The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-20
DRAFT BRITISH SUBJECTS.
Resident sof America Are Being Call
ed to Home Colors.

United States have enlisted in the
hLhIng forces Of Great Britain anil
Canlda. with the probability that the
reciprocal draft agreement which ha
Just been reached between the Unl.
cd States, England and Canada will
cause these figures TO leap upward
rapidly, according to a statement maLc
mere by the British Canadian Re.
crui,ing Mission. These figures, how
ever. are considered low by members
OF the Chicago Division headquarters
of the Mission which announces that
there are no less than $4,000 citizen
OF the British empire i'm the United
States eligible for service.
British and Canadian subjects in
this country cannot possibly escape
liability for service. according to Gen
cral w. "A. White. head of the Brit
ish-Canadian Recruiting Mission.
As soon as congress acts favorab!y
on the reciprocal draft agreement, ne
stated i'm despatch To the Chicago
division. the British subject will be-
come much more liable for service
than the American"
With the announcement that the
reciprocal draft agreement had beer
reached the energies of the Recruit
ing Mission were redoubled in an ef-
Tort TO get as many men as possible
to enlist without awaiting the draft
The commission hopes to double the
number OF British enlistments i'm this
country before the draft becomes eff
foctiNe
Under the new reciprocal arrange.
ment Chicago officials OF the commits
sion point out that British subjects
{or the first time. ere placed on ar
equal footing the world over" Tht
same age limits and other conditions
affecting British and Canadian sub
Jects in their home countries. will be
applied TO those i'm the United States.
making all natives of the United
Kingdom who are between the ages
OF 20 and 40 years eligible, but sub
ject TO the same exemption rights
as men living i'm England or Canada.
This is perfectly fair arrange
mont" said General White in his tele-
graphic Instructions. "for it compels
every man who claims British clti-
zenship TO place himse'f on practical.
ly the same footing as his fellow
countrynen at home"
According to General White. Brit.
ish subjects will be given 60 days a.
ter enactment of the reciprocal draf,
measure to join the English forces
voluntarily. 1t Is during this pcriot
that the Mission plans to launch Il
nation wide campaign.
TO aid in this work an effort is be-
Ing made 10 obtain the services OF the
American -Four Minute Men" who
arc expected to join i'm "Britis.
Brothers week." giving the Mission
the services of $4,000 speakers. In
addition patriotic moving pictures
will be flashed before $4,000, 900 per-
sons daily and members OF the Mis-
sion, aided in many cases by friendly
action by state Councils OF Defense,
will Increase their efforts.
In urging the speeding up Of Brit
ish and Canadian enlistments General
White said
What we need at present is man
power. III the Britisher enlists with
us he can get to Europe quickly and
be made effective much sooner than
if he waits few weeks longer for
the draft"
Branch dcpots of the Mission have
been established in every principal
center Of the United States. each de-
pot being I'm charge Of an officer who
has seen active service. Most Of
these officers. according To state
Ment ven out ut the Chicago Office.
wear on their sleeves chat badge Of
suffering. the wounded stripes" and
many OF them are doing recruiting
duty while on sick leave from the bat
tie lines
McSicoE OIL Regions Sought to be
lOnlrnllel hr TINT Gnxar...,ont