History - The U.S. Marshals during World War I:
Protection of the Home Front
When President Woodrow Wilson issued the declaration of war against
Germany April 6, 1917, he told the American people that "the supreme
test of the nation has come. We must all speak, act, and serve
together." While American troops fought in the trenches of Europe,
United States Marshals protected the home front against enemy aliens,
spies, saboteurs, and slackers. From the declaration of war on April 6,
1917 to the Armistice on November 11, 1918, U.S. Marshals:
- INVESTIGATED 222,768 violations of the selective service laws;
- REGISTERED 480,000 German enemy aliens;
- ISSUED 200,000 permits to enemy aliens;
- ARRESTED 6,300 enemy aliens under Presidential Arrest Warrants;
- INTERVIEWED 2,300 enemy aliens in military camps;
and
- GUARDED restricted areas around docks, ammunitions factories,
military camps, and other sensitive areas.
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked
Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Congress
declared war on April 6, 1917.
Duties of the U.S. Marshals during World War I:
|
March 27, 1917 |
Cooperate with local police; take precautions against
hostile acts. |
|
April 6, 1917 |
War declared. Warn Germans to "Obey the law". |
|
April 10, 1917 |
Advise Germans to surrender all weapons. explosives, and
radios; arrest any who do not. |
|
April 16, 1917 |
Arrest specified enemy aliens and turn them over to War
Department for internment. |
|
April 20, 1917 |
Establish restricted zones around docks, factories,
arsenals, etc.; issue passes to specified enemy aliens. |
|
May 23, 1917 |
Marshals and their Deputies have sole authority to arrest
enemy aliens. |
|
May 29, 1917 |
Protect Selective Service centers; arrest draft evaders or
those disrupting selective service. |
|
June 18, 1917 |
Complete issuance of passes to enter restricted zones and
arrest draft resistors by June 30. |
|
July 18, 1917 |
Locate possible places of detention for large numbers of
enemy aliens. |
|
October 8, 1917 |
Arrest military deserters; assist Bureau of Investigation in
locating deserters. |
|
November 28, 1917 |
Remove all enemy aliens from Washington. D.C. and report
their arrival in other districts. |
|
December 1, 1917 |
Arrest all draft dodgers under new Selective Service
regulations. |
|
December 17, 1917 |
Apply enemy alien regulations to citizens of
Austria-Hungary. |
|
December 26, 1917 |
Arrange for registration of all male Germans in cities over
5,000. |
|
December 29, 191 7 |
Prevent possible sabotage to docks and wharves by putting
grates over nearby sewers. |
|
December 29, 1917 |
Begin checking reports from paroled enemy aliens. |
|
January 5, 1918 |
Compile descriptions of ail enemy aliens arrested. |
|
January 5, 1918 |
Arrange registration of all enemy alien males at local
police stations and post offices between February 4 and 9. |
|
January 12, 1918 |
Assist enemy aliens in finding employment. |
|
February 4, 1918 |
Arrest all enemy aliens discharged from American military
and recommended for detention by military. |
|
April 6, 1918 |
Locate enemy aliens who fail to register. |
|
April 15, 1918 |
Arrest deserters and draft dodgers under new general orders
from War Department. |
|
April 25, 1918 |
Register female enemy aliens. |
|
May 6, 1918 |
Apply all enemy alien regulations to females. |
|
June 19, 1918 |
Arrange for speedier transfer of enemy aliens arrested by
local police to Marshals. |
|
September 19, 1918 |
Prohibit enemy alien females from restricted areas unless
given a pass by Marshal. |
|
November 11, 1918 |
Armistice declared. |
|
December 25, 1918 |
Regulations on enemy aliens lifted. |
Continued:
Page One |
Two: Registration/Arrest of
Aliens | Three: Internment of Enemy Aliens |
|
|
