Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1898-09-08
ARMY DESERTERS.

cent Oh Tile assertions That occur IN
the regular army are perpetrated by
recently Joined recruits. This seems
to imply that the treatment of the
youthful Tommy Atkins is somewhat
harsh, and that red tapelsm Is re-
sponsible for the loss to the country
Of many fine young men, who, under
slightly different circumstances, would
have been ornaments to our army.
Unfortunately, the recruits first I'M
pressions of the service are of n nat
ure calculated to Danish all enthusi-
asm for military career. Just now
we read great deal about recruiting
in Scotland for men to fill Scotch reg.
iments but very little about the shame
full way the young recruits are treated
by the authorities.
Suppose, for instance, number of
young men present themselves to the
recruiting sergeant ut Aberdeen and
wish to join the Scots Guards. They
pass rough preliminary medical ex-
animation. and are next sent on to the
regimcntal depot Mt London to be
sworn In. Until this swearing process
Is completed, they are not regarded as
soldiers of the queen" and conse-
quently receive neither pay nor IA
tons. 1t is quite II common thing for
twenty-five or thirty young men to he
sent rs deck passengers from Abcr-
deem to London by the authorities to
be enlisted. The passage, in fine
weather, occupies thlrty-siX hours, and
unless they can purchase 1t out of
their own money. which very few re-
cruits are able TO. not a particle OF
food passes their lips from the time
they leave Aberdeen until after they
arrive In London. march to barracks.
pass the doctor and complet" their
enlistment, q period of at LEAFS: forty
hours.
Owing TO this stupid system. numer-
Gus young men are lost to the service.
for, disguised with their treatment,
some recruits refuse to be sworn In.
and walk away directly the boat ar
rives. Habitual loafcrs. also. when
they wish to move from one town to
another. pretend to enlist and so OBJ
tain free passage. 1t would be sure
ly quite easy to devise measure that
would make 1t q punishable offence to
obtain n free passage ut the taxpay-
ers' expense under false pretences. and
then 1t would he only just to furnish
the men on their journey with refresh
ments and rltIons.
The reason why the authorities de-
cline to do so at present is because In
their usual laundering way they argue
that nm Immense number OF objections.
able characters would pretend to be
willing TO enlist In order to obtain n
free passage and n feed on route:
obviously a childish argument to ad-
vance In support OF starving and dis.
gusting scores OF honest and excellent
men. when It would he so easy TO make
fraud punishable.
Ou his arrival mt barracks the recruit
again finds that soldering ''ain; all
lavender" For the purposes OF tho
medical examination he has. OF course,
10 strip, but II IL mons;rous to think
that men should he kept shivcrinG FOR
hours In nm unwarmcd room.
Owing to the ingenuity of the re-
,ruitipg scrGcanis. recruits who are mn
Inch or so short OF the minimum stat.
rr, con;rivc to pass. \ faroritG lr.
v:Cc is for the men TO bc instructed To
s,i * pieces OF soap on their heels. and
= az" Is" '"'" W ~ W '"'' "S'H"s.
IN one occasion n sergeant. after crit
caIiy surveying youth VINO was
about TO go before the doctor. struck
MN tremendous piow on the crown
u INC head Win walking stick.
What did you do that for:" inIuir.
ri the recruit rnooinS the injured
spot.
silence. you TOOL. replied the ser.
s'nnf. You wish TO become sol
iSr! Wen. you're Mt least half nn
inch too short. so We Just raised
bump on your head with my cane.
Right turn. march!
1t seems to he the rule IN most rcsi'