Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-07-27
IN THE REGULAR ARMY
Recruits Earn as Much Money as Men at
Any Manual Labor.

Any Manual Labor.
cit Is mistake to think that men who
enlist in the United States army are not
paid as well as citizens in the ordinary
walks of life," said veteran who has
served under Uncle Sam for nearly a
score Of years. II think they are better
paid. Ii l didn't l wouldn't be in the
army today"
When asked to give a few details the
old warrior replied:
Take the place of a private. When
he enlists it is for five years. The first
two years he gets S13 a month. The
third year he gets S14, the fourth year
S15, and when his term expires he is
receiving S16. Now, if he re-enlists
within thirty days his wages will be in
creased SO month, making a private's
pay. after he has been in the army five
years, $1S a month, or 1916 year. That
amount however, is clear profit. Every
thing in the line of clothes and rations
that is necessary the government fur
nishes.
"Now," asked the old soldier, "where
is the man who works for So day who
is better off than a private in Uncle
Sans police forceP"
The question seemed difficult and the
reporter gave it up.
That's not all, though" resumed the
military man, who evidently was proud
of his vocation. eff a man after enlist
ment and assignment to post is found
out to be skillful at any trade, SO much
the better; he can make it pay. If he is
a shoemaker he can find plenty of en-
ployment and compensation. If he is a
barber he can always find subjects for
his razor. If he is tailor he can reap a
harvest. Tailors are usually in demand,
and consequently in luck. In the last
post in the west at which I was stationed
the regimental tailor-an enlisted private
had practically nothing else to do but
work at his trade except, perhaps, occa-
sionally do guard duty. What do you
think he saved during his five years ser.
vicer"
The newspaper man couldn't guess.
Between 81, 500 and $4,000" was the
reply. ''Of course this man was careful
in his habits; he didn't drink and he
didn't play poker. But his case may be
| cited to show what a imam can accumu
late while serving his country in the
modest capacity Of an army private"
"What are the highest wages paid by
the government to an enlisted soldier"
| was asked.
"The hospital steward is the highes
| paid man In the regiment. lie gets 81;
a month-S540 a year and all his ex
penses paid A corporal gets 50 mor'
than private, or $15 a month for tn,
first two years and 81 more each subse
quent year, with $50 for his second en-
listment. A sergeant gets So more thai
corporal, and in five years receives
1920"
"Have you found that most of tn
men in the army are foreiSnersl" in
quired the reporter.
THAT is often stated" was the an
swer, "but it Is not the truth. Ny eX
perience. which has been quite extensive
has shown me that native American
form the majority of our men. Their
are, of course, many Irishmen and Ger
mans who enlist, but they are in tn
minority"
"Who make the best soldiers9"
"Well, probably the Germans make tn
best soldiers on post duty. They ar
usually well up in the manual On
campaign-say out west against the Indi
ans-where we have to make lon
marches over sandy or rocky countr.
with our accouterments on our backs
fifty rounds of ammunition in our belts
the sun pouring down its heat fror
above, with no water except the fey
pints in our canteens-in marches wher
we have to do thirty and thirty-five mile
day under such disagreeable circum
stances-the German is apt to flag. Ii
can't stand it as well as the tough, hardy
native American. The American make
the best all around soldier. He's hard +
beat"
care there many desertions?"
"The proportion of assertions is quit
small in this country. The service
voluntary, and the discipline is not I'm
necessarily severe. Besides, it is har
for a man to desert without being re
captured. Very frequently deserter
surrender themselves. After a few
months of freedom they discover that
after all, soldering compares favorabl
with manual labor as private citizen.
"How about soldiers marrying?
| line government dOesn want mar
ried men. An enlisted man must &c
permission from the commandant of hi
company before he can become Bene
dict. At military posts there are gen
orally one or two men in a company
sometimes more, who are married.
their wives do the laundry work of tn
company they are paid for it. Other
wise married soldier gets no more ra
tons than if he were single man. -
Baltimore Herald.