Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-09
Remember the Reg istratiOn.

who is not already actively engaged IN
one branch or anot her of the country's
military and naval service should bear in
mind that Thursday next, September II,
will be an occasion of the utmost i'm
portsnce. Il will be the day for the
reristration of all such citizens between
the ages of is and 45 years-including
those above As and under 46-for the
subsequent draft for military service.
The enactment, by Congress, of the
INV providing for this registration and
draft is probably the most important
step. in the way of legislation taken by
Congress since the declaration of war
arains> Germany. The first Sclective
draft included only those between the
ages Of 21 and 81 years, and II was
splendidlv successful Under its opera
tlons We were enabled TO send abroad .
large proportion Of the force Of more than
million and half OF our men already
in France, and others who are arriving
there daiiv. But by the next selectivc
draft. under the Man Power law which
includes the 1915 classes. these numbers
will be enormously increased. II has been
estimated that the addition II may make
to our fighting forces will not fall short Of
ten millions.
And how that spells the doom Of Ger
many.
Thus. il Will be seen that the next
sclective draft, the registration for which
Will be held next Thursday, viii be Of the
utmost importance 1t will mean the
adoption Of measures which Will bring the
war to a close through the absolute defeat
II Germany and her allies Of the Central
Powers II will mean an army against
which tie hoasted Trussan military might
40 matter how II may strive. will 60 70
pieces In fact. il Will constitute an
effective agency Tor ending the war with
complete victory for the Allies
II is important. therefore, for All per
sons not now in service. who are between
the ages of IS and 46 wears for the law
really means 46 not 45-to attend 10 the
duty OF getting registered next Thursday
Registration places Will be provided
throughout the city and State, and
large number Of volunteer workers will
be on hand TO take the names OF all regis
trants. together with such other informa-
ton as the law calls for All who are
concerned should give serious attention 10
the matter, as any kind Of neglect may
prove dangerous For failure TO register,
the penalty is one years imprisonment,
and no man may exonerate himself by
the payment of fine. And the law
applies to all, regardless Of social, personal
or political conditions.
The only exceptions to the law re-
ouiring this general registration are:
u persons who have already registered
under the old draft laws; % officers
and enlisted men of the regular army,
officers appointed and men Of the forces
drafted under the provisions OF the act
approved MAY IS, 1917; officers and en-
listed men Of the National Guard while
in the service of the United States, and
the officers OF the Officers Reserve Corps
and enlisted men III the enlisted Reserve
Corps while in the service OF the United
States; 3 officers and enlisted men Of
the navy and Marine Corps and officers
and enlisted and enrolled men Of the
Naval Reserve Force and Marine Corps
Reserve while in the service of the
United States: ~ diplomatic represent
atives, technical attaches Of foreign en-
bassies and legations, consuis-general,
consuls and consular agents of foreign
countries residing in the United States.
Following the registration, all whose
names are enrolled will receive question
naires, to be answered by them II is the
desire Of the War Department and the
draft authorities TO work expeditiOusly.
Provost Marshal-General Crowder ex-
poets TO promptly begin supplying army
demands with the men taken in under this
new draft, with a desire to rush four
million more fighting men TO France
by next summer The war will not last
cnc after this huge contingent reaches
the fighting ground, ready for service.
BY Saturday Of next week General
Crowder expects that the complete reg
istration returns will have been tele-
graphed to him. The questionnaires
then viii be sent out by the local boards
without waiting for further develop
Inent Of the general plan of operation.
The plan Of sending 5 per cent Of the
questionnaires out day which prevailed
in the last draft j. regarded as too slow.
Registrants may therefore expect to
receive questionnaires within very few
days after they have registered. These
questionnaires must be answered and
returned after being sworn to by the
registrants The law compels this an
swer TO be made within seven days after