Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-05
A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Difficulty in Keeping Army Up to
Authorized Strength.
HARD TO GET RECRUITS
Views of Colonel Endorsed by Many
Other Officers.
CONDITIONS OF ENLISTMENT
War Department Circular of October
12, 1906. Amended in Several
Important Respects.
CONDITIONS OF ENLISTMENT

War Department officials have become
somewhat concerned the difficulty of
obtaining desirable recruits for the army,
and in that way maintaining the enlisted
branch at its authorized strength II is re-
ported that there is n general dissemination
on the part of soldiers to re-enlist, espe-
ciaIly where service outside of the United
States is involved. 1t on that account
that it recently became necessary to appeal
to the Navy Department to permit the re-
tention of marines in Cuba to serve part
of the military establishment. Many of the
soldiers in the island republic whose terms
had expired refused to re-enist, notwith-
standing they were offered pecial induce
ments to do A general falling off in
recruiting is reported, and it has become
necessary to establish many new stations in
different parts of the country.
Views of Many Officers.
\ colonel Of the line on duty in the Phil
ippncs has recently expressed views in re-
gard to the difficulty of obtaining recruits
for the army. which Ravc been Endorsed
by many other officers serving with troops
in the field. The general discussion he
said, concerning the action of the Presi-
dent in dIscharglng Il battalion of the 18th
Infantry Is bearing fruit. Americans are
not of the class that for the most part
form foreign armies, and they will not en-
list TO be treated in the same way as Ger
mans Frenchmen and Italians While
high wages and plenty of employment in
civil life are attractions, there are many
who will enlist II there is a prospect of
fair and reasonable treatment in the army.
Since the general staff was established
there has been persistent effort not 10
take the best from foreigners and adopt
it, but to change our whole system forget
A IT,
ferently and will not put up with the same
treatment as foreigners. Compulsory mill
tary service will not. 1 think, be adopted
in our country, and L think most of us
hope not. at least. We have always had a
good army, though not large-excellent ma
terial, high degree of intelligence and
good discipline. Some of our young Off
GERS. without much experience, have of late
years Travelled abroad and witnessed for
come back and tried, with some success, to
impress on our people the necessity for
adopting the same things ourselves, forget
ting that the people and their education are
different. If the general staff will REVOKE
general order II of 1906, or substitute a
very much modified order. there will be no
difficulty in getting recruits, especially for
the infantry. Unless the pay is increased
very materially that would make little diff
ference. No man will enlist to be contin-
uOuSly carrying packs and loads without
object in view. The men are not bur-
dened thereby, but they are Disguised.
There should not be any practice marches
short ones without packs in the Philip
pines.
To meet existing conditions all recruiting
officers have been enjoined to make extra
efforts TO secure recruits and have been
authorized to relax physical standards here
tofore imposed whenever they deem it pru-
dent TO secure an otherwise desirable SOL
der.
New Recruit Requirements.
War Department circular of October u,
ary-in has
been amended in several important respects
in d circular just issued by Gen. W. z.
Duvall, acting CT eff of staff According to
the new instruction applicants for first en-
listment must be between the ages of
eighteen and thirty-five years, of good char
acter and temperate habits, able bodied,
free from disease, and must be able to
speak read and write the English Ian
guage.
Original enlistments will be confined to
persons who are citizens of the United
states or of Porto Rico, or who have made
legal declaration of their intention to be-
come citizens of the United States
Married men will be enlisted only upon
the approval OF a regimental commander
or Other proper commanding officer if for
other than a regimental organization.
For infantry, coast artillery and engineers
the height must be not less than five feet
four inches and weight not more than 100
pounds
For cavalry and field artillery Except
less than five feet four inches and not more
than five feet ten inches. and weight not
To exceed 165 pounds. For the mountain
batteries the height must be not less than
five feet eight inches and not more than
six feet
The minimum weight for all arms of the
service is 12S pounds. subject to certain
variations below that standard but in
case will applicant whose weight falls
below 120 pounds be accepted without spe-
Cial authority.
Discrimination Allowed.
The circular states that it is not necessary
that the applicant should conform exactly
TO the standard liked and that variations
below the standard are permissible when
the applicant is active, has firm muscles
and is evidently vigorous and healthy. 1t
is also stated that marked disproportion Of
weight over height is not cause for re-
lection unless the applicant be positively
obese.
The term of service is three years and
the pay of prvaIas ranges from S13 a
month for cavalry. artillery and infantry
to ST. a month for the engineers. ordnance
and Signal Corps. All soldiers receive from
the government, without cost, rauons.
clothing. bedding. medicines and medical
attendance
Soldiers who have served honestly and
faithfully twenty years, or who have been
discharged for wounds received disease
incurred In service. are entitled to admis-
sion 10 the Soldiers Home in the city of
Washington. The sum of 121k cents per
month is deducted from the pay OF each
soldier on the active list. TO be applied to-
ward the support OF the home.
Chance for Promotion.
The circular enumerates the other ad-
vantages of enlistment. such as the
chances OF increased pay. pension and re-
tirement. and closes follows
A favorable opportunity is afforded for
active intelligent young men of temperate
habits. who may enlist as privates and
develop the necessary qualifications, to Sc
cure promotion to the grade of a non
comm SSiOned officer. Unmarried soldiers
under thirty years OF age. who are citizens
of the United States. are physically sound,
who have served honorably not less than
two years in the army. and who have borne
good moral character before and after
enlistment. are permitted to compete, by
examination for promotion TO the rank Of
second lieutenant.
Story of Mystery.
Stewart Edward White and Samuel Hop