The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-15
The Army of Great Britain Needs
Recruits and Cannot
Get Them.
Country Yokels No Longer Sue
cuuab to the Sergeant's Gus
tomary Shilling.
Compulsory Service May be the Next
Move-Blue Blooded Privates Who
Make Good Soldiers.


pite the apparent air of Indifference dis
PLAYED by the authorities when questioned
on the subject. it is we'll known that the
raw material requisite for the development
of the common or garden Tommy Atkins"
is exceedingly scarce. The persuasive elo-
ouence of the we'll groomed and gaudily at
tired recruiting officers which, prior to the
introduction of compulsory education, was
so eagerly devoured by the untutored class
from which the rank and file is principally
culled, appears to have lost it's charm, and
az consequence the military heroes now
in Office find themselves face tc face with a
problem of SO foreign and serious a nature
as to battle solution. That the aspect is Il
serious one for the nation there can be no
doubt: that it is Indirectly attributable to
the late strikes and the recent cases of mil
itary characterization il equally undeni-
able; but to the vast educational improve
ment of the modern masses is due, princi-
paliy, the existing difficulty. 1t is semi
officially announced that the reign
ing Whitehall authorities are more
than perpiexed, and that with
view to formulating some feasible scheme
whereby the difficulty may be overcome,
their lofty pedestals and invite the opinion
and advice of their underpaid hirelings.
In other words il is freely rum ored that Il
thorough canvass is to be made of the rank
and file of her Britannia majesty's army
for the purpose of ascertaining the actual
cause of the recent cases OF insubOrdina-
ton. At the same time they propose solic-
iting such information and inviting such
suggestions as will materially aid the gov
eminent in solving the vexed military prob
lem of the hour What the outcome will be
remains to be seen. hut recent events have
demonstrated beyond doubt the fact that
not only does widespread discomfort pre-
vail in the British army as it now exists,
but that the rising generation is very seri-
ously inclined to regard the Especial in
ducements" held out by the government in
the shape of gaudy uniforms and 'excep-
tiOnal advantages" as a delusioE and a
snare.
To obtain verfication of the foregoing
one need travel but short distance in Lon
don, for in the vicinity of Trafalgar square
and the neighborhood of Westminster alb
bey--the favorite recruiting grounds of the
ropolis-palpable evidence of the dis
favor in which army life is held are hourly
apparent.
In the good old days of Waterloo
When the fiery war blast loudly blew,
And science as appertaining to the 6inews
of war was comparatively unknown, the
youth and beauty of highlands great un-
washed responded to the nations call to
arms with true patriotic vigor. In those
good old days" the lines of the travelling
recruiting serReants were truly cast in
pleasant places. Then the untutored
British ''yokel' as he 'chawed'' his seldom
varied midday mea; OF fat bacon anG
bread, and devoured his penny 'orrible, >
was wont to regard the approach and salu-
tation OF the gay recruter with awe and
admiration; and but slight persuasion was
necessary to effect the exchange of the pro-
verbal shilling for the body and soul of
the simple-mi countryman.
NOW things have changed. Science has
taken the place of muscle; the possibilities
OF GLORIOUS distinction" on the field of
battle have faded and gone; the halo OF
glory and romance which at one time &C.
companied the career exists rov only il
the distorted imagination of gushing nurse
girls; and recent events have proved be-
yond dispute that the British youth of to-
day prefers career of peace and plenty to
one of strife and discomfort
10 the extreme retcence of the war Ofiic,
magnates IS no doubt attributable tn,
many and mysterious rumors in clrcula
tlon. and OF course they must be accepted
with goodly portion of salt; nevertheless
the latest, to the OBJECT that compulsor
service will ere long be enforced, is mos
certainly within the bounds of probability
Not only are recruits very hard to Obtain
but those actually secured are of such 10,
moral and physical status as to rende
them comparatively unfit for active ser
vice should occasion arise. Measurement
fed applicants in any branch Of the servio
are now accepted in even the ''crack" reg
mentS; indeed, SO eagerly are Of
fers OF enlistment snapped up, an
go simple are the qualification
for preliminary examination. that the sigl
OF company of raw recruits at active dri
is almost 1t, as .s funny as the oid.time sta
kneed, pigeon-toed." :hollo,w-ohested
and such like terms are no longer regard,
as bars" in military parlance. for one
the other of them can be truthfully apple
10 scores of the beardless youths who ha,
lately cast in their lot with Victoria's bra
defenders. Promises of exceptional educ
good conduct pay during term of service I
Rether with permanent and remunerati
employment at termination of same fail
work the desired charm. So that the cor
= of oily-tongued recruiting sergeants wi
daily parade the enlisting grounds and "e
ocutionize'' in fowery language on the NJ
vantages of modern army life take dow
their military sandwich boards as night a
proaches with sigh of relief. and hom
ward tramp with heavy hearts, beinoani,
their luck and cursing the increduiity
the days prospective victims
1t Is astonishing how many members
the aristocratic world are to be found
the rank and file of Britain's regular arm
They are mostly younger sons of sill
whose pedigree is considerably longer tn,
the family purse. Disappointed in ear
youth at the non-reslization OF those gre
family expectations to which they ha
been taught to look forward they pref
rather to degrade the family escutche,
and enlist in the ranks than lead the &c
teel poverty stricken existence of their G
allied parents. To their credit be it sal
they invariably turn out ti.st-class me
and II the authorities could only dew
some scheme whereby few Thousand
these arlstocratlc loafers could be press
INTO the service, they would not only sol
the great military pons asinorum. but &C
1ef doom on society in general. AS ru
IN every regiment there are enough of the
young arlstocrats to form little set
themselves, from which they vigorously
clude AIRY who has thus no chance
Improving his manners by compartment
with his blue-blooded comrades. A few
them get commissions, but the major
are bought out by their relatives after fl
years. service and are none the worse for I
9ascapline they experienced whilst servi
IN her majesty's army.
WOMEN OF ARMENIA.