Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-01-18
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.

on ihird avenue swung around in IN
swivel chair This is the dun sei
son for recruiting. There is no othe
time Of the year when there are so fel
enlistments."
For what reason? Oh. the election
| think The men can get more wor
and better pay outside just now. S
they are not so anxious to Join IN
army.
Then Il isn't always patriotism
that makes them enlistg"
The kindly faced officer shook hi
head. relates the New York Times
No Sometimes it's because theyr,
out Of work and hard up. Others joii
the army through love of adventure
but there are some. the fighting
mans blue eyes kindled; there are
come 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
LEI OF the other departments and had
al last reached the final court. The
recruiting officer looked the boy over
with a military keenness that was not
unkindly
Your age?" he asked, IN brisk
tone.
Twenty answered the boy.
viii your parents certify to that?"
Il have none" said the youth, stead
lily, but with nervous lingering Of his
soft hat. I'm an orphan"
The officer asked him several other
questions and brought the interview
to an abrupt close.
Il can't take you in to-day" he said
and as the boys face clouded. he add
ed: Bring certiieations as TO your
age and character and a recommenda-
ton from the last man for whom you
worked If they are satisfactory I'll
enlist you tomorrow.
IT'S his age" explained the major.
He doesn't look anywhere near 21."I
But can't boys of rs 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 menu
Generally speaking in times OF
peace they're barred. Unless the colo
mel of some regiment Is willing TO take |
a married man Il is against the regu-
ations TO enlist him. You understand |
here's no provision made by the gov.
'rnment for the support OF the fam
lies of soldiers. The men cannot live
With their families. and It is out OF
he question to move them about the
country, so the benedicts are practic.
lily barred from the ranks.
Yes. indeed. they sometimes slip
n They desert their wives. and
hink they can escape In that way.
IND some OF them, If they get tired OF
rmy life, or think they are in any
LANCER, resurreet their wives. as II
we're, and use them as an excuse for
heir discharge from the service
hen they are dishonorably dis.
harged for having enlisted by fraud
Most of the applicants prefer the
nfantry and artillery to the cavalry
ecause there is much less work In
he first two. A eavalryman has to
AXE care of his horse as well as his
he has the work of the
lfantryman and about as much again.
IN the field, when camp is pitched,
e has to look out for his horse before
e can attend to his own wants. The
rtillery offers the most advantages.
he men like to be stationed at home
ere along the coast, where most OF
ne artillery is.
'On an average in this office we
ave from 1900 to 1900 enlistments a
ear For the past few years San
rancisco has broken the record for
but that is because there r
-e more reenlistments there than !
anywhere else. All the soldiers
Fought back from. the Philippines ,
nd in San Francisco. and the great
amber of those who again enter the
my enlist in the western city"