South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-25
Nearly Two Hundred Apply for
Enlistment at Armory-0n-
Iy Ten Men Secured After
Several Hours Work.
ONLY THE BEST IS
WANTED FOR COMP ANY
Major Freyermuth Tells Mem
berS That Call to the Front
Can be Expected at Any
Time.

The war fever is in the city. Not
to be outdone by other cities in this
good old United States of ours the
boys of South Bend are responding
the call.
Last night nearly 200 lads from all
walks of life clamored and struggled
for entrance into the big red armory
on s. Lafayette ST. to get in on the
enlistment before the required
strength of the company was filled
However. there are lot Of questions
connected with the affair and by half
past ten when Capt. Rogers and his
three assistants closed shop, only ten
boys had been able to be examined.
A score or more of questions must
be answered. When the wouldbe
soldier is through answering them
side history from to lizard. But
they took II all good naturedly and
answered everything that was ASKED
of them.
To Undergo Examination.
All that the applicants of last night
must yet undergo, is a medical eX-
animation by DIT. c. a. Warwick.
Assisting Capt. Rogers of Company +
last night were First Lieut.. Otto ID.
Sergt Russell Reid.
Before the examination of recruits
began Major George Freyermuth gave
the assembled members of Company
F and the recruits a short talk full
Of significance. Major Freyermuth
spoke to the men in clear straightfOr-
ward tones. The men stood bare
headed while he spoke and when he
finished gave a cheer and loud ap-
plause.
Major Freyermuth said:
Gentlemen, we are about to be
called out TO go to war with Mexico.
How soon we will be called 10 go
do not know absolutely. But I feel
that we will Unless some one backs
down which / feel safe in predicting
will not happen, we will be called to
the front in two or three days.
Want To be Ready.
when this call comes we want to
| be ready We have been instructed to
recruit our company to its full
strength. Our full strength in time
OF war is los men, in peace "a. To
meet the peace requirement we need
| "a men and for the war department,
| the additional difference between 81
and los.
I'VE want the best men. The best
men available are the men who come
! forward first as you do tonight. You
do not have to come. The National
| Guard does not coax men to fight for
| the flag; IL only wants men who arise
| TO the call of duty only through the
! patriotism that is in their breasts.
Want Only the Best.
! Finally we want only the best.
| We want good soldiers. Men who
Will be obedient to their commander.
men who will not finch. We want
men like those on the Mexican Dor
4 20 Inn 70
and who can shoot. We have 10000
men on the Mexican border now who
are the finest soldiers in the world.
| Those men down there today can fire
| on the run and register a hit per-
centage of 80 on an object at 500
| yards"
With these words Major Freyer-
muth closed and a great cheer arose
from the assembled men both militia
and those wanting TO enlist. Then
| began the scramble TO the recruiting
room The armory will again be open
tonight and all day Sunday.
I'VE don't like TO work on Sun
| days. but sometimes we have to-" said
| Major Freyermuth with a smile.
At the meeting of the Harry Per-
kins' camp. Spanish War Veterans.
every man went on record TO be
ready to answer the call in case of
war. According 10 Commander
Bertch it is probable that the vet
Grams will be called on TO fill the
vacancy by the National Guard in the
event that body is called out A re-
cent bill passed in congress two weeks
ago provides that in case the active
national guard is called the front all
veterans Of other wars can form into
| companies and take the place OF the
regular national guard until it's re
turn.
Commander BertCh said that about
] 500 Spanish war veterans are in the
| city now ready for such duty.