Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-14

the western frontier. Inc COmHlCu SUI
der so to speak, l believe, has much
better standing with the intelligent CT
liens of our country to-day tlan for
merly. on account of the constant at
tentiOn which is being paid by the War
Department TO the securing of higher
and better educated class Of recruits,
and the wedding out of men N the SER
vice below the standards fixed. This
has been productive of much good, IN
the securing Of a more generally COM
petent body of men in the army ser
vice of the United States. About ten
years ago, by law and under the rules
of the War Department, recruiting Off
ces were established permanently at
many of the large cities and important
points in the country, and all new ad-
dit.Ons and recruits in the different
classes Of the military service of the
United States were secured from such
offices. About that time the War De-
partment began 10 raise the standard
of enlistment. especially as TO charac-
ter and education, and this plan has
been much improved since then, while
the method Of recruiting has also been
materially changed.
Since the establishment of the per-
manent recruiting stations in The coun-
try. about ten yea ago. there has been
what is known as .cs.mental recruiting
stations. When a certain regiment
needed new members. an order would
BE ISSUED 10 some Office of the regiment
TO 90 to a certain point and enlist new
men to the number required. Nova
DAYS enlistments of new men are obtain
ed by the detailing Of an officer 10 go
to a certain point and enlist a number
Of new men for q certain number of
posts or companies. l am now IN
Wheeling under this class of orders.
taking new recruits for the light artil-
lery service. and recruiting for ten light
batteries located at different points in
this country. l have enlisted six men
since coming to Wheeling. whose age
would average % years. The most Of
these men were farmec boys, and they
make the best soldiers for the light
artillery service. because they under
stand horses and are, Of course in good
physical condition. The new recruits
for the service here in Wheeling gen
orally desire TO enter the service be
cause they have friends in the service
or because they desire to enter upon 4
military life as a calling. They seem
TO have proper knowledge of what tho
military service means and do not join,
OF attempt to. for the simple purpose CT
securing employment or under any false
idea that military service and soldiers
life IS one of glory and full of pleasant
experiences during its period of service.
In other words. the recruits in this city
have no foolish ideas about to matter,
either in detail or as 4 vocation in life.
If | enlist man a this point his
travelling expenses are paid by The gov
eminent to the post where he IS as
signed. and on arrival he reports to the
commanding Officer and a. once begins
the life and duties of a soldier. As |
said before. the standard 5 high now,
and a recruit must come up 70 it in
every respect. He Is obliged 20 know
now to read and write the English Ian
guaga. and must be a native-b0rn Amer
lean citizen. or have declared his .nten-
ton 10 become such. and he mpst also
furnish the recruiting officers with sat.
isfactory references as 10 character and
standing as a man. The men enlisted
from this city will make good soldiers,
and are up 10 The average of those en-
listed in other parts of the country, and
7 believe they. or the most Of them. will
be heard Of in the military history Of
the country. and that they have en-
listed meaning business n every sense
OF the word. OF course. the pay is not
large for a soldier. but hey have no
unnecessary expenses. Yet the army
Is about full. and as a result only ne
bes timber IS finally enlisted. As
said before. the American people are
not given % war. but I believe we have
an army equal TO that Of any country
i'm The world from every point OF iulg
ment. Yes. on a second thought. we
fairly lead the world. and ! think Z will
continue % be tAe policy Of the govern |
ment 10 further improve and strengthen
the military Of the country in all re-
spects. You would be surprised al The
number Of applicants for enlistment
that have presented themselves 70 me
since / was ordered 10 this city. but, as
I said before. only six have been chosen
and enlisted. SO you see good men have
been secured.
The correspondence and routine Of
a recruiting officer is considerable. as
ali details are reported and conducted
by a most perfect syS,em-such are the
requirements of The law AMI the rules
and usages Of the War Department"
Lieut.. Rennet- does not know. Of
course. how long he will be stationed
in Wheeling. but enjoys The city very
much. and finds society and life n gen
eral much more agreeable when OFF duty
than west or n some ether points in the
country.
As the reporter left the Lieutenant
said:
q remember a little story which I
will give YOU" said Lieut.. Bennett
ct was up in Michigan. at Saginaw,
about two years ago. While I was de-
tailed at that place and recruiting. a
prospective recruit presented himself to
me one day and asked as 1TsS question
what the pay Of a soldier was, 10 which