The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-09-13
Seek Means To Let
Out Men Wrongly
Taken i. Into Service
Method Of Disoharging Aliens I'm
properly Indicted Puzzles
Army Authorities-More Care
To Be Used In Future

General Blocksom, commander of the
Haw aiIan department, is seeking
means to discharge from the First and
Second Hawaiian Regiments several
draftees a:.ens VINO were improperly
indicted into the army, but so far has
not arrived at Just the method by
which this can be done.
1t has been ascertained that in the
registration and classification of aliens,
particularly those of Japanese birth,
many were classified although the reg
istrants understood, in their own minds,
that they had claimed exemption or
stood upon their own rights as aliens,
which automatically gave them defer
red classification or exemption from
military service.
ColoneI H. c. Merriam, chief of staff
of the Hawaiian Department. said that
since many Of these men were brought
into service. complaints have reached
their commanders, and so OH to the de
partment headquarters, that they did
not understand the questions put to
them by registrars and members of
selves called into military service,
which was not in accord with their
desires
"These men, Of course reached our
mobilization camp with their papers
apparently in proper order, said Col.
onrl Merriam yesterday. After
reaching us, if we found they were
physically qualified, all We had to do
was to muster them into service.
Are Not Offenders
Now. these men claim they are i'm
properly i" service. If . man commits
an offense in the army ne can be tried
by court, and if the evidence war
rants, can be dismissed the service
But here are men who have committed
no ofFcnseS, and yet have no right to
be in the army. There is no charge
a""inSt the draftees, who are thus
placed in a peculiar position, but the
army does not want to carry as sol
; uitrs any men who have been imprOp
crly brought into the service.
The same matter was discussed yes
terday morning at the draft conference
at the capitol, and II is agreed now
among the local board members that
in future registrations more care must
be exercised to obtain the name Of n
man, particularly those Of alien parent,
age. aud to get down to basis Of
mutual understanding as to what walv,
ing exemption really means.
I Exemption Clause P''zEler
1t was stated at this meeting that
| despite all efforts to translate the rules
and regulations of the draft service,
or to use Interpreters, this exemption
| clause Of the regulations is the most
difficult expression to convey to the
registrnnts.
Although "a Japanese alien may feel
! tNot the registrar has written ont what
! his ir'rntions are. and the registrar IL
| satisfipd the that the japanese lie
sires to fight Germany, yet in the
! final ANALYSIS. many japanese have
, been utterly surprised TO find them
! selves drawn into service. Many of
these have NOT been able to get n
/ h"a"ing on their complaints until after
! thew have become soldiers These are
I've cHSrs which are now IN for con
sdrrauion. and in practically all in
stances discharge will be authorized
" z
I .Joao GOnsalves was given permission
Wv Governor Mccarthy Yesterday
hn"""f"~th to he known as JOaO Con
""n 90 silva The change of name was
desired because of trouble GOnsalves
had in getting his mail.