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Oct. 31, 1917. Physically Unfit To Be Reclaimed Congress Expected to Estab- lish Camps for Upbuilding i of Rejected Men. Changes j Contemplated in Selective I Service Law »... ... Many of the young men of selec tive service age rejected for phys ical reasons either by local exemp tion boards or after reaching camp 'are destined to see service with the (Colors after all. One of the first bills Congress will ibe asked to pass when it meets in {December will be a measure provid ing for the establishment of camps for “reclaiming” these rejected men—putting them through a course of training which will re move their physical disqualifica tions. This will be good news to hun dreds of young men who were anx ious to don the uniform of their country with their fellow townsmen, but were prevented from doing so because of easily remedied physical Imperfections. The “reclamation” camps will dd the work which hun dreds of young men who were turned down have been trying to do at home by exercising and improv ing their health in every way pos sible so as to fit themselves for mil itary service. It is probable that a number of changes will be made in the selec tive service law soon after Congress assembles, as observation of the op eration of the law has suggested a number of beneficial alterations. The law will be improved and strengthened in a number of ways by amendments, but practically none of its cardinal principles will be changed. Indications are that Congress will be asked to pass a law providing for universal military training, with the age limits considerably below twen ty-one and above thirty-one. Representative Kahn, of Califor nia, who engineered the selective service law through Congress last spring, is confident that both houses will promptly adopt an amendment providing for the registration of boys between the age of sixteen and twenty-one, to become subject to the draft upon reaching the latter age. Another amendment is expected to make men who became twenty one after June 5 liable to service. Thousands of young men escaped the draft because they did not be come twenty-one until June 6,7, 8 or just a few days after June 5. All of these men are expected to be made available for call in the first draft. Many representatives and sen ators have indicated their intention to support an amendment raising the draft age to at least thirty-five years. HIGHER POSTAL RATES EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 3 Beginning November 2 the rates of postage on letters will be three cents instead of two, and two cents instead of one on postal cards. This Is one of the ways the government expects to raise millions of addi tional revenue with which to buy supplies for its soldiers. Men in National Army and Na tional Guard cantonments and camps should advise the home folks of the change in the postal rates so as to avoid delays in the handling of their mail. If the proper postage is not attached to letters and postal cards the mail delays for the collec tion of “posttage due” are certain. , WORKS TWO WAYS It was at one of the new Na tional Army cantonments. A new recruit passed a second lieutenant, but failed to salute. The second lieutenant wheeled and said: “You, there, halt! Don’t you know enough to salute an officer?” The rookie gazed at him dumb ly, at a loss for a satisfactory ex planation. “Now, you stand there and sa lute me fifty times,” ordered the lieutenant. The rookie obeyed. A major coming up, stopped to watch the performance to its completion. At its end, he said: “What’s this?” The lieutenant explained. “Don’t you know that an officer must return the salute of a pri vate?" inquired the major. “Re turn the fifty.” TU* second lieutenant did. TRENCH AND CAMP U s Ft£KT fMfr FELLERS " 1 _' — i —— ’ (FoT OFF To A 00OD START WHOUT'BATriM’AW EVE OR/ / A MP, „ WT ftEftg .. | —"7 —\ ? ( C/fcJb' I A.'fesw i / \ LUM? R» ftiv I V, I ” iJROApioAY- A TJowm-hecf r/ i I «euo -THAT NftfHCfLri / veer ABovt z , / _ > J; if} < Bd 'SpVrM z/ (' J} / J \ z va I -- I /k Ff / HU k T 1 C —V \ <AKe CAae / _ Go -J / I J X —' I / / f Bl \ 'MpT (?“■) nr''' I® , / fej j XP?M Km Isw//j opsooti Ar GM-AfPiM. ° * „. Col. Peyton Outlines Civilian=Soldiers* Duties Soldiers in the making probably never heard a finer summarization of the obligations devolving upon men in uniform than Lieutenant- Colonel E. G. Peyton gave the 320th Infantry at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va. His address, although brief, was most comprehensive, beginning with the universal liability of cit izens of a republic to military serv ice, touching upon the life and du ties of a soldier and concluding with allusion to the opportunities for advancement. Every man in each of the thirty two cantonments would do well to read and remember Lieutenant- Colonel Peyton’s words. Here is his admirable address: Citizens Must Be Soldiers “The obligation