STRONG DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23791, 19 October 1940, Page 11

STRONG DEFENCE

AMERICAN CONSCRIPTS 600,000 BY MARCH BEGISTRATION RESPONSE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 18, 5.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 17 The Secretary for War, Mr. H. L. Stirnson, announced that 600,000 conscripts under the new Act may be absorbed into the fighting services between November 18 and March 8.

Reports from all parts of the United States show that registration yesterday for the nation's first peacetime miliary conscription was carried out without even a suggestion of a riot, contrasting sharply with 1917, when, even although it was wartime, it was necessary in various parts of the country to use force in quelling demonstrations. Conscription headquarters in New York, when they closed at 10 p.m.. estimated that 14.000.000 had registered, which is 2,000,000 below the preliminary estimate. The total is expected to increase by more than 1.000,000 when returns are tabulated from hospitals, colleges and other institutions where special registrations have heen permitted. Registrars reported that there was some grumbling, clue to waiting (in lines, but most of those who registered proudly offered their services to their country. New York, in spite of its polyglot population, had a registration more tranquil than the average election. with a total estimated at 1.107,000.

The district attorney said that 10 conscientious objectors presented themselves at his office and announced their refusal to register. They were promptly subpoenaed and will appear before the Grand Jury. Otherwise there was 110 incident.

MILITARY SECRETS AMERICAN OFFICER'S CASE MANILA, Oct, 17 A United States Army captain, who is a graduate of West Point Military College, is being held incommunicado, on a charge of selling military information, after long surveillance, which disclosed heavy gambling Josses. It is understood two accomplices are also being held.

GERMAN LINERS

SALE TO ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES. Oct. 17 The German liners Lahn,. Anatolia and Nienberg have been sold to an Argentine company for the equivalent of 1,400,000 dollars on condition that they are not used during the war. A British spokesman said the ships could he sunk if they ventured outside neutral territorial waters.