The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12


artillery. This branch of the service is
looked upon as requiring the highest order
of intelligence in the ranks, and is regarded
as of greatest Importance at the present
time, in view of the hostile possibilities.
me class OF men desired is, however, nat
urally difficult to secure because of the keen
competition of the labor market
IN the list of accepted men perhaps the
Ordinary day laborers are in the majority
ana they are no doubt controlled by the de-
sire TO escape the ever-present necessity of
making both ends meet a task continually
growing more arduous under the competi-
tive conditions of city life.
want to know what | shall have to do,
ventured an applicant who had given his
previous occupation as that of farm laborer
ton by the branch office recently estab-
lished in Jersey City.
What you are told" replied the ser
do. and / guess you won't find ii different
now. l can't promise you that you won't
have to rough it, and I don't know that
you'll always have a roof over your head
l have gone three years and only slept in
a house six months Of that time. 1t won't
and no worse for 1t. Perhaps you are too
tender, however. and had better think il
over before going to see the captain"
These fellows need about three years of
it before they get any sense declared
man who had Just re-enlisted, but not in
time to receive an increase of pay for the
fourth year. TN tell you how it was with
me. didn't know anything about the
service when | went into it. just enlisted
u
easy way TO make living. | have learned
a good many things since, but l know
why l am going back into 1t, and that is
because ! like it: / have been knocking
around New York ever since January a
year ago: | don't much care for fighting,
but I guess there amt much chance of
war
READY FOR HARD WORK
This recruiting post has a record, in or
binary tir1es of supplying one man a day
to the various garrisons that draw upon it,
During the week this number has been in
creased to a daily average of six or seven,
and the proportion of these to the whole
number who have appeared before the re-
cruiting sergeant is about one to seven or
eight. Owing to the hurried efforts to put
the country on a war footing, it has been
necessary to extend the field of operations,
and branches of this station have been
tabliShed in jersey City, under Captain Ben
ham, Second Infantry. and in Brooklyn
borough, under Lieutenant Herman, Tween
ty-flrst Infantry These enable recruits
from the neighboring country districts to
learn their fitness before travelling the dis
lance 10 the main office, and relieve the
pressure on the recruiting force there.
10 sum up the observe IONS made by per-
sonal contact with one 'dayS batch of re-
cruits, ii can be said that they are drawn
largely from the laborino classes and are in
search of employment. Few, of any are ac-
quainted with the life of the private soldier,
and few are deferred by fears of hardships.
Inc dIy SoouS stores ana oIHceS are some
times represented among the woud-be re-
cruits, but the physical examination proves
frequent stumbling block TO these as
pirants.
The question as to object of enlistment is
always asked, and invariably answered in a
noncommttal manner, more often by u
mere expression of a desire ito enter the
service. 1t is doubtful whether imperson-
al reasons ever enter into the question; and
certainly a love of country and Willingness
to serve for the glory of the flag are not
among the reasons heard in the Third
avenue station during its present activity.
In justice it must be said, however, that re-
cruits do not come from the demonstrative
circles of society, and unofficial express
sion of patriotism is perhaps quite as diff
cult for unaccustomed lips to deliver as
sentiments of a more personal nature.