The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-08

AaP. zen. Lambert yesterday issued
an order requiring a physical exami-
nation OF all candidates for member
snip in the state national guard.
new enlistment blank has been arrang-
ed By Gen. Lambert and before any
one can become member Of the state
militia he must submit to a. phvsicaI
examination made by the regularly au-
thorized examining surgeon of the
guard.
1t is claimed that the new regulation
Will elevate the standard TO a marked
degree. and will bring the general
makeup Of the home guard consider
ably nearer the requirements Of the
United States army.
Gen. Lambert explained that it was
the intention Of the department to put
the national guard on a basis where
1t could be mustered into the service
CT the United States in short order,
without having a great many thrown
out On account of physical defects.
The matter was one which greatly
retarded the labors of the mastering
officers last spring when the militia
was called into the volunteer service.
AS the guard was only recruited to a
minimum standard. in many cases
nearly half-hundred new men had
tC be secured before a company could
be mustered in. This necessitated a
delay of a couple of weeks or more.
For number Of years the matter of
physical examinations has been one
that has been urged in national guard
circles among those who were best
able to judge of the efficiency of the
organization. but they have never been
able to break through the iron clad
usages under the old administration,
The new order is one which emanates
distinctively from the new head Of the
state militia forces, and will be put
into effect at once. OF course those
already in the guard will not have TO
undergo an examination but all new
applicants for membership will be sub
mitted to the physical examination as
we'll as those whose terms expire and
who desire to re-enlist.
The examination will not be as rigid
as that necessary for enlistment in
the regular army, as little defects will
be overlooked. But the applicant must
be ablebodied and well proportional, or
he can not secure the surgeons certif1-
cate, which. in the future, will be the
passport of admission.
Physical defects, which do not seem
ooiiiCISllI " ItJCCI, Uul WIllCl InlSHl
be aggravated by soldier duties will be
passed upon by the examining board.
otherwise the examining officer will
have full power to decide the appli-
cants eligibility.
Another new departure which has
been instituted by the new administra-
ton is a certificate Of consent from the
parent or guardian of all under the
lawful age limit. In the past this has
been a rule, but has not been very
closely lived uD to. but in the new
form Of enlistment paper a blank form
back
The following is the new oath of en-.
listment. which Is in substance the
same as the old form. II do solemly
swear that 1 am of legal age to enlist,
and have this day voluntarily enlisted
as a soldier in the national guard of
the state of Minnesota, for the period
of three years unless sooner discharg-
ed by proper authority; that l will bear
true faith and allegiance to the United
States Of America and the state of
Minnesota, that l will serve them
faithfully against all their enemies.
whomsoever; and that l Will obey the
orders Of the chief, and
the orders Of the officers appointed over
me according to law"
1t has been the aim of the depart
ment to make the enlistment forms as
simple as possible.
Charles A. Allen, of Minneapolis, was
yesterday commissioned as second lieu
tenant of Company c. Fourth regi-
ment, Minneapolis, vice Lieut. S. G.
Abbott resigned.