Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-22

produce the desired results. Recruits OBJ
tanned in slum neighborhoods are youngsters
out OF work in the main often without fam
lily ties and sometimes quite willing II well
persuaded to get away from their current
surroundings, even II the prospects be fairly
favorable for service against half-savage
native rebels in India, the still more savage
blacks of Africa or the Beers. more danger
ous, because Of their superior craftsmanship,
than either Hindus or blacks. A guaranty
of the recruits good moral character Is re-
quired, ostensibly, but the regulations upon
this point are not administered with great
rigidity in many instances and the contin
gency OF rejection upon the moral record of
the recruit is remote indeed.
Very many Of the men recruited in the
more crowded sections OF the cities go into
the militia, which is about unlike the
National Guard here as can easily be lmag-
ined and whose members are regarded with
less favor by the middle class population of
Great Britain than those Of any other branch
of the service 1t has been commonly sup
posed, both in and out Of England, that the
militia could not be ordered to do foreign
service, but this Is an error. The militia
may be sent out Of the country II occasion
arise, and furthermore, If its ranks be not
filled by volunteer enlistment" limited
conscripion may be enforced to that end
This has not been resorted to in thirty years,
but the law authorizing 1t Is still on the
statute boCks and would be effective any
year in which the customary militia ballot
suspension act were not passed by Parlia-
ment.
Recruits From the Peasant Glass.
In the regular foot regiments recruits
from the English peasant class, or, rather,
some one has said, peasants deterior-
ated by two generations of life as mill op-
eratives," are much in evidence. The re-
cruit of this class in general is a somewhat
understood, narrow chested faxen haired
lad of what would be termed rather defec-
tive education in America and with abnor-
NAL appetites so far as ale and tobacco are
concerned. The British "cruty" OF this
type is decidedly inferior in body, mentality
and general training to the average Amer
lean regular army recruit in time Of peace
or volunteer as accepted while the war with
Spain on but probably not below the
bodily standard maintained during the
greatest demand for soldiers in civil war
times.
There has been much criticism by the
English themselves OF the low physical
standard of the army recruits and more
than one British authority has referred to
them a lot of "half-grown boys"
British officer of high standing, who admits
that many immature youngsters find their
way into the ranks says this is a good thing
the whole His theory is that the recruit
who begins his service before attaining full
growth will soon "fll OUT thus acquiring
the proper size and weight. Meanwhile he
will receive his training as soldier at just
the time it is most likely to pre- duce last
ing impression upon him in every way. In
fact, he continues, many conn manding ofii-
GERS have reported that young recruits often
develop into more satisfactory soldiers than
other men because they received their mil
itary training during, and not AFTER the
formative period of their lives. 1t should
be understood that not all British recruits
are of inferior physical types. Men from
every walk Of life enlist in her majesty's
service and many OF them splendid
chaps bodily. They enter the crack regi-
ments, of course. 1t Is not expected that
any of the raw recruits will be sent out at
this time The British aim is always to
have the fighting done by seasoned soldiers
and should it continue in any instance till
they are exhausted the new soldiers will
have been pretty well trained meanwhile.
Recruiting sergeants are paid 60 cents for
every ordinary recruit; for recruit suit
able to enter the Scots Guards, the cavalry,