Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-23
'PROCLA|MS JUNE 5
REGISTRATION DAY
President Signs Act Making
100000 More Young Men
Military Eligibles
GOVERNORS ARE NOTIFIED
PrssiAent Also Completes Reorganisa-
tion q Army Air service-His First
Act Under New Law

washington, May 0.-Upon approving
to-day the act Of Congress bringing under
the army draft law all men attaining the
age Of q years since the first registration
day. June s. 1917. President Wilson issued
a proclamation formally fixing next Juno
s as the date for new eligibles to appear
before their local boards.
Male persons, whether citizens or not,
are required to register exemptions under
the original act. including men already
In the military service. apply and to these
the new law adds ministerial and medical
students now pursuing their studies.
The Presidents proclamation quotes
the law and gives notice to all persons
subject to It in the State and in the Dis
trict Of Columbia to appear for registra-
ton on June between the hours Of TOO
a. m. and 800 p. m. State governors and
members Of local boards are called upon
to perform the duties already assigned
to them.
It has been estimated that about 800 900
men At for active military service will be
made available to the army by the next
registration. Hereafter 1t is planned to
have registrations oftener than once a
year. probably quarterly.
Alaska, Hawaii and Porto Rico are not
named in to-day's proclarpation. A
registration day for them will be later.
REORGAN1ZEs AIR SERVICE.
Reorganization Of the army air service
was completed to-day by President Will
son as his first act under the new law
permitting him to readjust government
departments for the war. In an execu-
tive order. he directed that the air serv-
Ice be wholly divorced from the signal
corps and also that the functions Of pro-
ducing and operating aircraft Of all kinds
In the military service be separated.
The order formally creates a bureau
OF aircraft production. described as an
executive agency which "shall exercise
full, complete and exclusive Jurisdiction
and control over the production Of air.
planes. airplane engines and aircraft
equipment for the use Of the army"
under director Of aircraft production
who shall also be chairman Of the air
craft board. This gives full legal status
and power to John d. Ryan. recently
appointed director Of aircraft production
and chairman Of the aircraft board. and
the order transfers to him all funds,
lands. buildings and personnel Of the sig :
nal corps having to do with aircraft pro-
duction.
Similarly. the position Of director of
military aeronautics now held by Major
Gen. William L. Kenly is formally
established and all funds, duties. equip
ment and personnel OF the signal corps
connected with the operation of aircraft
and balloons and with the training of
avtators placed under his direction. The
| signal corps reverts to it's old functions
having to do only with army signalling
and the Transmission Of military infor-
,, nation.
MaJor-General George o. Squier, chief
signal Officer. remains in that post but
without connection with the air service.
except that by law as chief signal ofilcer,
he continues as an ex-officto member of
the aircraft board.
In connection with the reorganizat ion.
made at time when the department of
Justice Is undertaking at the direction
OF the< President an investigation of
| the charges brought against the honesty
and loyalty OF men heretofore in full con-
troll Of the air program. Secretary Baker
directed to-day that Colonies R. l.. Mont
| gomery, e. A. Deeds and s. d. Walton OF
the signal corps, be detached from all
other duties and assigned to assist the
encouragement in his inquiry. The in
| structions make 1t clear that these off,
GERS are not to be regarded Las suspended
under charges. They are detailed to give
Attorney General Gregory and Charles
e. Hughes, who Is to direct the inquiry
all information In the bonds of the wal
department relating to the aircrafe pro .
gram. A. the men directly in charge OF
production and also members Of the air
craft board. the three officers have per.
sonal knowledge Of every phase of the
subject.