The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-16
10000 BRITISHERS
HAVE ENLISTED
FROM AMERICA
And the Reciprocal Draft Regulation
with United States Is Likely to
Increase That Number Largely

| Chicago, Feb. l6.-More than 10000
| British subjects resident in the United
States have enlisted in the fighting
forces of Great Britain and Canada, with
the probability that the reciprocal draft
agreement whcih has just been reached
between the United States, England and
Canada win cause these fighters to leap
upward rapidly, according TO state
ment made here by the British Canadian
recruiting 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 10000 citizens of the
British empire in the United States eli
gible for service.
British and Canadian subjects in this
country cannot possibly escape liability
for service, according to General w A.
White, head of the British Canadian re.
cruiting mission. As soon as Congress
acts favorably on the reciprocal draft
agreement, he stated in dispatch to
the Chicago division, the British sub
jects viii become much more liable for
service than the American"
With the announcement that the re-
ciprocal draft agreement had been
reached, the emergencies of the recruit
ing mission were redoubed in an effort
to get as many men as possible to en-
list without waiting the draft. The com
mission hopes to double the number of
British enlistments in this country be-
fore the draft becomes effective.
Under the new reciprocal arrangement
Chicago officials of the commission point
out that British subjects, for the first
time, are placed on an equal footing the
world over" The same age limits and
other conditions affecting British and
Canadian subjects in their home coun-
tries, viii be applied to those in the
United States, making all natives of
the United Kingdom who are between
the ages of 20 and 40 years eligible, butt
subjects to the same exemption rights
as men living in England and Canada,
"This is perfectly fair arrangement"
said General White in his telegraphic
"for it compels every man
who claims British citizenship to place
himself on practically the same footing
as his fellow countrymen at home"
According TO General White, British |
subjects will be given 60 days after en-
actment of the reciprocal draft meas
ure to join the English forces voluntari- |
". It is during this period that the mis- |
sion plans to launch nation wide cam
paign.
To aid in this work an effort is be /
ing made to obtain the services of the /
American "four- minute men" who are ex-
pected to join in a British Brothers
week." giving the mission the services
IF $4,000 speakers. In addition patriot
C moving pictures will be flashed before
100000 persons daily and members of
he mission, aided in many cases by
friendly action by state councils of de-
'ense, will increase their efforts.
In urging the speeding up of British
md Canadian enlistments General White
aid:
'Whst we need at present is man
power. II the Britisher enlists with us 4
he can get to Europe quickly and be
made effective much sooner than if he 4
waits few weeks longer for the draft"
Branch depots of the mission have
,een established in every principal center
# the United States, each depot being
n charge of an officer who has seen ac-
i've service Most of these officers, ac-
ording to a statement given ont at
he Chicago Office, wear on their sleeves
that badge of suffering. the wounded
tripes,'- and many of them are doing ,
ecrniting duty while on sick leave from
he battle lines.