The Detroit times., 1914-04-25
RECRUITS FLOCK
TO OFFICES OF
MARINE CORPS
Saturday Mornings Applicants
Total 2S, of Whom Very Few
Are Accepted
PHYSICAL DEFECTS
BAR GREAT NUMBER
Sight, Hearing and Color Sense
Must BE At Par-0ld Sears
Are Scrutinized

Up 10 noon, Saturday, 2S men had
applied in the local recruiting Office
for enlistment In the t. ). marine
corps II for army duty and probably
an equal number in the navy
Recruiting offices have been
swamped for the last 10 days with
those who have seen service and who
are DESTROYS OF seeing more service
in Mexico.
Lieut. West head OF the army sta
ton. had received, - applicants at
noon, probably double the average for
the last six months, although he
stated that applications for enlistment
were not so numerous now as they
were for short time in the winter
when many men were out OF work
Many others have presented them
selves at the army recruiting Office
but have been turned aside because
OF some obvious physical defect
which rendered an examination use
less
OF those applying TO the, army Office
there are approximately 10 or II a
DAY, who are DESTROYS - entering the
state militia. These are sent TO the
armory. where they receive the prop
or attention.
Exact figures could not be given
out in the naval recruiting office. but
IL is. estimated that sabogt 90 applica.
= - - 80 "
OF this number, many were turned
away because they did not have fun
citizenship papers. the naval require
ments insisting upon complete citi.
zpnghip bpfOra enlistment
Many of those accepted are men
who have seen service at some time
or other and ar ecoming back in an
lLicipatinn- of al chance ~ the enemy
The navy enlists fewer men than
other branches OF the service because
OF the fact that il is practically up
70 war strength at the present time
and is in less need OF men.
The recruiting Offices of the L. s.
marine corps, Capt Bracket in
/ charge, are the busiest places OF the
lot. an average of 40 men u day hay
| ing presented themselves there for
the last 10 days or more. OF this
number, probably three are chosen
! for service. Others are rejected be-
cause OF physical defects, even the
slightest being considered sufficient
! TO bar one from the service, at least
temporarily
| Those whose defects are not serious
are put on waiting list, a complete
report OF the case is sent TO Wash
ington. and the decision as TO wheth
| er the man shSl! ~ accepted, rests
with the authorities there.
An interesting fact in connection
( with the present rush OF applications
| for enlistment In all departments OF
| the government service lies in the
! fact that many OF the candidates are
almost entirely unacquainted with
| the English language. save as il il
spoken. Many others have not even
| obtained first papers as citizens.
Watching the process by which
men are examined as 10 their fitness
for service is an interesting sight.
First comes the color test The ap-
plicaIt Is shown box containing hun.
dreds OF shades of the primary colors.
He is told TO pick out each variation
OF color and upon his success or fail.
Cle is determined his ability 10 pick
cOlors
Then comes the test of the eyes
the one on which many fall down
With one eye covered. the applicants
ability to read columns of letters at
distance Of 20 feet, then 10, then
/ rs enG so on Is determined. Many
ale found to have one eye perfect,
while the other is 80 deficient that IL
Is impossible for the man To be ac-
CepteG
Later the applicant is weighed.
measured, his chest expansion noted,
and he IS examined as TO the sound.
ness OF heart lungs and digestive or.