Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-15


cry four men-and as the quartermas-
iers of the army medical staff are Sc
lected from the warrant officers of the
| same corps there is also very good
prospect OF those who merit such ad-
vancement rising TO commissioned
rank. The army service corps is COM
posed of clerks. tradesmen and artisans
of almost every sort. and the recruits
for it are required TO be able to read
and write and 10 produce certificates of
good character. They must be from IS
to % years of age and measure from
D feet 3 inches to 3 feet . inches. In
this arm OF the service. which is COM
posed chiefly of little men, the pros
poets OF promotion are exceptionally
good. owing TO the large number OF
warrant and noncOmmisSioned officers
on its establishment. The weekly rates
of ordinary pay are as follows: War
rant officers. from IL les. 9d. to e. Is:
staff sergeants, Il Us. 3tk to 81 13s. Sd;
sergeantS, 1Ss. Id; privates, 13s. I'd.
But this is not all. In addition to the
above. corps pay is granted TO all men
below the rank OF staff sergeants at
rates varying from Is. Cd. to SIS. I'd per
week. and good conduct pay is also
granted according to length of service.
The gratuities on transfer to the re-
serve are the same as in other branches
of the service.
Throughout the army soldiers serv-
Ing with the colors who are medically
fit for the service may re-engaSe to
complete 81 years service under the
following conditions: Warrant officers
and SergeantS. after nine years Serv-
ice. have the right to re-engage. sub
ject 10 the veto only Of the secretary
of state for war. CorpOrals, bombar-
diers. bandsmen and artiticers. after
nine years service. may re-engaGe with
the permission of their commanding
officers. Other soldiers Of good charac-
ter may re-engage after completing IL
years service. Warrant officers have
at any time the right to extend their
service to II years with the cOlors. and
noncommissioned officers. after
years probation. have the same right.
Noncommissioned officers who fail to
exercise this right and other soldiers
will be permitted. after three years
service and under certain conditions,
to extend their service TO - years with
the colors. Men enlisted for three
years with the colorS and nine years
with the reserve may at any time be
permitted to extend their service to
seven years and subsequently. under
certain restrictions. to i years with
the colorS. One often hears Ii idly
said that there are now 10 long service
pensions granted in the army. The
reader can easily make ont from the
foregoing statements that the way to
such pensions is today as unobstruct-
i've in the army as it ever was.
But now, suppose the soldier has no
wish to serve long enough to secure the
coveted life pension and on completing
his term prefers TO enter civil life eli
ther as Il reserve soldier or diScharg-
ed one. what are his chances of obtain
ing employment? First. there is al
ready n certain amount of government
employment reserved for him. The
postmaster general has decided that
certain vacancies among provincial let
ter carriers and the auxiliary poStmen
in London are in future to be offered
to discharged soldiers and army re-
serve men of good character. Work Is
also provided for many old soldiers in
the royal arsenal. the royal army cloth
partmcnt. the customs and other gov
eminent departments. Secondly. many
eX- soldiers obtain employment in the
police and in borough po-
lice and county constabulary through
out the United Kingdom. Thirdly. en-
ployment for deserving soldiers is like
wise afforded by many of the railway
and in the corps of com
Fourthly. n register for |
civil employment is kept at the head |
quarters of all regimental districts. |
with the view Of assisting discharged |
Or transferred soldiers of good chaulc-
ter to obtain employment in civil life |
n national association for the |
of reserved and discharg- |
ed soldiers has been established for the |
purpose of introducing to employers OF |
labor soldiers of reliab BILE character on |
their discharge or transfer TO the re- /
serve. Men are registered without fee |
at the offices of this association for /
as clerks, collectors, at
PENDANTS. caretakers. timekcepers, night |
conductors, car men, po-
Iicemen. musicians, grooms, porters, la
borers, servants. etc.
One word in conclusion about the |
darkest spot in Tommy Atkins record
for the past year. There were 4.107 |
leserters, but 1.1S9 discovered their
mistake and. like wise men. returned |
before they drifted. as they would have
done. into mischief and ruined them
selves for life.
He Fooled the Surgeons.
A II 4 4