Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-08-16
DRAFT DESERTERS


ling support of the American peo-
pie to selective service was the cor
nerstone of the creation of our great
army and our successful military
achievements, the War Department
does not deem it proper to pursue
the policy of unjustifiab!c leniency
toward those who deliberately evaded
military service.
The creation Of the huge army
which was sent to the batt!efie.ds
abroad was the result of the sclec-
tive service act of May IS. 1917.
Although critics of American in
stitutions predicted that in the event
of a great war, the people of the
United States would fail to rise to
the full heights of patriotism and
self-sacrifice in defense of their
country, because of selfish motives
and foreign influences, the war has
proven that the old American spirit
Of sacrifice and service is not only
alive, but more widespread than
ever before.
After the discontinuance on No
vember 18th. 1918. of mobilization
and induction under the selective
service law, the War Department be-
gan at once to consider the question
Of the n-rne~ {. 'srosit;I': + be made
of all those reristrants classified by
the draft authorities draft desert
ers, with a view to definitely sett-
ling their status and Furnishing the
guilty.
In the reduction Of this number.
the following class Of persons, num-
bering about 1853 900 men had their
cases disposed Of y: ,g the way
(a) Registrants VIII oenlisted in the
army, navy or marine corps, but
fai.cd to inform their local boards
of the fact.
(b) Men who failed to report fo:'
military duty. because of ignorance
of the selective service act, but who.
after learning Of the seriousness OF
the offense, reported to military
camps for service, and were restored
to duty, after satisfactorily showing
that their offense was nor wilfuf.
I (c) A small number Of persons,
who during the progress of the war
were convicted Of desertion. or dis.
charged as physically unfit for SER
vice.
(d) Registrants who died after
their induction orders were mailed.
Of the remaining 325,000 rames.
the records of 151 900 showed that
they could not properly be charged
with desertion. and the records Of
$4,000 resistrants revealed that
they had been ordered to report for
duty and wilfully failed.
Out of over "a 100000 registrants.
the maximum number chargeable
with wilful desertion is 1891; con-
sidrably less than one per cent of
the total registration. and tremen-
dous improvement over the draft
rccori If the civil war. The War
Department, in the near future, WI
publish to the country list of men
classified as wilful deserters. and
deires to obtain the cooperation OF
the various state and loca! officials
patriotic societies and other agcn-
cies. including the Department of
Justice
The War Department has tempor-
arily suspended the payment Of the
reward of $50 for the apprehension
and delivery to military authorities
of draft descrtcrs because of The
tremendous expense that would be
incurred The patriotism and uni
versal desire to the people to see nc
draft deserter 60 unpublished. it Is
blieved will be sufficient incentive
without the Offering of reward fot
the apprehensipr and surrender tc
military authorities Of these draft
offenders.