The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-09
BAKER SUSPENDS
all ENLISTING.
until PASSAGE
OF DRAFT BILL
Plan Is 70 Prevent Men
Needed At Home Rush
ing Into Army
EXEMPTIONS TO
BE LIBERAL
Civilians Excluded From
Officers Training Until
Further Notice p
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Aug. 9.-Voluntary
were suspended yesterday to prevent
disruption of industry pending dis
position OF the bill proposing to ex-
tend draft ages to include all men
between Is and 45 years. Orders
were issued by Secretaries Baker
and DanielsS directing no voluntary
enlistments be accepted after today
until further orders.
The orders also exclude civilians
from appointment OF officers train
ing camps until further notice.
The orders were issued after a
conference between Secretaries Bak-
er and Daniels and were made public
after President Wilson had visited
the offices of both late in the day.
It is not known whether his visit
had to do with the enlistment sit
uation but just before he conferred
with the cabinet officers there was
no indication that a step of such
drastic nature was contemplated.
s 1t is explained that the view of the
government is that many of the old
er men are Indispensable in their
present occupations, but the nat
ural result of the debate on draft
age, is certain to lead to a rush to
the recruiting offices. 1t Is regarded
as essential that men greatly need
ed at home should be prevented from
rushing into the army under a mis-
taken idea that they are certain to
be drafted anyhow and prefer to JOIN
the service voluntarily.
It was evident that plans for ap-
plying the new draft limitations to
the older men include a very care
full classification of each individual
to determine his position at home
and probably far more liberal con-
struction of industrial exemption
rules than has heretofore been the
case. 81.
The war departments action was
announced in the following state-
ment issued by Secretary Baker.
Bakers Statement.
1.-THE war department today has
suspended further volunteering and
the receipt of candidates for officers
training camps from civil life. This
suspension will remain in force until
the legislation now pending before
congress with regard to draft ages
is disposed Of, and suitable regula-
tions drawn up to cover the opera
ton of the selective system under
the new law.
This action is taken to prevent
the disruption of the industrial life
Of the country and the impairment
Of the efficiency Of the various gov
ernmental agencies which would fol-
low the indiscriminate enlistment of
men up to the age of IS.
1T is the intention of the depart
ment to present the president for
formal regulations in connection
with, the operation of the selective
system which will make it truly Sc
iective, and leave 1t to the govern
ment to request the President for
be spared from their present occu-
pations for military service"
Secretary Daniels, in issuing an
order to the chief of navigation and
the commandant of the marine corps
to refuse acceptance Of enlistments
made this explanation:
THE large increase in enlistnuents
in the navy and marine corps has
made it possible to suspend enlist
ment until pending legislation af-
fecting the draft for the armS is
disposed of. When it is resumed it
will be in full cooperation with the
war department, under arrange
ments which will secure all the men
needed for both services"