ALIENS IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3119, 25 June 1917, Page 6

ALIENS IN AMERICA

A WAR-TIME PROBLEM

One of the difficult problems in putting the army on a war tooting is the disposition of Hie aliens in tho united States wlio aro linnatiiralised and stilt citizens or subjects of the Entente Powers and who wisli to fight under the American flag (says tho Washington correspondent of the New York "Lvotung Post"). Applications aro pouring into 'the- War Department from such people 'acting as individuals or through committees. The War Department prefers that the men return to- the countries of their origin to serve iu their armies. Most of them have seen military service and nre now,-reservists (but. they insist upon serving under tho "American flag, were they content to enlist as individuals they might easily do so By simply, as a preliminary to enlistment, making a declaration of intention' to becomo American citizens. But for trie most part, with little or no knowledge of the linghsii language, and with strong racial, alhliatiou, these aliens wish to servo together in units under their own officers, which would bo completely at variance with ! the" plans of. the AVar Department to I inako tho army a homogeneous )wdy, frco 'from internal jealousies and from political influence, which operated to disadvantage in the Civil and Spanish wars." The latest proposal of this kind to come before tho Department has been presented by Dr. Castelli, a former lino officer in the Italian Army, a .meaical man, now in this country on an inde-| pendent scientific medical mission. Representing a committee of Italian societies ofthc District of Columbia, ho has proposed the creation of Italian, companies, only one of which is to be attached to an American regiment Such companies would be recruited by themany Italian non-commissioned officers now living in -the United States, ' and would bo .trained under" American, instead of Italian methods. It is said tltafc 50,000 Italians can be quickly, recruited in this way., Italians in the United States, whether naturalised Americans or not, have a peculiar status. Italy recognises no expatriation, so far as military service is concerned, ami always has contended that even Italians fivho have become naturalised Americans arc subject to her call for. military duty. Italians here who failed to respond to the ,call\ to the colours are technically Subject to military discipline if they return now to the Italian Army. If a law'were passed permitting Italian authorities to. recruit their nationals here, they would face the same .situation, although, as the United j States now is a military ally of Italy, there, is little likelihood that penalties would be inflicted upon them. Other nationalities, notably the Poles I and even Mexicans, are expressing a desire to enter the Army under like'conditions. It is realised by American officals that, as soon as an effort is mado to apply the Selective Conscription law and able-bodied foreigners are left in. shops and. on farms while '■ Americans aro taken Cor compulsory military service, Congress will be called upon to meet the condition. A Bill uow pending permits the recruitment of-.these foreigners in tho United States for the armies of-tile countries of their origin, but an amendment adopted by the Senate stipulating that such enlistments must be voluntary, in large part defeated the purpose of the projector.-? of the measure to round up slackers for service hi either the Amricau or foreign armies.