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Show AMERICANS II FOREIGN LANDS If BIDRAFTED Judge Advocate General Crowder Called Upon for an Opinion as to Effect of New Army Law. FACTS IN REGARD TO REGISTRATION Appeal Is Made to Press to Give Prominent Place Daily to Outline of the Process. WASHINGTON, Way 31. While the legal le-gal machinery of the government was operating today to stamp out agitation against the draft, the war department ; took up another phase of the matter, dealing with the status of Americans now ! in foreign countries. Secretary Baker called upon Brigadier J General Crowder, Judge advocate general J and provost marshal general of the army, j for an opinion as to the effect of the new law upon Americans of military age J residing abroad. Department officials I senerallj1- have presumed that the priv- 5 lieges of citizenship would carry with 5 them a duty for military service not af- I fected by foreign residence, but no for- 1 mal ruling will be made until the opinion ; Df General Crowder has been received. " The question involves to some degree the specific terms of the extradition treaties between the United States and other countries. Many Americans of military age now abroad have been eager 'to enroll. Registration Regis-tration cards have been furnished to every ev-ery American embassy, legation or consulate, con-sulate, and diplomatic and consular officials of-ficials have been authorized to act as registration agents. Evasion of the Law. Meajitime the department of justice is-proceeding is-proceeding on the theory that the departure de-parture from American soil of any citizen subject to the draft is an evasion of the , law. Steps already have been taken to 1 prevent such departures and attempts at this form of evasion will be met by vigorous vig-orous measures. Department officials also will back up the efforts of local officials in the various va-rious communities to put a quick end to agitation ' against the draft. Arrests made during the day throughout the country were in accordance with instructions instruc-tions sent from Washington. Discussing reports that many young men were leaving the country to avoid military service, Secretary Baker said today he did not believe "any substantial substan-tial number of Americans" would take that course. He added that the law was of such vigor that it would be found that any evasion gained in this way was only temporary. Question of Exemption-Registration Exemption-Registration officials throughout the country were informed today that answers an-swers would not be required to the question ques-tion on the registration cards as to whether the Individual claims exemption and on what ground. The department has concluded that no man should be required re-quired to claim exemption. There are many who do not care to do so, and under un-der the new ruling none will be required to state his position until he is summoned for actual service and comes up before an exemption board. General Crowder appealed to the press today to give prominent place daily to an outline of the essential facts in regard re-gard to the registration process. The statement outlines the facts, for which publicity of the widest sort is desired, as follows: Who Must Register: All male persons (citizens or aliens), born between the sixth rtav or June 1S8G, and the fifth day of "June, 189G! both dates inclusive, except: Members of any duly organized force military or naval, subject yto be called,' ordered or drafted into military or naval na-val service of the United States; Including Includ-ing all officers and enlisted men of the regular army, regulnr army reserve, officers' of-ficers' reserve corps, enlisted men's reserve re-serve corps, national guard and national guard reserve recognized by military bureau, bu-reau, the nil vy, the marine corps, coast guard, naval militia, naval reserve force, marine corps reserve, and national naval volunteers,- recognized by the navy department. When : On Tuesday, June 5, 1917, between 7 a. m. and 9 p. m. Where: In your home precinct. How : Go in person June 5 to the registration place in your home precinct. Tf you expect to be absent from home June 5 go at once to the clerk of the county where you now happen to he, or if In a city of 30,000 or over to the city clerk, and follow his instructions; if sick, spnd a competent friend. The clerk may'depu-tize may'depu-tize him to prepare your card.' i Penalty for Not Registering. "Liability to a year's imprisonment-then imprisonment-then enforced registration. |