The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-18
UNCLE SANS RECRUITS
Applicants for EnlistmentCome
from All Ranks of Life.
RIGHT MEN ARE PLENTY
Largest Recruiting Station in United
States Is in New York city--Mar-
rled Men Not Desidable, as a Rule
= Few AppIy-Applicant Must
a. Tueptv.Ope

Few Apply-Applican Must
Be Twenty.one.
Just at the present time Uncle Sam
= very particular about whom he ac-
pts for enlistment in the army, says
10 New York News. Only the flow
of American manhood and such el.
bile young men of foreign extraction
have declared their intention of
5coming citizens are accepted now.
2he reason for this is that the army
is made attractive cough to induce
the right kind of men TO enter the ser.
vice of the Government.
In the first place, the pay Is far
higher than in any foreign military
service and the chances of promotion
are greater. Another reason is that
the Government can get all the men
1t requires for the army is the chance
Of foreign service. That is a good
drawing card with many young men
who want to see the world.
Applicants for enlistment must be
between the ages of twenty-one and
thirty-fve years, of good character and
temperate habits, able-bodied, free
from disease, and able to speak, read
and write the English language.
The right kind of men are abundant,
so that the recruiting officer can
take his pick of the many applicants.
The latter are from all the various
walks OF life, and include mechanics,
newspapermen, clerks, lawyers. and
sometimes men of independent for
tune, who enter the service from love
of it,
Occasionally young sprig Of no
bility, having for some reason of his
own left his ancestral home in Europe
enlists.
Very few married men enter the
army. They are only taken upon the
approval of regimental commander
or other competent authority Very
few are chosen.
In the infantry, coast artillery and
engineers the minimum height is five
feet four inches, with weight not over
100 pounds, or less than 12i pounds
For the cavalry and field arai,lery
the height must not be less than five
feet four or not more than five feet
ten inches; with weight not over 16S
pounds. The chest measurement must
be proport!onate to the height and
weight.
After the recruit has passed the
cuisite medical examination, and is
.cepted, he is sent to Fort Slocum
Iglo
sught the first rudiments of the sol
.er's profession. In what is COM
-4only known as the awkward squad"
the recruit is instructed how to stand
and walk erect.
Having attained a certain amount
of instruction, he is passed on to the
regiment to which he has been as.
signed. Here his military education
is continued for about year. BY
this time he is supposed to be a COM
petent soldier
All enlisted men receive, in add.
ton to the regular pay, rations, cloth
ing and medical attendance. There is
also a chance for careful man to
save money on his clothing allowance.
The rates of pay are varied and range
from $13 per month for privates and
$S4 for sergeants and $50 for chief
musicians. Besides that a private
has the opportunity to rise to the rank
OF second lieutenant, at S125 per
month.
In some branches if the service
men with trades get increased pay,
varying from 81 to S. per month more
than the private. The corporals pay
is Sl5 per month; that of sergeant
SIS; first sergeant, $25; sergeant-ma-
jor, S34; battalion sergeant-maJor, s38.
In the Hospital and Signal corps the
pay is higher For instance, the pri-
vate in the Hospital Corps is paid SIG,
hrst class private, $18; corporal, 500;
sergeant. S25; first class sergeant,
&45, In the Signal Corps the privates
pay is $l3 and $17; corporals and
cooks, $50; sergeants, $34 and s45,
and master signal electrician, SIS.
For foreign service such as the Phil
ippine Islands, Guam, Alaska, China
and Panama, the men get an increase
OF 20 per cent on the regular rates of
pay.
When a man re-enlists after the
expiration of his term of three years.
If within three months of the date of
his discharge, he gets an increase of
II for the month for the first year,
" for the second, SO for the next, and
thereafter $12 per month additional
from the sixth to the tenth years of
service. After the tenth year the in
crease Is 81 per month for each sue
sessiye five years.
The soldier can deposit his savings
and draw interest at the rate of 4 per
sent. These deposits are non.forfeit-
able, except for desertion. All money
saved from the clothing allowance is
paid to him on his discharge from the
service.
After twenty years service, honor
ably discharged men are entitled to
admission to the Soldiers Home at
Washington. After thirty years SER
vice they can be retired on three
zDurths of the monthly nav and so 90