New-York tribune., 1899-07-16


rERENr MEN TO ENLIST.
Ono NJ the busy places in NewYork OF which
only \ small part of the population mas any
knowledge is the United States Army recruit
ing station in Third-ave The oihce mas Oeen
there a number Of years. and since Oc'ooe''
1897 il has been under the supervision OF MAJOR
Folliot A. whitney Of the 9TH Infantry "ho
will soon leave the station and report Tor duy
in the Philippines. where his regiment Is STA
toned.
The recruiting station has advahcel III IN
nortance since the order to raise ten volunteer
regiments was issued. and the number OF ehlist-
ments has gradually advanced from three or
four a day t. ten times that number.
There IS nothing about the station or its sur
-ourdings 70 induce one TO become soldier
no displav no bright uniforms. no music; noth-
ing but poorly furnished rooms in tumble
lown bouse-and TO this place men from all
stations in life have been coming in the Iast
few days TO offer their services as soldiers
Nearly all the men who present themselves tel
the recruiting officers in which arm OF the Ser
vice they would prefer u serve and where, and
in most instances their wishes are complied
with
Enlistment in the volunteer service is FOR two
years from June 80 at $l3 month, with u
per cent increase in time Of war while the en-
listment In the Regular service is for three
years at the same pay Some Of the applicants
are undecided as to which branch Of The service
to enter and in such cases the best men are Sc
lected for the Regular service. because 80 ex-
animation for the volunteer service is less rigid
\ volunteer must be able TO speak English, but
he must be a naturazed citizen or must have
made legal declaration of intention to become 4
citizen and must be able 10 read and write the
English language to be admitted into the Regu-
lar service. The men in both Regular and vol
unteer services, must be between the ages ot
eighteen and thirty-fve "of good habits, able
bodied and free from disease" Married men
will be enlisted Only upon the approval OF a
rcgimentaI commander. The regulations pre-
scribe that for infantry and artillery the heigh;
must be not less than , feet inches and weight
not less than 12o rounds and not more than 100
pounds For cavalry the height must not be
less than > feet 4 inches and not more than ;
ieet 10 inches and weight must not exceed 1GJ
pounds
When the headquarters are opened in tho
morning there are usually men waiting TO go
before the examiners and others who have been
sleeping over the matter or thinking IL over may
be seen in Railways and on the curb near 10y
debating with themselves or some blue coated
young man the feasibility of going in"
Those who decide in favor OF the army go q
the little officer at the head of the stairs wherr
three or four non-commissioned officers MAKE
out the application papers At this stage x
the proceedings number Of men are stopped
and sent back.
"Od buns. men who are over age and boys
who are not old enough" said Sergeant Taylor.
"are turned down here and sent away but they
often turn up again in the hope that We may
allow them to slip through
I'm this office one gains the best idea ot who
and what the prospective soldiers are because
their dress gives one q clew 10 their places "a