Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-02
THE ARMY AS A CAREER.


Forum" THE Army as a Career" how
ever, he does not attempt to hide the fact
| that many distinguished writers have in
Weighed bitterly against the art and prac-
tice of war. lie quotes Carlyle, jonathan
/ Dymond, John Knox and Charles Sumner
against war, but also quotes Sumner again
when, in war time, he admitted that 1t
was sometimes necessary.
| General Towards answer to the attacks
is contained in a strong paragraph, that
appeals at once to the patriotism as well
as the common sense of all Americans lie
says that the object of an army In tnc
! United States is not necessarily, In the
main, to conduct campaigns ana hBht
battles nor to take human life. AS the
city police must watch over the city ana
guard it against all sorts of danger, being
ready, with it's weapons of onense and ue-
Tense, to strike when other devices ran, so
our army watches against certain dangers
to the republic, giving nerve ana strength
to the Exccutive-helping to restrain VIII
Indians, to capture mistaken hordes OF
tramps, or to quiet mob violence aimed
against the common veal, or, with naval
help TO hold back u public enemy, Dut
ready, of course, like the effective city
police, to strike at command when tn"
Commander-in-C Chief with the sovereign
nation behind him, has come to the last
resort of human expedients for guarding
the nations life or honor.
In speaking of the United States Army
as 1t is the General declares that neither
John Knox of Scotland, Jonathan Dymond
of England. nor the extreme peace men of
our own land, have given fair portraitures
of our American soldlery What We call
regulars are really bona flde volunteers
Should the reader be DESTROYS Of studying
the organization of our small army as 1t is
to-day, on n peace establishment, he Will
find all desired information in the Revised
Statutes of the United states, commencing
Title XIV, the Army"
Section 1ll5 OF the aforementioned title
declares: There shall not be in the army
at one time more than $4,000 enlisted men"
This number is varied from time to time
by the appropriations of Congress. Able
officers have often estimated the number
of men that could be brought inc the field
IN case of sudden emergency. without in
juring or sacrificing the public property,
which the army should protect. With an
establishment of 10000, about one-half
. would be available; with $4,000, two thirds
could be called out.
The main army career is found in what
Is usually styled the rank and file: that is
!. with the soldiers who have come into SER
vice by enlistment. The largest proper
ton of our young men who desire to en-
ter the military profession must come In
by this doorway, for In the army, staff and
line, less than 5000 commissioned officers
are allowed by law. Heretofore the term
of service for the soldier has been FIVE
years. This rule was modified a few years
ago, allowing him to purchase his dis
charge upon certain fixed conditions; but
the last Congress swept away all condi-
. lions, and fixed the period of enlistment
, at the short term of three years.
A recruit must be effective and able
bodied" lie must he IL years of age or
over, but under 81. Ifunder q, he requires
the consent of parents or guardians.
: Other prohibitions forbid the enlistment of
minors under Ii years of age, insane per-
= sons, deserters from the army and persons
who have been convicted of amy criminal
offcnse." For a second term, there is the
e requirement that service during the last
, preceding term of enlistment be honest
, and faithful"
Tie pay of the private" of cavalry, ar
tillery and infantry is sl3 n month His
allowances cover his quarters, clothing
/, and rations. A private of the second class
in the engineer and ordnance corps re-
ceiVes Just the same as the above.
Schools and gymnasiums are maintained
, at every army post The soldier very soon
: becomes an expert in the handling of his
rifle, his ield-piece, his heavy gun. his car
bine. and his horse. Whole troops of
aavalry now show the quickness and elas-
, ticlty of which, few years ago, class
of West Point cadets would have been
proud. II capable, industrious. and obe-
dent, the recruit will soon rise. In the
Yates of the first class receive SIT n month
, with all the allowances. There are ord
, nance sergeants first sergeants. corporals,
musicians, trumpeters, saddlers, black
smiths, hospital stewards. hospital at
tendants. and artincers, of higher com
pensation, and men detailed to work
which Will entitle them to extra pay. Many
are the openings which presents them
selves to skill and good conduct. The pay
is graded from the sl3 of the ordinary
private up to that of the ordnance sergeant,
which is primarily $3i. with the usual
quarters, clothing and subsistence added
and from the third year there is an in
crease of one dollar month.
: The West Point cadet holds the next
, grade above the enlisted man. Each MEM
/, Der of the House of Repre- has
5 the power of nominating to the Military
5 Academy one young man, n resident of
/ his Congressional District, which nom
nation must be confirmed by the Fresi-
dents formal appointment. Each Ter
ritory and the District of Columbia are
also entitled to the appointment of one
cadet The president himself has the
= privilege OF appointing and continuing ten
cadets. Entrance to the Academy can be
1 obtained in no way other than the above
4 except by special Act of Congress. The
- cadets compensation, to cover all eXpen-
ses, Is $500 n year and one ration day
AS rule the members of the upper sec
tons of "A class are, upon their entrance.
already fairly well educated many are
\, college graduates Formerly only about
Y one-third could master the course OF
y study and get their diplomas a larger
$ proportion now get through the Academy,
p The class of 1854 entered 100 strong and
:. graduated but SO; whereas the class OF 1880
t has sent out 52 probably but half of those
Il who Joined 1t four years ago
: Except the engineer corps, the staff de-
t partments are usually filed from the
. officers of the army; for the ordnance
I corps, by severe professional eXamin-
!" alton; for the others, by selection to MI
vacancies as they occur. The Engineer
Corps is filled directly from a few gradu-
ates near the head of each class. The
s medical department., however, replenishes
from young physicians by "A most trying
;, examination, and frequently the Judge.
n Advocates have been lawyers in civil
); practice, coming in by the Presidents
+ nomination and confirmed by the Senate
i Paymasters have frequently been appoint
: ed from civil life with the rank of Major
a Thus commences the commissioned of
: iicer's army career. The lowest pay-tha
of the Second Lieutenant of infantry.
: $1,000 a year, with the common provision
of medical attendance. fuel and quarters
Before the Second Lieutenant are tn,
grades of First Lieutenant, Captain, Ma
jor, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, Briga
dier-General and Major General. Blu
three MajorGenerals are allowed by law
and their pay is $500 year with allow
ances for horses and fuel and provision fol
medical services and quarters a Secon(
Lieutenant on peace footing can hardly
look for much promotion-in process O.