Under the laws of the United States (Act of August 29, 1916; C. 418, Sec. 3) it is lawful for any civil officer having authority under the laws of the United States or of any State, Territory, District, or possession of the United States to arrest offenders, summarily to arrest a deserter from the military service of the United States. Under the opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (C. 17327-1) a citizen acting under an order or direction of a military officer may apprehend a deserter, but a citizen, and this term includes a member of the American Protective League, has no authority as such to arrest a deserter from the army in the absence of a special request or direction of a military officer.
It is seldom that the necessity for arrest arises. In such a case the member will notify his Chief who will secure prompt action by the proper authorities.
Cases will be assigned for investigation by the Chief to inspectors and by them transmitted through the captains to the lieutenants, who will assign them to the members best qualified for the particular work. All reports must be submitted in writing through the lieutenants and captains to the inspectors, and by the inspectors to the central office. All reports of a confidential nature should be brought to the office by the inspectors in person or by private messenger. In the smaller cities where inspection districts are not created, the above rules will be accordingly modified.
All investigations and reports are the business of the League and must become matters of permanent record. They may not be suppressed or destroyed, but must be disposed of in regular course through the established channels of the Bureau of Investigation of the United States Department of Justice.
Great opportunity for service is afforded the American Protective League in reporting promptly and accurately all evidence of enemy propaganda throughout the country. The League is in a peculiarly advantageous position to secure this information and present it to the authorities at Washington.
