The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-26
How TO Enlist
In fhe Armu,

The army varies from the navy in the
fact that there is no ban to promotion
from the ranks to the highest grade.
General Nelson A. Miles, at the head
of the United States army Is not
graduate Of West Point. and there are
many instances of private soldiers and
even outsiders becoming commits
stoned officers.
The appointments to the war school
of instruction at West Point on the
Hudson river, SO miles above New York
city, are made by congressman, eacJ
representative having the right to de-
tail an eligible youth. between the ages
of IS and II, from his district when 1t
Is not represented at the Military acad-
emy. The president also has been given
the authority to appoint ten. "at large
and usually grants the favor TO the son
OF former or present officer of either
branch of the military (Which includes
navy and army service.
Entrance examinations and annual
reviews of book knowledge are the same
as at the Naval academy. and during
the summer the cadets go into camp
from drills In seamanship. howitzer and
boat practice, the course of instruction
at both the academies. West Point and
Annapolis. is very similar. for the ma
val cadets are exercised In infantry tac-
tics. fencing and broadsword exercises,
and on their daily evening parade pre-
sent fully as imposing a presence and
exactitude Of martial stride as the mill
tary pupils.
The special difference between the
two schools is in the age and pay OF
the students The West Pointers. as
indicated in the age requirement for
admission, are older men, and. while
their annual stipend during the scholas-
tic term OF four years is about the
same as that given at Annapolis, upon
graduation they become second lieu
tenants and receive larger salary
than that allotted to those completing
the course at the Naval academy.
Promotion with them to the grades
OF first lieutenant, captain. major. lieu
tenant colonel, colonel and brigadier
general is fully as slow as 1t Is In the
naval service, but their compensation
is always comparatively larger, For
this one reason the army might be con-
sidered the more favorite branch OF
military service, and yet there has new
er been any popular or privately de-
termined feeling that 1t was so.
To those that wish to enlist as pri-
Yates there are recruiting stations to be
found in every large city of the United
States, and the applicant may select ell
ther the cavalry, infantry or artillery.
III he has had former experience. he Will
at present be especially welcomed by
the recruiting sergeant or captain In
charge Of the office. The applicant must
necessarily fill the special requirements
Of age, stature and chest measure and
be in good bodily condition. II so, he -
very liable to be Immediately enrolled
and receive clothes, shelter, board
medicine. surgical attendance when
necessary and the exorbitant cash
sum of $13 a month. But. then. the en-
tire allotment Is worth s45 or $50 .
month. and there are some men who
can't earn this sum.
The promotion of the private soldier
may be very rapid in time of war. If
he is an educated man and of any cs-
peciaI ability, he may be wearing
colonel's epaulets before he returns
from the fields OF battle. In the piping
times of peace his advancement Is to
that of corporal and sergeant, technic-
ally termed noncommlssioned officers.
and then IL he has influence or his own
individuality dominates he may be al
lowed to attempt the examination for q
first lieutenancy. II he succeeds In
passing both the physical and mental
demands. he is then q commissioned
officer in the United States army, and
his career is as free before him as II he
had all the training and glorfes Of
West Point course.
The signal corps Of the army Is also
an excellent branch OF the service, but
the complement Is limited. and admis-
sions generally are rare. The men In 10
form a sort of independent corps and
of a class relatively between q private
and a minor commissioned officer.
In case of war the militia or national
guard of the several states, which IL
now being augmented by hasty enlist
ments and applications from hundreds
of others who will not be allowed TO
enroll. will not be mustered into serv-
ice after the regular army. 1t Is pop
ular fallacy to think that such is the
case. The United States government
does not recognize the militia IL calls
for ps--volunteers-oners bounues'
and in case IL cannot secure the neces-
sary number of men resorts 10 oraIt.
Put a state militia Is not subject 10 the
call OF the war authorities IN Wasnins-
ton. The president would act on tne
assumption that there Is no militia IN
existence.
If you desire TO enlist, you must Q.
between q and 30 years of age. OF good
character and habits. ablebodied. not
less than feet 4 inches In height and
weigh between 1es and 100 pounds.
II your height In above feet 10 inches
and your weight more than 165 pounds.
YOU may Join the artillery or infantry.
a. lrx