The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-16
TO CONTINUE HUNT
| FOR DRAFT EvADERS
Peace Docs Not Alter Status OF Men
Who Escaped Sciectiye
Service Act

Just because the war is over is no
reason for a let-up in prosecution of
the draft dodger.
Men of draft age who during the
war evaded service will not be granted
/ i'm munity as a result of the ending of
the war Every case of "A draft de-
linquent is to he Investigated and
/ those found To he wIful deserters will
! be prosecuted, Records of delinquents
are now in the hands of the army au-
( thorities and of United States attor-
neys. and these men, as fast as appre-
hended, VIII be brought before the
civil or military courts and given an
opportunity to explain their delinau-
ency
A war department memorandum
! concerning draft delinguents and de-
serters has been issued to all army
post commanders by Secretary of War
Baker. The memorandum reads;
! The secretary Of war directs that
the admtant general issue a circular
/ in effect that where any draft regis
trant voluntarily reports to a camp
post, or station for determination OF
ms status and the disposition of his
tease. or where any draft deserter is
!apprehended and delivered to military
jurisdiction. he will ordinarily he un-
accompanied by any docum entary evil
ltNlltS VI Ills lutnttIF or dGECflDtlOn
that when such registrant reports or is
delivered to a military station the com
mandine officer concerned should tele-
graph or write the adiutant general OF
the army. giving name of registrant.
designation of his local board, and
when possible his order number.
The adtutant general in response
VIII furnish commanding officers au-
thenicated copies or abstracts of all
SelectlVe service records available con-
corning the registration. induction and
desertion Of the man. Such records
should be of assistance in determining
whether the man should be brought to
trial in investigation directed in Cir
cular II, W. ID. 1919. and to assist in
proving desertion, Ii the records
show that he man was not indicted
or, il indicted did not desert the ad =
Jutant general Will advise the com
handing officer of the actual draft
status of the registrant The adlutant
General wilt furnish each department
mander and commanding officers
of all camps, posts and stations having
court-martial jurisdiction copy or
suggestions marked Exhibit r" to tn
proceedings of board of officers. with
instructions that all officers concerned
are cautioned that the suggestions are
merely guide To assist in preparation
OF cases ana not construed to dim inis h
the responsibility Of officers concerned.
that all documentary and oral evi :
dence which can he secured 10 proper
~ confirm and strengthen the case be
secured
The judge advocate general will. des-
lgnate an officer of his department
with whom the officer in charge of
the selective service regulations rec
'ords division, adiutant generals office
may consult informally in individual
cases when he shall deem such consul
tatlon advisable. 1t will probably be a
considerable period of time before files
tof selectiye service boards are avail
able, but 1t Is hoped to accomplish this
within the next three months
The report of the provost marshal
general shows that there are thous-
ands of draft delinquents in this coun-
try. An effort will be made to locate
every one of these men. A great many
of them have fed the country, many
finding their FAY into Mexico and Cen
trial and South American countries.