced to death and only the President
can save him from punishment.
Thinks Hesisters Are Deluded,
Gen. Crowder believes that the re-
sisters in Oklahoma and elsewhere are
acting under a delusion. fostered prob
ably by agitators. that they are con.
Quoting q political campaign against
the draft, whereas the time for that
passed when the registration was com
pleted- The government takes no in
terest In their proceedings now, unless
they fail to report to their companies
when called. There Is no question in
volyed Of civil courts or local juries
Thirteen army officers will pass on this
cases of the men when they are brought
to book. and the armed strength of ths
nation IL available to bring them tS
book
AZ to those who are aiding or abet
ting the resisters. the situation Is diff
ferent While the government will
Eaxe no effort to bring In men who d.
not obey the summons OF the local Sc,
lsotzon boards or attempt to ezforca