Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-17
MAKE NAMES OF
EVADERS PUBLIC
Draft Dodgers Can Avoid 1t
by Surrendering.

The names of draft evaders who will
fully surrender to the nearest army posts
Immediately will be excluded from the
list which is to be made public by the
war department, the department an
nounced today through officers at TT.
Benjamin Harrison.
"Out of over "a, 100000 registrants," the
statement says, 1.-The maximum number
chargeable with wilful desertion Is 49,
oil, considerably less than 1 per cent Of
the total registration, and a tremendous
improvement over the draft record of the
Civil war.
"The war department, il the near fu-
ture, will publish to the country a list
of men classified as wilful deserters, and
desires 70 obtain the cooperation of the
various state and local officials. patriotic
societies and other agencies including the
department of justice, in bringing about
the apprehension of these men.
Assurances of such cooperation have
In many cases already been given.
Exact copies OF the list Of names,
grouped by states, or other convenient
divisions, will be available for postmas-
ters, police stations and other agencies.
Pending publication of the list OF
deserters, any man charged with draft
desertion who wishes to avoid the hui
initiation of arrest may voluntarily sur
render at the nearest army post, camp
or station, in order that his case may
be Investigated and his status definitely
determined.
I'm the event that any such mans
case shall have been finally disposed of,
prior to the publication Of the list OF
deserters, his name will be omitted from
that list.
CAN GET
INFORMATION.
ANY draft registrant who is in doubt
as to his draft status may write to the
adjutant general of the army, Washing
ton, D. c., and find out how he Is classi-
fed. notwithstanding the fact that ignor-
ance Of such status is the registrant's
own fault, because of his lack Of inter
est in keeping track of his obligations
to the government
THE war department wishes It clear
ly understood that men who are guilty
Of wilful desertion viii not be relieved
Of the consequences OF their misconduct.
nor will they be discharged merely be-
cause they write to the adJutant general
Of the army and request a discharge.
While the war department is pre-
pared TO give full information to the
draft registrants requesting It, as to
what evidence will be required in order
to obtain a discharge. the documentary
evidence required will be most rigidly
examined when It is submitted, and must
show eonclusively that no injustice is
done TO the government In granting a
discharge.
TO BE TRIED BY
COURT MARTIAL.
Draft deserters are men who regis
tered and who were ordered by the draft
authorities to report for military duty
at q specified time and place and who
lid not so report. Such men are by law
held to have been indicted into the mill
tsry service OF the United States, where
they remain until they are discharged.
They are subject to trial by court mar
tial for their offense OF desertion.
Draft dellnQuents are men who were
required by law to register, but who
failed to register, or who. although they
registered. as required, failed to report
for physical examination. or failed TO
return properly executed qustioRnaires.
These delinquents have not been in
Quoted into the military service and con-
sequently are civilians not subject TO
trial tg military courts.
The department OF justice is charged
with bringing these offenders 10 pun.
lshment and has indicted thousands OF
them before the Federal courts OF whom
considerable number have been con-
vIcted
The orfense Of draft delinquency is
no more 10 be overlooked than that Of
draft desertion.
The department of justice has most
ably co-opsrated with the war depart
ment in sprehending draft desertess."