Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-16
THIRD MAINE NEEDED FOR
GUARD DUTY AT HOME

Men who join the Third Maine Infantry
will not escape the draft thereby, If they
are Of draft age" declared Brig. Gen.
George Mel. Presson, the provost mar
shal, Tuesday within the past two or
three days l have seen several newspaper
items In which I have been credited with
stating that men who Joined this regi-
ment would not he subject to draft after
The regiment was accepted by the militia
bureau. OF course / never made such a
statement as 1t IS absolutely contrary to
the law and In addition, the fact that 1t
would not form a refuge for draftees who
have no desire to fight was carefully and
fully explained TO me by the Washington
authorities before Maine was asked to
raise the regiment.
Someone who has a copy Of the Selec-
tive Service Regulations. but who has not
had access TO the various kilograms Of
correction and amendment which have
come forward since It's issue. read Note 3
at the end of Rule u in Section TO- drew
his own conclusions and they have some
how become credited to me. This rule, rs
first printed provided that persons con-
sldered in tho military service (and there
fore exempt should include all officers
and enlisted men of the National Guard
and National Guard Reserve recognized
Ivy the Militia Bureau of the War DEPART
mcnt
You see that looked as though the men
who enlisted in the Third Maine would be
In the military service and exempt. the
moment the regiment was recognized by
~
Jailed TO note was that this part of the
Selective Service Law didn't take effect
until December 10 1917 Between the time
that the Law was printed and Dec. 10. five
days before tho law took effect, someone
discovered the error FOR on the latter
date the following telegram reached this
Office.
Washington, H. c. Dec TO- II
No. 4 56S-l Note 2 Page 20 Selective
Service Regulations is now amended bv
striking out the words beginning in the
hlth me all officers and enlisted mon O.
the National Guard and National ,uard
Reserve recognized by the Militia Bureau
or the war Department and adding at the
enc OF mat note the following paragraph:
'pf1cers and enlisted men of the National
Guard and National Guard Reserve nor
drafted into the military service of the
I ntted states shall not he regarded as in
'itt HtliitdIN service ~ the L uited states
although their organizations NAV hayr
been recognized by the Militia Ruraau
unless and until such organizations have
been specially des gnated by order from,
the War Department to he drafted intn
the military service of the United States
;. AS soon as the War Department
designates any particular Organization
for draft into the military service Of the
nited States the Adjutant General ar
that state Will be notified In ampel time
20 protect members OF such organize
tons
(>igned> CROWDER.
1T is therefore perfectly plain that men
Of draft age who join the Third Maine
infantry Will have TO respond to their
draft calls until the regiment is drafted
into the United States service as a unit
This may come within a few DAYS or
weeks after the regiment is completely
organized and Il may not come for
Year and a half The big fires in the Mid
die West shows the need OF hurrying the
completion OF the organization for guard
duty in Maine. The next attempt to Grip
pie this country industrially may be made
right here at home,
Il would urge upon all men who are n
any way interested in the formation OF
this unit that the need is great and that
no effort be spared TO complete the regi-
ment this month. II will afford splendid
military training for all the men ana that