for military serv ice is an inherent attribute of cit izenship. The citizens are protected both in person and property by the government through its agencies, the courts and its officials. In re turn for this protection, it devolves upon the citizens to give protection to the government in the event its institutions are threatened, and its sovereignty violated, and this pro tection is best accomplished by the organization of citizens into a mili tary force. Our constitution clearly contemplates this, and in conse quence of our participation in the war with Germany, the draft law has resulted. “As a result of Germany’s years of preparation and her enormous mobilization of men and resources, it has devolved upon our govern ment to retrieve our past indiffer ence to preparedness by appropria ting enormous funds for the mobili zation, housing, training, and the supplying of men in sufficient num bers to win this war. “We are today fighting jusyt as much for principle, for freedom, for protection of our citizens, and to resist violation of our sovereignty as did our forefathers in 1776 and 1812. We. are representing the American people in their .war against the German government, and you are sent here for military organization and training. Unity Essential “In football, and in every other game where strength and skill are . required, success depends upon the physical condition of the individual players, and upon the unity of ac tion, and team work of the whole. In the military game we call this team work, and willingness to play the game—discipline. “War is a science that requires for its mastery constant study and hard training. To be successful in the war game we must develop in dividual strength and coutage, skill and proficiency in the use of the rifle and bayonet, and at the same time obey accurately and promptly the signals, which are the orders of youi’ officers, and non-commissioned offi cers. Signals in football are never prefaced by ‘will you kindly’ or ‘will you please do,’ etc., and our coaching in the Army does not ad mit of the use of these courteous ballroom expressions in the trans mission of orders. “I want to impress upon you the necessity for prompt obedience of orders. It promotes unity of action, it is essential to success of a mili tary mission, and it will respond promptly to the orders of its im mediate chief, so that when our colonel transmits the division com mander’s orders to us, we must be on our toes ready to carry them out with speed, accuracy and strength. High Standard Required “In your transfer from civil to military life you have acquired a number of new obligations, and you have left behind a number of rights and privileges. By reason of the uniform you wear, you are a marked man, a soldier in the service of the United States, an honorable, patri otic avocation. A higher standard of conduct is required of you. You are now governed by the military as well as the civil laws of the United States, and if you commit a military crime you have not the right to trial by jury. Your time must be employed to the best ad vantage of the government, and you can’t lay off for a day or so without authority. Every enlisted man has a right to take a proper grievance to his commanding officer for adjust ment. No officer or non-commis sioned officer will be permitted to abuse this authority over you. Os course, we don’t expect to get to gether 3,600 men in one regiment without having some who will have to be driven to their work. “We are servants of the govern ment, creatures of orders, and I have tried to point out the necessity of strict obedience to the lawful or ders of superiors. Our non-military friends are imbued with the idea that the private soldier is also the servant of the officer. This is most erroneous. You are not required to do menial personal service for an officer. However, in making camp after a day’s march you will find that the officers are busy looking out for your comfort, and it is expected that a detail from the company put up the officer’s tent and place inside the property belonging therein. This is military duty pertaining to the establishment of the camp. “You are starting life in youi new home on the level. Some have had military experience, but there are splendid opportunities of ad vancement for all. We must have corporals and sergeants, and the most proficient men among you will receive those appointments. There are vacancies now among the com missioned personnel, and there will be other vacancies. You have a chance to establish your worthiness for such vacancies, and your officers will be glad to recommend you for promotion when your proficiency warrants it. Some of you will suf fer financially by your entry into the service, but your military expe rience will improve you physically, broaden you mentally, and we want you to maintain high moral and re ligious standards.” Page 7 WW Ml II Til s ilk \ I' J iJiT 3'X