New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the world war, 1917-1918, Part 4

Author: Wall, John P. (John Patrick), 1867-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: New Brunswick, N.J. : S. M. Christie Press
Number of Pages: 246


USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > New Brunswick > New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the world war, 1917-1918 > Part 4


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The registration was in charge of the general elec- tion board in each election district with a chief registrar in charge.


The result and total registration in this city ac- cording to wards was as follows:


District


White


Black Ailen Total


First Ward, First poll


118


5


104


227


Second poll


122


2 184


309


Third poll


82


5


15 102


cond Ward, First poll


119


2


32


153


Second poll


120


45


39


204


Third poll


174


49


138


361


rd Ward, First poll


267


...


88


355


poll


65


181


246


85


6


217


308


t poll


104


1


23


128


122


65


187


95


2


32


129


25


5


86


216


22


51


176


1


202


338


1


159


319


5


31


134


4


35


206


7


30


200


162


1713 4298 local board of the the draft following made up for the ows the following 1; men who failed


45


n called but had on physical exami- ysical examination, 809; , 474; men who failed to re- rdered, 33; rejected at camp, claims allowed, 1006; claims discharged by District Board on en discharged by District Board on industrial claims, 51.


In comparing the married and single men in the draft, the following figures are submitted:


Married men registered but not called, 721; single men, 736; married men called but not accepted, 1157, single men, 920; married men called and accepted 107, single men 516; total registration of married men 1985, single men 2172; total number of married men called 1264, single men, 1436.


The following figures show the number of aliens and citizens affected by the first draft:


Total number of native citizens, 690; total number of naturalized citizens, 73; aliens, 574; alien declar-


ants, 120; total number of native citizens called but not accepted, 1034; number accepted 310; total num- ber of naturalized citizens called but not accepted, 104; number accepted, 25; number of aliens called but not accepted, 751; accepted, 249; number of alien declarants not accepted, 188; number accepted, 39.


The total registered native citizens in the first draft was 2,034; number of naturalized citizens, 202; number of aliens, 1574; alien declarants, 347.


Registration day, June 5, 1918, for young men reaching 21 years of age since June 5, 1917, added the names of 256 youths to the list of draft regis- trants of New Brunswick. The official report as published in the second annual report of the Provost General gives the total registration for the draft as 5176, while the local registry returns show 4298 registrants. The only way that this difference in the total can be accounted for is that the registrants left the city before they were checked up by the local board.


REGISTRATION OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1918.


Registration of all men not enrolled in previous drafts between the ages of 18 and 45 years was accomplished on September 12, 1918.


The registrants answered all questions readily and fully aided in every way possible the registration.


The registration in this city fell short of what was expected by the Federal authorities. A total registration of 5,545 was expected here, whereas only 5,435 men enrolled for Uncle Sam's mighty army. In all four districts of Middlesex county, excluding Perth Amboy, 20,223 men were registered. The Third District, which embraced the various munition works, enrolled the largest number of men, 5,800 be- ing enrolled. The Fourth District was second to New Brunswick with 4,951, while the Second District registered the least number of men, 4,037 men being enrolled.


The employes of the Wright-Martin, Johnson & Johnson, Brunswick Refrigerating, Neverslip and the India Rubber plants registered in their respective plants. At the Wright-Martin plant, 1.121 men were enrolled; Johnson & Johnson, 339; India Rubber, 68; Neverslip, 31. Registration was carried on at the local draft board headquarters, a corps of clerks be- ing engaged in this work. During the day 183 were registered.


Of the 5,435 men registered here, 2,574 were native-born citizens; 573 naturalized citizens, and 133 citizens by father's naturalization before registrant's majority, making a grand total of 3,280 citizens eligible for military service unless given a deferred classification or exempted because of physical defects.


Of the men registered, 766 had taken out their first papers, while 1 389 were non-declarant aliens, making a total of 2,155 who were not citizens of the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 years. 5.204 men who registered were whites, while 216 were


Forty-nine


THIS IS


che politicians


ary:


exist city/ents, fer, belon wktion.


it very


4, for the suf- ;nt reason that majority of people- in the untry are


t' controlling. ' Junius Pendleton Marathot writ


inst it. The has cost us much that the ers are not in or of spending huge sum


n the boys


't need it."


Irnest A. Janson, Marine Re- curiting Service,



up everywhere alla. would standardize the city. speak, and make it possible for tenant, providing he moved in S ... sequent to Oct. 1, 1922, and has n paid the rent for three successTRE REOy months, to raise the point that his rent is unjust and oppressive and try for a reduction.


from months vestig


separa had be The la "There is another bill providing that when a reasonable rent has been fixed, it shall remain the same notwithstanding any change | faction wir's pay- the keys like a char gave me


"Unee


Landlord objects to lately got


sergeant. .. us written me a letter say-


the kev count in d


class depar


Last Fifty-first


Wilson Esq.


