New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-19
FRENCH NOW A SERGEANT
IN RECRUITING SERVICE.
Asks British Consul Not to Make
4ny More Fuss about HIM.

Quick promotion has fallen to the lot of Arthur
Reginald French heir to the title and estate OF
Baron de Freyne. of County Koscommoh' nv
land. who n4ysteriously disappeared from '"e
Hotel St Denis on January 10. and has since
been found at Fort Slocum, whittier ne went
after enlistipg.
French was reserve lieutenant In the brltiSh
army. and he had not been at the fort lous Oe
fore his fine carriage and expert drill tactics
caught the eye of his superior officers Oh
Friday. just before his identity was discovered
by the newspapers he was promoted to be act
ing first sergeant of recruits. He Is attached 10
the Sth United States Infantry, (which Is being
recruited at the fort, and he will have charge Vi
the morning drill of recruits of Company A.
His comrades with whom he is popular, say
that his promotion is only the first step up the
ladder and that they expect him 10 get com
mission before a great while. They base their
belief that he will become an officer on the fact
that he received a thorough military education
at Sandhurst England where he was sent by
his father who was colonel OF the Connaught
Rangers and that he is splendid drill master
and ought to be able to get high rating at the
examinations for officers.
Sergeant French was the object Of great curl
osity yesterday among the soldiers Of the fort
when they learned his identity. When he ap-
peared on the parade grounds to drill a squad or
recruits who are to be sent TO Columbus Bar
racks all the soldiers not on post gathered about
to watch him. The soldiers OF FTench's COM
pany speak Of him in friendly terms and say he
Is one Of the most democratic comrades they
ever had.
Sergeant French said yesterday that he came
to this country TO go TO Canada and join the
mounted police. but hearing that the climate
there was too cold he decided it would be bet
ter to join the United states Army He had
expected to go to his unce's ranch i'm Mexico
butt after waiting few days and receiving no
answer to a telegram that he sent to him. In
curing about the best route by which TO reach
that country. he went to recruiting station in
Sixth-ave where he donned the uniform of Uncle
sam and set out for Fort SlOcum with a detach-
ment of other recruits.
Il left my belongings at the st. Denis said
he. II owed them a few dollars. and thought
the value OF the traps would cover it. I am
sorry that there has been much ado about
my movements but I suppose it is my own
fault. I should have written to my people 10 tell
them where L am. 1 have just written to the
British Consul. asking him to take further
steps TO ascertain my whereabouts, as 1 like the
service and am perfectly content to remain
where I am"
1t was stated at the Office Of the British con-
sulate yesterday by one Of the attaches that the
officially found, although ii was understood that
a man answering his description had been found
at Fort Slocum.
I'VE have received no official communication
from the local police authorities continued the
attache. regarding the finding of the young
man. II may or may not be he. According TO
the reports we have read il seems that the
young man refused TO talk at Fort Slocun, and
there may be a mistake"
1t said that he had retired from the
British army he had a perfect right to enlist in
the United States Army. fS