Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-01-05
RECRUITS FOR ARMY
NOT MANY APPLICATIONS AT
ELECTION TIME.
ne nort q Hen Who are in Ev1.
0nncs ak the Government In
listing Once and Their
Number.

AtS%A 0ktAAbt = AZ A@CA~GI&8
who has charge Of the recruiting once
on Third avenue swung around In his
swivel chair. This is the dull sea-
on for recruiting. There Is no other
ime OF the year when there are 60 few
,nlistments."
For what reason? Oh, the election,
think. The men can get more work
md better pay outside Just now, so
hey are not SO anxious to join the
.rmy."
Then 1t isn't always patriotism
hat 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"
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 brisk
tone.
"Twenty-one," answered the boy.
"Will your parents certify to thatf"
Il have nome" said the youth, stead
ily. but with nervous lingering Of his
soft hat I'm IN orphan"
The officer asked him several other
questions and brought the interview
to an abrupt close.
II can't take you In today" he said.
and as the boys face clouded, he add
ed: Bring certiflcations as TO your
age and character and q recommends
ton from the last man for whtjm you
worked. IL they are satisfactory I'll
enlist you tomorrow"
Its his age" explained the major.
''He doesn't look anywhere near 81"
but can't boys Of IS enlistf"
Certainly, but not without their
parents consent. They have to bring
papers from their parents and letters
OF recommendation before well 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 1t In against the regu-
lations to enlist him. You understand
there's no provision made by the gov
eminent for the support Of the fam
lilies OF soldiers. The men cannot live
with their families, and il is out OF
the question to move them about the
country. so the benedicts are practic-
ally barred from the ranks
"Yes. indeed. they sometimes slip
in They desert their wives, and
think they can escape In that way.
And some OF them, II they get tired OF
army life. or think they are In any
danger, resurrect their wives, as It
were. and use them as an excuse for
their discharge from the service.
Then they are dishonorabiy dis
charged for having enlisted by fraud
Most Of the applicants pssfer the
Infantry and artillery to the cavalry
because there is much less work In
the first two. A cavalryman has to
take care OF his horse as well as his
equipments; he has the work OF the
infantryman and about as much again.
On the field, when camp Is pitched,
he has to look out for his horse before
he can attend to his own wants. The
artillery offers the most advantages.
The men like to be stationed at home
here along the coast. where most Of
the artillery is.
ION an average in this Office we
have from 1000 to 1900 enlistments a
year. For the past few years San
Francisco has broken the record for
enlistments, but that is because there
are more Refreshments there than
anywhere else. All the soldiers
brought back from the Philippines
land In San Francisco. and the great
number of those who again enter the
army enlist In the western city"