IN THE WORLD WAR


tage of native-born Americans. The employes of the Public Serivce all asked for exemption because of occupational duties. The employes of the Wright- Martin Aircraft Corporation and munition plants claimed exemption. All the firemen who registered also claimed exemption.


The registration was in charge of the general elec- tion board in each election district with a chief registrar in charge.


The result and total registration in this city ac- cording to wards was as follows:


District


White


Black Ailen Total


First Ward, First poll


118


5


104


227


Second poll


122


2 184


309


Third poll


82


5


15 102


Second Ward, First poll.


119


2


32


153


Second poll


120


45


39 204


Third poll


174


49 138


361


Third Ward, First poll. Second poll


65


...


181


246


Third poll


85


6


217 308


Fourth Ward, First poll


104


1


23


128


Second poll


122


....


65


187


Third poll


95


2


32


129


Fourth poll


125


5


86 216


Fifth Ward, First poll.


103


22


51


176


Second poll


135


1


202


338


Third poll


159


1


159


319


Sixth Ward, First poll.


98


5


31


134


Second poll


167


4


35


206


Third poll


163


7


30


200


Total, New Brunswick. .. 2423


162 1713 4298


The statistics compiled by the local board of the registration of June 5, 1917, and the draft following are of interest. The report was made up for the Provost General's office and shows the following facts: Called for examination, 2701; men who failed to appear when called, 240; men called but had previously enlisted, 71; accepted on physical exami- nation, 1451; rejected on physical examination, 809; certified to District Board, 474; men who failed to re- port at Camp when ordered, 33; rejected at camp, 1; claims filed, 1196; claims allowed, 1006; claims disallowed, 101; men discharged by District Board on appeal, 12; men discharged by District Board on industrial claims, 51.


In comparing the married and single men in the draft, the following figures are submitted:


Married men registered but not called, 721; single men, 736; married men called but not accepted, 1157, single men, 920; married men called and accepted 107, single men 516; total registration of married men 1985, single men 2172; total number of married men called 1264, single men, 1436.


The following figures show the number of aliens and citizens affected by the first draft:


Total number of native citizens, 690; total number of naturalized citizens, 73; aliens, 574; alien declar-


ants, 120; total number of native citizens called but not accepted, 1034; number accepted 310; total num- ber of naturalized citizens called but not accepted, 104; number accepted, 25; number of aliens called but not accepted, 751; accepted, 249; number of alien declarants not accepted, 188; number accepted, 39.


The total registered native citizens in the first draft was 2,034; number of naturalized citizens, 202; number of aliens, 1574; alien declarants, 347.


Registration day, June 5, 1918, for young men reaching 21 years of age since June 5, 1917, added the names of 256 youths to the list of draft regis- trants of New Brunswick. The official report as published in the second annual report of the Provost General gives the total registration for the draft as 5176, while the local registry returns show 4298 registrants. The only way that this difference in the total can be accounted for is that the registrants left the city before they were checked up by the local board.


REGISTRATION OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1918.


Registration of all men not enrolled in previous drafts between the ages of 18 and 45 years was accomplished on September 12, 1918.


The registrants answered all questions readily and fully aided in every way possible the registration.


The registration in this city fell short of what was expected by the Federal authorities. A total registration of 5,545 was expected here, whereas only 5,435 men enrolled for Uncle Sam's mighty army. In all four districts of Middlesex county, excluding Perth Amboy, 20,223 men were registered. The Third District, which embraced the various munition works, enrolled the largest number of men, 5,800 be- ing enrolled. The Fourth District was second to New Brunswick with 4,951, while the Second District registered the least number of men, 4,037 men being enrolled.


The employes of the Wright-Martin, Johnson & Johnson, Brunswick Refrigerating, Neverslip and the India Rubber plants registered in their respective plants. At the Wright-Martin plant, 1.121 men were enrolled; Johnson & Johnson, 339; India Rubber, 68; Neverslip, 31. Registration was carried on at the local draft board headquarters, a corps of clerks be- ing engaged in this work. During the day 183 were registered.


Of the 5,435 men registered here, 2,574 were native-born citizens; 573 naturalized citizens, and 133 citizens by father's naturalization before registrant's majority, making a grand total of 3,280 citizens eligible for military service unless given a deferred classification or exempted because of physical defects.


