The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-04-17
THE REGULAR ARMY
II is Small Numerically, But Of
The Highest Grade.
What the Applicant Must DO 20
Get Into the Ranks

army is small In number, that It's Gle
ia made up Of rather inferior men.
Probably this idea was always wrong.
Certainly II is today entirely inbound
ed, for the very good reason that the
standard by which applicants for en-
listment are measured is higher In the
United States than IN any other ooun-
try In the world, aud the boys who
wear the blue are as fine specimens Of
healthy and intelligent manhood as
were ever mustered under a flag.
Only unmarried men between twenty
one aud thirty years Of age are now
accepted, and most men are at their
best physically at that period OF life.
The applicant is allowed to state
whether he wishes TO 60 into the foot
or the mounted service, and his de-
sires are generally respected. For
infantry a man must not be less than
five feet four inches in height, and
weigh not less than 1913 pounds, nor
more than 100 pounds. For cavalry
the height must not be less than five
feet feur inches, nor more than five
feet ten inches, while the weight and
chest measurements are as follows:
For man It. 4 initial, weight 12s pounds,
chest 80 Ia inches.
For man It. in. tall, weight $50
pounds, chest SO inches.
For a man 8 It. in. tall, weight 1872
pounds, chest SO IL inches.
For man It. in. tall, weight 1874
pounds, chest "a inches.
For a man #. In. tall, weight III
pounds, chest "a inches.
For q man #. in. tall, weight 14s
pounds, chest "a 1-2 inches.
For a man IT, 10 in. tall, weight 155
pounds, chest 95 inches.
If the regulations should be
stretched so as to let in a taller man
than five feet ten, then his size must
increase in similar proportion to his
height For instance, a man, six
feet one in height must weigh 176
pounds and have a chest measurement
of SO IA inches. Indeed there is no
prejudice against tall men, but they
are scrutinized very carefully and
must be symmetrical also.
When the applicant goes up for ex-
animation he is weighed, measured
and described by a sergeant, and a
blank filled out which when complete,
reveals every possible thing about the
applicants physical structure and con-
dition. This is scrutinized by the
recruiting officer, and then the appl-
cant goes before the surgeon and is
stripped that the medical men may
verify the previous examination. This
is done in the most minnie way and a
certificate that is as exact as may be is
given. If he be accepted the recruit
is sworn to the service by the recruit
ing officer, and if the enlistment be in
New York he is sent to David's Island
and from there to the command with
which he is to serve.
Men are not enlisted especially for
the artillery, but the most intelligent
Of those who go into the mounted
forces are selected for this arm of the
service when there are vacancies in it.
The artillery, therefore, is composed
81 picked men, and this accounts for
the splendid bearing of these soldiers
whenever they are seen on parade.
The term of service in the army il
now three years and the number OF
men about 10000; and therefore it il
necessary to secure each year by en-
listments and re-enlistments some
thing like 1000 men. About l, 900 o.
these are re-enlistments of men who
become attached to the service or who
acquire what might be called the army
habit. The examination of maj
who has served one enlistment or mort
and has a good record is naturally les
severe than that given to a new re
Cruit, for the man of experience ma,
have acquired blemishes as incident
of his service and these, unless debili
Eating, are quite properly not counte,
against him. The man of experience
too, is considered a much more valu
able soldier than the novice.
The scheme of the statute unde
which recruiting is done, while it en-
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