The Washington herald., 1908-07-19


IN the Boston Herald.
As the Coast Artillery Corps Is the part
Of the army in which New England is
naturally most interested and the branch
Of the army to which I belong, I shall
conhne my statements TO the opportuni-
ties offered a young man who enIists for
service at Fort Warren. Mass
When a young man Of eighteen enlistS
as a recruit his pay Is s15 a month net
Within q few weeks after he joins he Is
turned for duty as a private and quail
ass as a frst-class gunner-Fort Warren.
by the way. has the distinction Of having
qualified every artillery soldier as a first
class gunner His pay Is now s1s a month
net
It develops that this young man can
write a fair hand and has learned the
keyboard Of a typewriter and he IS detail
ed on extra duty as school teacher and
assigned 20 duty as clerk IN headquarters
His pay now Is SO a month net
Soldiers may deposit money with the
psymaster, which win be returned with
per cent interest when they are dis
charged have known men who de-
-Four cents a mile from place Of en-
nstment TO place OF discharge IS paid
each honorably discharged soldier
The army ration has recently been n
creased and improved by the addition Of
butter, milk. and other articles including
one pound Of turkey per nan on national
holidays The food Of a soldier is now
not only abundant and wholesome. but is
well prepared by able army cooks, who
are paid big wages.
A soldier who IS injured or gets sick IS
taken to an excellent hospital and is
treated by an able surgeon His pay
while IN the hospital goes on Just as be
fore His job knows no rainy day"
Should he be permanently disabled he
viii be discharged and given pension.
Separate Quarters for Officers.
Most OF the men live in barracks which
are well lighted and heated. and equipped
with all modern convenieaces. often IN
cluding a clubroom with library. psoI
table. and piano The higher grades Of
noncommissioned officers are furnished
separate quarters, which are spacious,
modern homes
When a soldier dies his widow Is given
an amount equal TO six months pay
Contrary TO the general belief. few men
can come and so as much - soldiers
While 81 Is true that they must have
written permission 10 be absent over
night from their company and post. yet
such permission can be secured for the
asking when not actually on duty. One
fourth Of this garrison can get q pass
from I p m until : a n. and one-third
from 5 ?. m until : a. m. and one-half
from Saturday noon until Monday morn
ing
Any man desiring to Join the army may
90 70 any recruiting station or 70 an
army post II he goes 70 a recruiting
station he viii be examined and investI-
gated. and II found worthy viii be sent
20 a recruit depot for final examination
and inspection L found worthy. he viii
be accepted and sworn into the service
After receiving recruit Instructions he
will be assigned 10 an organization II
he enlists 81 an army post he VIII be as
signed u duty at that post
An applicant for enlistment must pass
a rigid physical examination and must
present letters from people who have
known him. preferably those for whom
he has worked. stating that he Is known
by them to be sober. industrious. and
Z
anxious 10 get a living without working
for IL
The service offers 70 an applicant for
enlistment this exceedingly fair PROPOSE
ton: Come 20 Fort Warren on govern
ment transportation. present satisfactory
credentials. pass the examination. and
you may receive rations and quarters for
ten days. II al the end OF that time you
decide that you VIII not like the life OF &
soldier. you are at liberty 70 return 70
Boston on free transportation.
Having outlined the best and worst that
the ranks" offer. let Is take the case
OF the young man 10 whom the commits
sion grade Is open
There are three ways 10 a commission
the Military Academy, the ranks. and
civil appointment
How Appointments Are Made.
An appointment TO West Point Is re-
celved from member OF Congress or the
President This appointment offers the
young man Of ability and ambition an
opportunity TO secure q college education
at the expense Of the government and g
commission as second lieutenant from the
date OF graduation
Appointments from civil life are o.-lv
made when the graduating class at West
Point and the class from the ranks have
rot filed the vacancies in the grade Of
second lieutenant
The chance 10 secure either OF the above
IS limited The chance TO
secure q commission through the ranks is
limited only by the ability and energy Of
the applicant.
This private clerk makes good. and IS
promoted 10 the grade Of corporal HIS pay
now is so a month net
After a few months study and practice
he demonstrates that he can handle the
depression position finder and IS rated
as an observer. first class His pay now
IS SIS a month net.
BY his marked attention 70 duty and
his demonstrated ability he has won the
esteem OF his company and pest com
nanders and he is promoted to the grade
of sergeant His pay now Is So a month
net
He has now reached the end Of his
1rst year. Having had only a grammar
school education. he fears that he could /
never pass the examination for promo |
ion 70 the grade Of a commissioned Of
icer. and he decides to try for master /
electrician, the highest noncommissioneG |
srade- He therefore reiinQuishes his ex-
IA duty job as clerk and his rating as 1
'oSSEFef anu = QeN6liec 70 attend the i
electrician sergeant school Al Fort Mon /
-oe. Va During his school year his pay
viii be s33 a month net
Gets Thorough Instruction.
At the school he receives careful in
'truetion IN the elementary principles 1
II algebra and geometry. Is trained as I
KILLED mschinist. and is grounded in the /
Elementary principles and application OF 4