Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1917 — NEWLYWEDS TO SERVE [ARTICLE]

NEWLYWEDS TO SERVE

WAR DEPARTMENT RULING HITS MEN MARRIED 'SINCE APRIL 6. Thousands Will Be Compelled to Join ; Fighting Forces if Draft Bill Becomes Law. Washington, April 20.—Men of military age who have married since a state of war against Germany was declared will notescape their obligations of military service under a war department policy’, formally announced. The department’s statement is as follows: “The war department announces that all men married since the outbreak of war will be treated upon the same basis as unmarried men in so far as their military obligations are concerned. It is desired that the utmost publicity be given by the press to this announcement.” The department desired that no question should arise as to marriages contracted since the outbreak of the war with the possible construction that the marriage in any case was hastened that military duty might be evaded. Chicago, April 20.- —The war department took steps to compel military service on the part of those men who sought to avoid it by marrying since the declaration of war with Germany. It >vas announced from the department 4hat for purposes of military service, all men who have married since the declaration will be considered in the same class_as unmarried men. Tins wjll affect thousands of men in Chicago w’bo have secured marriage licenses in the last few weeks.