Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-06-19
PRAIRIE LADS GOOD SAILORS.
Are Superior Mentally and Physi-
chilly, recruiting officer Says.

Are Superior Mentally and Physi-
CHILLY, Recruiting officer Says.
The middle West Is all right when
it comes to furnishing good recruits
for the navy" said Lieut. 1. f. Lands,
in charge of the United States navy
recruiting station here, according to
the Kansas City Star. eve not only
get good men, but we're getting manv
of them. Last month was a record
breaker in point of the number Of en-
listments here. We got ten more yes
terday and three this morning"
Lieut.. Landis is a westerner himself.
Medicine Lodge, Kan, by the late Jer-
ry Simpson, Representative, fourteen
years ago.
There was a time the lieutenant
said, when the great majority of the
navy enlistments were made in the
seaports, but the last few years the in
land recruiting stations have been send
ing many Elen to the navy.
i "Few Of those who enlist here are
Kansas Cityans. The most of them
come from the farms and smaller
towns near here"
Navy Department data show that a
superior class of men is obtained from
this section. A smaller number Of re-
cruits is rejected for physical causes at
the final examination at the training
stations thar those from other parts Of
the country and the westerners show
an unusual degree of intelligence and
aptitude for learning their new duties.
While quite a number of mechanics are
recruited from the western cities, the
majority of the enlistments is in the
rating of apprenticed m Those
who enlist in this rating are sent to
training stations. At present Kansas
City enlisted men go to Norfolk. The
pay at the start is SIG a month, but
the men are first given a thorough
course of instruction fitting them for
the duties of the seaman branch.
The recruits transportation from the
recruiting office and his board, lodging
and outfit Of uniform are furnished by
| the government. After mastering the
| details of any particular branch Of the
service. as the seaman branch or any
of the mechanical branches, the men
are eligible for advancement to petty
officer, third class, which pays from $50
to $50 a month. After that advance
ment, depending upon capability, may
be made to second-class petty officer,
first class petty officer and chief petty
officer. Thu pay of a chief petty Off
Ger is $40 a month, to which are added
free r%ations, lodgings and medical care.
Extra pay is allowed for certain duties,
such as service aboard submarines, ex-
pertness in signaling or gun pointer.
ais also assist to bring a chief petty
officers pay up to ST5 and $50 a month.
Further advancement is offered to
the maj who studies in the warrant
rank, This position pays from $1,000
TO S1,S00 a year and allowances and is
n lie position, with all the benefits of
longevity, pay and retiraaaent that COM
missioned officers gsssive.
1t is possible for an enlisted man
to secure q commission in the navy
The first man to take advantage Of this
law was Lieut.. II. B. Soule, u. S. n.
He was serving as gunner in 1901 at
the time of the passage of the act and
rassaa a successful examination that
year, receiving an appointment as en-.
| sign. He is now a lieutenant. He en-,
tered the service as apprentice, third
class, at ~ a month.