The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-03

The government has decided to estab-
lish naval recruiting office in this city.
1t will be more or less of an experiment
and for the present the office Will be
temporary. II results warrant, however, IL
viii be made permanent The establish
ment of the office Is a matter which the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce has been
agitating for several months and every ef-
fort will be made to Justify the action OF
the government in giving the city trial.
At present the only naval recruiting sta
ticn on the Coast is at San Francisco.
The office will be in charge OF Capt r.
X. Cole, United States marine corps, now
stationed at Bremerton, and will receive
recruits for that branch of the service
only being as a matter OF fact marine
recruiting office. Capt. Cole has secur d
for his quarters room 314 Pacific block and
win begin recruiting tomorrow. The estab-
lishment of many new naval stations in
the Orient and in the West Indies mas
made the enlistment of hundreds of addi-
tional marines imperative and Capt. Cole
will take all recruits who offer themselves
and are up 20 the standard flxed by the
government
Seattle Obtains Recognition.
The selection OF Seattle as the location
Of the recruiting office Is another tribute
to the growing Importance OF this city in
was instructed to investigate conditions in
the various cities OF the Northwest before
opening an Office and satisfied himself that
Seattle was by long odds the best place
for his purpose. The city, he says, Is
recognized as the great labor market of
the Northwest. possessing large floating
population from which he thinks many re-
cruits viii he obtained.
The lot of the marines OF the United
States navy Is generally regarded az one
of the most desirable in the service of the
country's flag. The marine Is virtually a
soldier OF the sea and enjoys a happy
combination of sea and shore life The
term of enlistment is five years. two of
which under ordinary circumstances are
spent In shore duty at naval stations with
In the United States. The other three are
spent In cruising or at naval stations
abroad. The pay Is the same as in the
army. ranging from $13 a month for FRI
Yates to $41 for the highest noncommis-
stoned officers. In addition the government
furnishes shelter. food, clothing and med
ical attendance.
The allowances for clothing and rations
are liberal and the enlisted man IL he IL
OF an economical disposition finds no diff
ficulty in saving considerable money out
Of his clothing allowance AT the end OF
thirty years service he may retire on
three-quarters pay with the customary al
lowance for food and clothing. His life II
exempt from much OF the drudgery of the
Jackie on board a man-of-war. and he
does not suffer the monotony of frontier
post life which prevents so many men II om
entering the army.
The requirements Of the government In
enlisting men for the marine corps are
practically the same as for the army. The
recruit must be unmarried. between he
ages Of q and IS years, not less than five
g. A. g..-l shA. Cd
one inch tall. physically sound. not ad-
dicted to the excessive use of intoxicants
and be an American citizen or have de-
clared his intentions to become such.
Advantages Marines Enjoy.
Besides having a splendid opportunity TO
see the world the chances fer advancement
in the marine corps are good. An enlisted
man who Is sober and intelligent rarely
falls to become a noncommissioned officer
and may even go higher. In war times
especially the opportunities for promotion
are frequent. In war times also the pay
OF the marines Is increased 20 per sent.
The recruits made In this city by Capt
Cole will be taken to Bremerton or to
Mare island and thence assigned to duty
at naval stations where they may be re-
quired
The marines have as their speciality
guard duty afloat and ashore. They gar
rison naval stations at home and abroad
and each warship carries number OF
them, generally about % per cent. OF her
crew. The battleehip Iowa. for example.
has seventy-five. They are armed with
rifles. Both on sea and land during the
war with Spain the marines gained aonor
for themselves
At sea the marines occupy a part Of the
ship to themselves and are exempt from
much of the disagreeable mental work OF
the sailors, For the most part their menIal
work is confined TO keeping their own quar-
tiers on the ship clean and orderly.
Capt Cole, who for eighteen months has
been stationed at Port Orchard, is familiar
with conditions on Puget sound and Is
confident that the government viii And
no trouble In obtaining a large number OF
recruits here He will gladly give addi-
tionai information regarding his branch OF