The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-08-09
Enlistments for Army and Navy
Suspended by Department
Pending Action on New
Draft Law.
BIG RUSH ON HERE
WHEN ORDERS CAME
Many Chickasha Men Planning
to Enlist; Men 46 to 55 May
be Taken for Certain
Branches of Service.

Enlistment in the army is now &c
to 55 or nothing.
This is in accordance with instruc-
tons received this morning by Cor
poral Smith of the local recruiting
station from the department, the or
ders being in line with the decision
of he department to suspend en-
listments temporarily until the draft
bill changing the ages has been act
ed upon by congress. It is thought
that rush of enlistments that
might occur in an effort to beat
the draft, would to a certain
cripple Industries and business.
When Corporal Smith arrived at
recruiting headquarters this morning
he had an office full of military as
pirants clamoring for enlistment He
stated that he could enlist men at
rapidly as possible until he received
official orders to discontinue en-.
listment, Several left Immediately to
wind up certain business affairs be-
fore joining, but when they returned
the following telegram shattered all
hopes: Discontinue immediate ac
ceptance of men who have not at
tanned forty-sixth birthday until fur
ther instructions"
Five minutes after the order was
received at the local recruiting sta
tion, man rushed into the business
office of the Express and called for
some power Of attorney blanks, 81 am
getting my affairs in shape to join
the army" he said. When asked II
he was 46 years of age, he said, mo,
but if get up there in the next fif-
ieeE minutes, | am all o. K"
He was handed a copy of the Of
ficial telegram closing enlistments.
well, III be derned, Here, give
my lllOnCJ beNhy
Corporal Smith stated this morning
that he rather expected the local
recruiting offic to be closed, q am
toIng 70 start to pack up right away
ard be in readiness for anything that
may result" said the recruiting Of
ficer, ut is probable that | will get
orders to join some depot brigade
This is not official, understand, it is
simply my opinion, At any rate l
will get ready"
IT'S the slippery decks on the
heaving sea for me" said Chief Dlec-
trician White, in charge Of the navy
recruiting station here. Il feel that
coming on and | am rearin' to go"
Orders were received at the navy
recruiting station early this morning
to Suspend enlistments to that branch
cf the service until further notice.
The order covers all branches of ma
val service.
The military order also closes Of
ficers' training camps to civilians at
this time, Harry Hammerly and Eli
Phillips barely squeaked through
with their appointments, Phillips re-
cciving only yesterday orders to re-
port. Both left this morning for
Camp Pike, Ark.
S. c, Durbin, chairman of the local
exemption board has received in
structions from the adiutant general
to make preparations for the new
registration. The letter to the board
was not in the form of an order
but more in the nature of a sugges
;ion to get all other affairs cleaned
Up ilat The monumental task Of reg
istering the men under the new regu
lations, could be handled readily
when the bill passes and definite
orders are issued