Arizona republican., 1918-02-03
PEACE RUM0R PUT
 FORTH AS HOAX BY
 IRRESPONSIBLE MEN

Twin rumors, that the kaiser had ab- dicated and that peace is so near the government had decided 10 call off the draft, were widely circulated yesterday and last evening The Arizona Republi- can was called up by phone many scores of times by anxious inquirers. Both reports were a hoax. pure and simple and were even denied after be- ing circulated, by those starting the reports.
 'Rumor that the next draft is going to be delayed is entirely without foun- dation so far as this office knows" de- clared Colonel Charles w. Harris. ad- jutant general, yesterday afternoon. No inforamtion has been received here relating to any delay in the date of the next call"
 This denial was called forth by a rumor that went around the town yes terday, gaining momentum as it sped and to the effect that the government had received conclusive information that peace was near and that there were to be no more examinations of men for the army. This report was even bulletined by irresponsibles.
 Fine information. if it were true"
 
 hope that it will not he long before it will be true. but I am sorry to state that the whole rumor is an error. It has all come about through an order received by this office from the provost marshal general instructing the local boards to delay further physical exam nations of men in Class I until the re- ceipt of new regulations regarding physical examinations. These regula- tons already arc in the mails and will reach here in a few days.
 According to instructions contin- ued Colonel Harris T transmitted this order to each local board in the state, and forthwith the rumor spread that peace was near and there would be no further physical examinations. The or der, word for word, is as follows: Please direct local boards to delay physical examination of men in Class I until receipt of physical regulations which are in the mails to you
 Had feared that a wrong construc- tion would be taken of the order to the local boards, I would have worded it differently added the adjutant gen eral But I understand the real Intent of the order, which is to change some rules relating to the physical examina tion of the men and which have been abused heretofore There is nothing else behind the order"
 For speed with which a rumor car gain ground, the one of yesterday re. lating to the order to delay physica examination of Class I men made { record and proves the vital interest il which the subject of drafting the boy. l for. military purposes is held. It wa. on all lips and was carried to almos every home in the city in which ( young man of military age lived. The only harm that local draft off cials fear might result from the rumo is that registrants may disregard or ders they will receive to report Tn 1 delay ordered will be for only two O three days at the most it is said
 Telephone inquiries hy the score re garding the truth of the rumor tha there was to be no further draft O resistrants came to the office of Tn Republican last night and it kept on | person busy denying and explaining tn | rumor.
 Orders received by the Maricopa To cal board yesterday from the adjutan general were to proceed with the physi cal examinations of men in Class I wh already had been notified to sppeal but to not notify others until the re ceipt of further orders.