New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-04

out immediately The blanks called
for the name, residence, residence
telephone, business address and firm
and business telephone. Then ques-
tons were asked to ascertain whether
the prisoner had registered for the
draft, filled out his questionable and
received a classification card. The card
called for, in addition, full record as
to the prisoners residence in the coun-
try and the place and date of his birth.
A space was also left for evidence of
identity and other remarks
How the Machinery Worked
After filling out the cards the men
were sent to examining tables, where
they were questioned by Federal agents
Each Of these tables took care Of the
men from three local draft boards
Direct telephone wires ran from the
armorics to the draft boards and the
check was complete. If satisfied that
the prisoner had registered Depart
mcnt Of Justice agents furnished him
with a card good until to- day, when he
must produce his regular classification
card. Those who did not register or
who failed TO fill out questionnaires
were turned over to the military au.
thorites.
Women to the Rescue
Gu side the various armories where
the suspected men were gathered there
came crowds of women with registrar
/ ton cards for husbands, brothers and
sons. Others, unable to produce GER
tihcates of birth. carried the family
Bible to prove that the man in Gus
tody was above or below the draft age.
Department OF Justice men said after
working through the crowds all dav
that they never met so many men of
military build who only acknowledged
seventeen years of age. All men who
looked to be between twenty-one and
thirty-onc were taken and forcd to
prove their age at detention headouar--
tors.
Theatres Are Invaded
Most of the wilful slackers were
found when Federal agents invaded the
theatres, hotels moving picture houses
and other places where men gather
r. lm the theatres during intermission
soldiers were placed at the doors and
agents Questioned every man of ap-
parent draft age in the audience. Hun
dreds were taken from the show houses
al over town. The cabarets and tango
parlors were not overlooked. but did
not produce as many slackers as was
expected.
In Williamsburg, where mos Of the
men are foreign born, great difficulty
was experienced by the soldiers and
agents. Many of them did not under
stand what was required of them and
thouGnt they were being pushed into
The ARM. One Irishman. caught with
out his classification card near the
William burg Bridge Plaza. said to he
soldier who stopped him:
"Hoy, ! amt NO Stacker. Give me a
chance TO 60 home for gun and I'm
ready for the Kaiser or slackcrs or
any 'i'i'S NiNV Nut'' 'NdNl MdUtE ne 20
got
In Williamsburg and Flatbush
This spirit, however, did not spread
in the section, and many OF the for
eigncrs who are seeking to enjoy the
comforts Of this government without
supporting it protested at the action
Of the Federal agents In Brownsville
and in the congcstcd districts of East
New York almost a panic resulted from
the raid. Mr. Blecktord sent out squads
of armed soldiers in this section early
and before long the police in the Lib
erty and Miller Avenue stations were
overwhelmed by the food of prisoners
AS the men were taken to the police
stations their women folk followed anc
tried TO force their way in.
Flatbush was combed BY flying SQUAD
rons, who used the cars of the Women's
Motor Corps. Few were detained il
that. section. Parkville and Bay Ridge
were more productive
One colored man, taken before Mr.
Rlatchford, said that he ust came te
the city from Boston,, where he hac