Of the men registered, 766 had taken out their first papers, while 1.389 were non-declarant aliens, making a total of 2,155 who were not citizens of the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 years. 5.204 men who registered were whites, while 216 were


Forty-nine


...


88


355


267


NEW BRUNSWICK


negroes. Fifteen Chinamen of the city registered. It is interesting to note the ages of the men who registered. A total of 45 men were registered who neglected to register in the draft of 1917. The majority of these men were "slackers," while there were a few who came into this country since unc last registration.


The table on ages follows:


Eighteen years, 303; nineteen, 273; twenty, 317; twenty-one, 19; twenty-two, 4; twenty-three, 3; twenty-four, 4; twenty-five, 5; twenty-six, 6; twenty- seven, 5; twenty-eight, 1; twenty-nine,5; thirty, 5; thirty-one, 7; thirty-two, 254; thirty-three, 446; thirty-four, 443; thirty-five, 373; thirty-six, 366; thirty-seven, 355; thirty-eight, 344; thirty-nine, 306; forty, 305; forty-one, 248; forty-two, 290; forty-three 247; forty-four, 230; forty-five, 271.


LIST OF ALIENS


There were 578 non-declarant Austrians and Hun- garians here who had not taken out their papers, as against 338 who had.


The list of declarants and non-declarants follows: Belgium, 1 declarant and 2 non-declarants; England, 41 declarants and 18 non-declarants; Ireland . declarants and 6 non-declarants; Scotland, 5 declar- ants and 1 non-declarant; Canada, 6 declarants and 6 non-declarants; Jamaica, 2 declarants; other Brit- ish possessions, 1 non-declarant, making a total of 76 British subjects who have declared themselves and 34 who have not.


France, 17 declarants, 12 non-declarants; Italy, 118 declarants and 184 non-declarants; Portugal, 3 non- declarants; Russia, 115 declarants, 143 non-declar- ants; Servia, 3 declarants, 2 non-declarants; China, 1 declarant and 12 non-declarants; Japan, 1 non- declarant; Denmark, 2 declarants, 1 non-declarant; Netherlands, 5 declarants, 4 non-declarants; Nor- way, 3 declarants; Roumania, 5 declarants; Spain, 2 declarants, 73 non-declarants Sweden, 8 declar- ants, 2 non-declarants; Switzerland, 3 non-declar- ants; Mexico, 2 non-declarants; Central and South America, 2 non-declarants; Greece, 23 declarants, 169 non-declarants; Sundries, ( ?), 9 non-declarants; Austria-Hungary, 338 declarants, 578 non-declarants; Bulgaria, 2 declarants; Turkey, 18 declarants, 134 non-declarants; Germany, 31 declarants, 15 non- declarants.


REGISTRATION BY WARDS


The third election district of the Second Ward had the largest registration; 375 men registered in this district, while in the third district of the Third Ward, 310 men registered. Third honors go to the third district of the Fifth Ward, in which 270 men were registered.


The registration by districts follows:


First Ward, First district, 226; second district, 171; third district, 86.


Second Ward, First district, 159; second district, 184; third district, 375.


Third Ward, First district, 163; second district, 238; third district, 310.


Fourth Ward, First district, 123; second district, 85; third district, 116.


Fifth Ward, First district, 214; second district, 311; third district, 270.


Sixth Ward, First district, 144; second district, 147; third district, 132.


NAMES OF REGISTRARS


The local draft board appointed the following men to act as registrars.


FIRST WARD


First District, James A. O'Connell, chief registrar; C. Van Winkle, Elmer Spratford, A. McCloud, Fred Potter, Jr., and Joseph Slifkin.


Second District, William Van Nuis, chief registrar; Frank Holden, A. J. Farley, A. W. Reeve, Frank M. Deiner, H. B. Crouch, S. G. Hales, John Warner.


Third District, E. J. Mclaughlin, chief registrar; James Talmadge, Louis Ferguson and Frank Pen- nington.


SECOND WARD


First District, John J. Welch, chief registrar; E. R. Carpender, F. A. Connolly, Eugene Morris and Chas. Brower.


Second District, Thomas F. Brennan, chief regis- trar; Joseph Doyle, Henry Dunn, Charles Lowe, Ed- ward White, John Colligan and Howard DeHart.


Third District, William A. Groben, chief registrar; John G. Wynkoop, Alfred J. Lins, Clarence W. Cronk, Charles S. Britton, John Bauman, John Jonas, R. F. Tuttel, John W. Grymes, Howard A. Reynolds, Clarence H. Hill, George Kohlhepp, William Baldwin, John Rowland, Jr., David Barry.


