6. Americans on the European front See the maps of the major battles of the war Selective Service Act – May 1917 authorized a draft of young men for military service; 24 million registered by November 1918 (3 million selected to serve) American Expeditionary Force – the US forces in the War Convoy – group of unarmed ships surrounded by a ring of armed naval vessels equipped to detect submarines Zeppelin – floating airships used for observation and delivering bombs Armistice – written a cease-fire or suspension of hostilities (can have a stated duration or it can end at any time) Genocide – the organized killing of an entire group of people (1 million Armenians)