Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-01-05

Applicants for Enlistment at the
Springfield IIIJ Recruiting ofics
-.Rsqursnsnts Of q soldier.



CorrssDontsaee Of the Ledger.
OFFICE OF THE RECRUITING Or
FTcER, srRmoFisLD, Ill Dec. 2s =
Returning from my ohRIstmas in Mis-
souri, ! found everything dalI except
the recruiting business, which is rather
lively. As tbs holidays ARE passing
pocket money is scarce and many are
out OF employment. Upon arriving
here Tuesday morning I found 10
wanting 10 60 10 the Philippines
Seven of thsse were enlisted and re-
iected. OF the latter was q year too
young, II; two years too old, 3s; 1
was married, was a quarter Of an inch
too small, feet 81 inches; had
sprained an ankle while walking hero
from Aahland, 20 miles, to enlist, apd
the remainder failed 10 pass examine
ton for various reasons, one falling
on four different thinge. The 2 enlist
ed men were sent 10 Jefferson Bar
racks for the 18th United States Infant
~, which is under orders for Manila.
ALI good general service recruits ar
riving at the Barracks at present will
be requested togo with the 18th II they
30 desire.
To-day there were four applicants.
One was too old, was not citizen,
one was only 10 and had no father,
mother or guardian to give consent,
and the fourth was accepted.
Applicants for enlistment must be
between the ages Of 15 and IS years, Of
good character, able bodied, free from
disease and must be able to speak and
understand English. Married men will
only be accepted upon the approval OF
the reglmental commanders and il 10
generally useless to apply, for they are
not desirable. Often when wanted at
the barracks they are ct home with
their families, besides it is not in ac-
cordance with the military IDEA to
have the men scattered over or near
the post, but to be quartersd together
In the barracks. II person proves
to be good soldier and a desirable
one the regimental commander will
genrally allow him to marry, as is the
case with faithful, sergeants and cor
porals many times. Those between IS
and 2i years OF age can be enlisted
only with the written consent Of the
father, mother or guardian.
Original enllstments are confined to
citizens OF the United States or to
those who have legally declared their
intention to become citizens. Weight
must be between 100 and 100 pounds
and proportional to the height. Five
feet four inches is the minimum
height for all branches and Eve feet
ten inches 10 the maximum for cavalry,
the infantry and artillery having no
limit in that direction A cavalFyman
can not weigh over 1876 pounds. The
cavalry, however, 10 about full at
presenf ard ali eniisfmsrts srs CON
fined TO infantry aud artillery. The
term OF service is three years. The
pay is s1s per month and rations,
clothing, bedding medicines, and med
icai attendance are furnished. OIoth-
ing not drawn can be left and its value
in money drawn instead. Pay in
creases 20 per cent during war and
after two years service a dollar
month is added, with further increase
with continued service.
Soldiers who have served honestly
and faithfully twenty years or who
have been discharged for wounds re-
ceived or disease In the service will be
cared for ct the Soldiers Home in
Washington, d. O. After thirty years
service they can be retired on three
fourths pay and draw $3.50 a month
as Communication for clothing and sub
sistence.
II any of Company L want to renew
last summers experiences with an
additional fund In Manila just call at
the Pierik building.
Very Truly Yours,
]. o. JOHNSON, R. o.