The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-14
HOSPITAL CORPS.
Orders From Washington
to Expedite The
Work.

Orders have come from Washington
to the recruiting officers to enlist as
many qualified men as possible, as soon
as possible. for the hospital corps
branch of the service says the
Philadelphia Inquirer. In accordance
with these instructions, special eff
fort is being made to obtain competent
men, and bills have been posted in va
rious places setting forth the advan-
tages of this service. There is only one
such recruiting station in the city;
there the applicants, it was said today,
number as many as can be handled by
the force at work. Out of the men who
appear, however, only two or three are
accepted day.
Service In the hospital corps is gen
orally considered desirable by enlisted
men-not more so for the higher pay
than for the class Of work to be done,
The corps consists Of stewards, acting
stewards and privates, who receive $45,
US and S18 month respectively, with
! 20 per cent added in time Of war. The
private OF the line receives about $13,
with the same percentage of increase
In time of war; and even the sergeant
major OF a regiment is paid
about $40 less month than
hospital steward. 1t is, there
fore, advertised oonspicuously that SER
vice In the corps "opens the way to one
OF the best positions attainah1e by an
enlisted man in the United States ar
my"
The men who seek enlistment are of
better class than those who appear at
the recruiting stations for the line. Oc-
casionally young medical student, and
sometimes young physician, is en-
listed. This, however, does not happen
SO OFTEN as it did before the Cuban cam
paign. The recruiting office only needs
70 LOOK at some Of the men to reject
them; for higher degree of intelli
gence is required than for service on the
| line, and the department has enioined
care In selection. The applicants have to
pass the same physical examination as
the other recruits, with the exception
| that defect of vision which can be
corrected by glasses does not disquahfy:
and the matter of intelligence and gem
eral fitness is left to the recruiting
| officer.
| A hospital private must serve three
months before he can be appointed an
| acting hospital steward; he may then
be detailed on the recommendation of
his medical officers that he is qualified
and has passed the required examine
ton Hospital stewards are appointed
from the acting stewards who have
served not less than twelve months and
are approved by a board Of medical
officers. There is no advance beyond this
grade except for the graduates of recog-
nized medical colleges, who may be ap-
| pointed assistant regimental surgeons,
But, as was sadd, no such important
and remunerative positions are open to
enlisted men ip the infantry and cavalry
branches Of the service.
Ordinarily, applicants must be be.
tween the ages of 81 and So, unmarried
OF good character and habits, ahle-bod-
led, free from disease, not less thar
8 feet inches in height. and able tc
speak, read and write the English Ian.
guage. In these days, applicants OF
Is years old, provided they come up t.
the other requirements, are readily ac-
| cepted. So far as promotion is CON
cerned, men rise from grade to grade
who show themselves earnest intelli-
gent, capable and Trustworthy"
Members of the hospital corps car
deposit their savings in sums of mo-
less than IS with any army paymaster
and for sums so deposited for si1
months or longer, interest at the rate
or per cent per annum is paid on fina
discharge. These deposits are non
forfeitable except for desertion. Fol
those who have become infirm durine
20 years service, or who have been dis
charged for wounds received or sick
ness brought on in service, a comfort
able home Is maintained in Washington
The sum of 1871 cents month is de
Quoted from each soldiers pay, to b,
applied towards the support Of tn,
home. After 80 years service enlist
ed men are entitled to be retired, anC
upon retirement to receive monthly
three-fourths of the pay allowed then
by law in the grade they held wher
retired. with an allowance for clothing
and subsistence.