THIRD WARD


First District, Fred B. Tappen, chief registrar; T. R. Sloan, Grover O'Neill, Robert Hannah, Andrew Zahn and Frank C. Wark.


Second District, John V. Hubbard, chief registrar; Edward Oram, Charles R. Dey, Joseph Fertig, George MacPherson and E. W. Mackenzie.


Third District, George Baier, chief registrar; Harry Grimes, John Dawson, John Clark, Joseph Iovan and George C. Landmesser.


FOURTH WARD


First District, Morris Bauer, chief registrar; Nor- man Moore, Charles Forman, Charles Jackson, Elmer Boyd, Henry C. Pierce.


Second District, George D. Johnson, chief regis- trar; Harvey L. Hullfish, Frederick Thickstun and William Whitfield.


Third District, J. J. Rooney, chief registrar; Wil- liam Statt, Lawrence Perkins, William Colburn and Alfred Fleming.


Fourth District, Thomas F. Boylan, chief registrar; J. A. McCloskey, Edward Gleason, D. J. McCormick and Edward Foley.


Fifty


IN THE WORLD WAR


FIFTH WARD


First District, Walter C. Sedam, chief registrar; Charles Greenwald, James V. Haskins and Harold W. Morris.


Second District, Alexander Gold, chief registrar; Michael J. Smith, Frank McMahon, E. J. McMurtry, John Mooney, John E. Smith and Rev. Sigmund Laky.


Third District, Edward Burt, chief registrar; Wil- liam Kane, Peter Tennyson, Thomas Whalen, Dr. L. Mundy, Robert Houston, Milton R. Jaques and George Orpen.


SIXTH WARD


First District, George McCormick, chief registrar; Robert C. Nicholas, John P. Wall, Benson J. Trum- bull and Fred Cole.


Second District, John T. Bradley, chief registrar; Frank McCabe, John A. Gibbons, John J. Donnelly, and Patrick J. Stanton.


Third District, James A. Morrison, chief regis- trar; Raymond P. Wilson, R. O. Smith and John L. Daly.


Registration of All Inhabitants


The registration of all inhabitants of New Bruns- wick and vicinity was part of a national movement to make available a record of every person who resided in these United States. With this available data, the government was able to reach any indivi- dual without trouble or confusion. At the same time, tabs were kept upon the movement of strangers within the city.


Among the questions asked of every person were the following: Name of head of house, owner of premises, owner's address, family residence, flat or apartment, rooming or boarding house, how heated, if coal used for fuel, what size, how much on the premises, normal annual consumption of coal, num- ber of tons of coal for heating, number of tons of coal for cooking, is gas used for cooking, is gasoline used, how are premises lighted, occupation of tenant, business address, nationality, age, if alien, how long in country; how long in city, how long on premises, if not native American has he taken out citizenship papers; when and where were first papers taken out, when were second papers taken out, name, age, sex, occupation, birth place of all occupants of house, what war activities have you participated in, give name of each.


Aiding in this great work, the New Brunswick Lodge of Elks tendered the use of their building to the Patriotic Force for all meetings at no cost. This census was taken in March, 1918.


ALIEN ENEMIES REGISTER


The registering and fingerprinting of all male German residents of New Brunswick, not actually naturalized as American citizens, was done by the police department and under the direction of Chief O'Connell, commencing at 6 A. M. on February 4th, 1918, and continuing each day thereafter between the hours of 6 A. M. and 8 P. M. up to and including the 9th day of February, at 8 P. M.


Each registrant was required to furnish four un- mounted photographs of himself, not larger than 3 by 3 inches in size, on thin paper, with light back-


ground. All four signed by the registrant across the face of the photos, so as not to obscure the features. For identification a card bearing his thumbprint was issued to each registrant. The finger printing was done at police headquarters following the practice observed in the military and naval service of the United States.


The forms filled out by a German gave in full his doings for the past three years. He had to state if since the war began he had offered himself for military service in any German consulate in the United States and just what service he had seen, if any, in the German army.


His place of employment since January 1, 1914, each place of residence and the name of every rela- tive in the armies of enemies of this Government or its allies, and the particular branch of service in which that relative was engaged.


Of all registered at the police headquarters, not a single registrant stated that he had relatives fighting against the allies. Several of the registrants did state, however, that they were not aware as to the whereabouts of their relatives on the other side.


His age, height, weight, forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, hair, complexion and face, with any distinctive marks and full name and address were also recorded.


Family particulars were given as to whether the registrant was married or single, name of wife if married, and names of children over 14 years of age. "Have you been registered for the selective drafts ?" "Have you had previous military or naval experience ?" "Have you been partly or wholly natu- ralized in any other country ? or taken allegiance to any country other than the United States?" were among the questions asked to be answered. No enemy alien could change his residence to another registration district without a permit.


