Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-14
JACK TiRS.

our country is supplying itself very
rapidly with shigs Of war, especially
those suited for auxiliary service, but
how and where TO man them remains a
great problem.
Recruiting officers report that the num-
her OF persons Offering for enlistment in
the navy is small one would think the
grand army Of stalwart tramps who in
fest the cities. begging for bread. would
seize this opportunity TO get regular
rstious and DO their country a service
at tine same time; but not so.
Negroes offer i'm considerable numbers,
bat acceptable whites ara scarce. And
Of those persons who present themselves
for enlistment under Uncle Sans flag,
comparatively few can pass the rigid
physical examination TO which they are
subjected
Under the laws, as they have been con-
strucd. whoever passes the surgeons oX-
animation and is received into the army
or navy is presumed to be in perfect
health. and whatever disease or dis
ability develops during his term of ser
vice is attributed To the service. that
is to say. it is sufficient to entitle the
man to pension. And so that the
present Unfortunately large pension list
may not be increased through any laXity
of theirs. the surgeons are rigid in their
examinations. and few there are who can
pass it, 1t may be fairly assumed, how
ever. that the flower of our robust youth
is not rushing forward, as yet. to enlist
either in the regular army or navy.
But having already provided ourselves
with large fleet of ships, and being
likely soon to have some use for them,
how shall we keep them fully supplied
with men? The newspaper accounts that
We have seen report that each ship has
little more than the minimum force to
start out with, and few or no men TO
supply the places Of those who msy be-
come disabled by sickness or wounds, or
who may be permanently removed from
the rolls by death.
If we are to have a serious war, OF
course, this sort of thing will not do. Ii IS
said that more men would enlist if the
navy offered better prospects of promo
ton. Well. however that may be, the
prevailing rule upon that subject is not
likely TO be altered. SO the needed re-
cruits can only be secured. we should
think, by large bounties or by conscrip-
tion.
Money has heretofore proved. in numer-
Gus cases. to be a great stimulant' TO pa
triotism. and it would do SO again. doubt
less. At any rate, we expect to see it
tried i'm preference to the draft.
II would cause an icy chill to run
through the body polite to have TO go 10
driving and dragging men into the navy
a few months after the country had We
hcmently demanded war-war which it
was known would be fought for the most
part upon the sea.
one Of the explanations given for the
scarcity Of men is that our maritime
population is really very small-the re-
suit Of a policy which has protected
favored manufacturers at the expense Of
dwarfng our merchant marine. Nor is
our fisher population great, considering
our vast extent Of coast. The reason for
this probably is, that the cheapness and
fertility Of our soil, compared with other
countries. do not compel 50 many Of
our citizens TO seek livelihood from
the water. But, though the pay Of the
men of the navy is larger than that Of
the men of the army. we guess the real
reason why the navy attracts so few re-
cruits is that the discipline and restraints
Of the service are repugnant to freedom
loving youth.