The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-12-07
RECRUITS FOR ARMY
NOT MANY APPLICATIONS AT
ELECTION TIME.
The Sort of Men Who Are in Evil
dence at the Government En-
listing Office and Their
Number.

"Recruiting?" The keen-eyed major
who has charge of the recruiting Office
on Third avenue swung around in his
swivel chair. This is the dull sea-
son for recruiting. There is no other
time of the year when there are so few
enlistments."
For what reason? Oh, the election,
| think The men can get more work
and better pay outside Just now, so
they are not so anxious to join the
army"
Then 1t isn't always patriotism
that makes them enlist?"
The kindly faced officer shook his
head, relates the New York Times.
No. Sometimes it's because they're
out of work and hard up. Others Join
the army through love OF adventure,
but there are some" the fighting
mans blue eyes kindled; "there are
some who join for love OF country"
A slender. fair-haired boy, who
looked nearer II than 20, entered the
room. He had passed the physical
examination and safely run the gan
let Of the other departments and had
at last reached the final court. The
recruiting officer looked the boy over
with military keenness that was not
unkindly.
Your age?" he asked, in a brisk
tone.
"Twenty-one." answered the boy.
'sNNill upur M arantc cartifv IN that 9u
81 have none," said the youth, stead
lily, but with nervous lingering Of his
soft hat. Pm an orphan"
The officer asked him several other
questions and brought the interview
to an abrupt close.
81 can't. take you in to-day" he said,
and as the boys face clouded, he add
ed: Bring certiications as to your
age and character and a recommenda-
tion from the last man for whom you
worked. II they are satisfactory I'll
enlist you tomorrow"
ITS his age" explained the major.
"He doesn't look anywhere near 21."
But can't boys of Is enlist?"
Certainly, but not without their
parents consent. They have to bring
papers from their parents and letters
of recommendation before we'll take
them"
And married men?"
Generally speaking, In times OF
peace they're barred. Unless the colo
mel of some regiment Is willing to take
a married man II is against the regu'
lations to enlist him. You understand
there's no provision made by the gov
ernment for the support Of the fam
lilies of soldiers. The men cannot live
with their families, and it Is out ol
the question to move them about the
country, so the benedicts are practic
ally barred from the ranks.
"Yes, indeed, they sometimes sliI
In. They desert their wives, anC
think they can escape In that way
And some of them. II they get tired o.
army life, or think they are in an,
danger resurrect their wives, as i
were, and use them as an excuse fol
their discharge from the service
Then they are dishonorably dis
charged for having enlisted by fraud
"Most of the applicants prefer thu
infantry and artillery to the cavalr!
because there is much less work II
the first two. A cavalryman has Il
take care of his horse as well as hi
equipments; he has the work OF tn
infantryman and about as much again
On the field, when camp is pitched
he has to look out for his horse befor
he can attend to his own wants. Tn
artillery offers the most advantages
The men like to be stationed at hom
here along the coast, where most o
the artillery is.
ION an average in this office W
have from 1,20O to 1900 enlistments
year. For the past few years Sal
Francisco las broken the record TO
enlistments, but that is because ther
are more reenlistments there tha
anywhere else. All the soldier
brought back from the Philippine
land in San Francisco. and the grea
number OF those who again enter tn
army enlist IN the western CITY,"
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