The alien enemy women were registered at a separate registration and had to ansewr practically the same questions.


Fifty-one


BRUNSWICK


NEW


Men for the New National Army


Leave for Training Camp


NEW BRUNSWICK'S FIRST CONTINGENT OF THE NATIONAL ARMY


EUGENE REILLY, 21 James street.


JAMES SCHUREMANN WALKER, 96 Prospect St.


HENRY M. STANG, 125 Somerset street. GEORGE B. WRIGHT, 131 Townsend street. ALEXANDER FARKAS, 13 Prospect street.


ALTERNATES MICHAEL POTNAS, 266 Burnet street.


CONSTANTIN ZORICKSY, 1 Neilson street. ROBERT DEMPSEY, 18 Throop avenue.


Solemn and impressive was the departure of New Brunswick's first contingent of the new Na. ional Army, on the afternoon of September 5, 1917, at 2:24 o'clock for Camp Dix, Wrightstown. There was neither the blare of horn or trumpet to signal their approach or departure. A large number of friends of the men were on hand, however, to bid them a last farewell.


The boys assembled at the office of the Exemption Board, 57 Livingston avenue, at 1:30 o'clock and fol- lowing the roll call, which was made at 2 o'clock, they marched to the Pennsylvania Railroad station. There they met their friends and relatives who had gathered to bid them Godspeed. It was but a short wait before the special train bearing other drafted men rolled into the station, the local boys boarding amid the cheering of the crowd.


The local boys drafted into the new National Army had their first taste of military life when they attended the first roll call which was made at 5:30 o'clock at the Exemption Board office on the after- noon previous to departure. There were no atten- dants with the exception of the board, the clerks, and Judge Peter F. Daly.


The impressiveness of that roll call will never be forgotten. The twenty-two young men summoned before the board responded to the roll call with one exception. When the name of Leon Asseo, of 25 Hiram street was called, there was no response.


Although but five men were selected, the entire group expressed a willingness to leave for the train- ing camp. Following the roll call and the address by Judge Daly, the boys were permitted to return to their homes.


In a most eloquent manner, Judge Peter F. Daly paid homage to New Brunswick's first contingent of the new National Army on behalf of the citizens of this city. It was one of the finest patriotic addresses


ever delivered by Judge Daly and the only regret expressed was that a large crowd was not able to hear it.


"It has been my privilege and opportunity, time and time again to speak to small and select crowds and to thousands," began Judge Daly, "on occasions of jubilication and on occasions of sorrow, but never before in my life has there been an occasion su solemn as in speaking to you men.


"I was indeed signally honored," continued the Judge, "when this distinguished board asked me to speak to you. You who are recognized as the youth and strength of this nation, who stand ready to give your lives in order that America may live.


"I hope you boys realize what this draft is. You are to be members of our National Army. An army that is more democratic than any army in the world. In this army we will find both the rich and the poor. It did not matter whether you had political influence or whether you had gold, if you were drawn you had to respond. It is this procedure that has made the new army so democratic.


"You men are going into this new army and will be measured not by your political influence, nor your wealth, but by your manhood, courage and heart. Upon you rests much responsibility. Upon you rests the task of proving that the youth of America stands ready at all times to preserve democracy against atuocracy.


Speaking of the bloody conflict across the seas, Judge Daly declared that if the kaiser had won in his purpose in Europe, his militarism would have stretched across the sea to this country.


Judge Daly also censured the kaiser and his war- lords for the debauchment of the women of Belgium and for their ruthless warfare and said that in his opinion Germany had all the European nations whip- ped until the entrance of this country.


Fifty-two


IN THE WORLD WAR


ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX OFF FOR WAR


Amid outbursts of cheering mingled with many sad tears, one hundred and forty-six of "Our Boys" marched away to war on the morning of Saturday September 22, 1917. Scenes attending their depar- ture were unprecedented in New Brunswick.


Hundreds of loyal citizens turned out to bid New Brunswick's increment of the National Army fare- well, and a rousing and inspiring farewell it was.


One hundred and eighteen members of the new National Army from the Second Exemption District and one hundred and thirty-two from the Fourth Exemption District accompanied the local boys to Camp Dix. The Second District boys boarded the train at the Pennsylvania station here, with the local contingent.


The ceremonies attending the departure was to behold sad and inspiring. They were intensely impressive and stirred the patriotic soul of every citizen who witnessed the departure. Many of the boys as they made their way through the lanes of thousands of people wept, for they realized that soon they would be in the trenches offering their life for Democracy's sake.




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