El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-19
JOINING ARMY
PROVES NOVEL
To CITIZENS
One Englishman Describes
How it Feels to Become
a Soldier.
IS PROMISED HE
CAN SHOOT GERMANS


it feels to enlist is described by
- one Of lord Kitchener's men He
said:
There were three Of US who stepped
forward together to interview the re-
cruiting' sergeant on the Horse Guards
parade, one a boat builder from some
Thames side yard, another clerk.
rather pale, from a city office stool.
and myself
The voice Of the recruiting officer
broke in on these thoughts.
Don't want to stay at home and
guard railway lines he -~as saying
to the men before men That's what
nine out Of every ten Of them say
Don't YOU worry about that, my lad
You'll be abroad and bashing the Ger
mans in no tine If you're a good SOL
der. And If you do stop at home for
a little while. why perhaps You might
see a German soldier or two over here
to have a round with. So cheer up
This was TO the clerk, who was al
ready burning with martial ardor-
Glad Wife VIII Be Benefited.
and nov came my turn The re-
cruiter entered my name and address
on a blue paper, my age, the place
where I was born, my trade and IN
Quired i I was married This was COM
fOrting. because my vile VIII get q
separation allowance while I an IN
Kitchener's army. What corps did 1
want 10 join2 I was not particular, SO
that was left for decision until after
the doctor had measured me was
given the blue paper with particulars
Of myself entered, and was told 10 80
and see the doctor at the central re-
cruiting office at Old Scotland yard
The doctor was a large man,
bronzed, cheerful and alert, which was
somewhat surprising, for ne had Deen
inspecting recruits steadily Tor SIX
hours, he told me, and at times the
work lad its drawbacks
The doctor is very thorough in his
work The only physical qualification
on which he is not quite SO strict now
is teeth. AS long as you have enough
molars 10 chew biscuits and beef, ne
says, that will do Then he tests the
sight Of each eye separately, meas
ures you, punches you in one or two
places, sounds you, and so. If you are
lucky, passes you as fit for service.
Then the Swearing In
The rest is plain sailing A magls-
trate waits upstairs to swear you IN
those indelible records Of your fate BY
which in some war office pigeon hole
you will henceforth be identified II
you have had any previous service IN
closed Also there are a few other
points on which the government re-
0uires understanding about you have
YOU ever been imprisoned2 Are YOU
willing TO be vaccinated, And. finally,
are YOU willing TO serve for the period
of the war2
nal government on all these points, ana
swearing with upllfted hand 10 oeIeho
his majesty, his heirs and successors.
in person, crown and dignity. against
all enemies, became at last a soldier OF
the king
There is a free and easy air about
re FOR are we not already fellow SOL
diers in arms2 Two things strike me
as the results Of conversations with
hundreds Of nv fellow recruits First
the burning desire they all have TO go
to the front as soon as possible; ana
secondly the very small proportion
who have Joined just because they are
ont OF work Mostly they seem TO De
men who have Joined just because
they could not bear 10 De ouI OF y M
one hears on all sides Of men with two
or three brothers, already in the army,
and who are soldiers sons. SO the re-
naming son has thrown up civilian
VorI, to join. 1t is the call Of their
blood as well as their country IndI
they have answered
saThe courtyard Of the recruiting
depOt where we went teens with IN
ferest wives who want 10 know
where they can draw their husbands
pay are frequent arrivals I don't
know what he has Joined sir says one
TO the official in charge, but 1 think
IT'S the army servants (meaning ser
z-fcel CORDS Other callers are men
who want to form recruiting depots OF
their own in little villages
Yesterday morning my turn came.
and in company with a dozen others 1
came to Woolwich. Here the plain IS
dotted with many camps Of 20 or more
tents, where the gunners Of the new
army are TO begin their training WIZ
one blanket apiece we sleep 10 in a
tent. and are too full Of good spirits
to notice the minor discomforts Of the
new life
Food Is Good
However, the food is good and plen-
tiful- Today there was salmon for
breakfast. plenty Of meat and potatoes
for dinner, and tea and bread and jam
FOR tea We get up at g o'clock and
turn in at half past nine During the
day there are six parades, at which
we are learning marching drill, and
lecture at which We were told how
soldier should behave himself. In the
evening we play games and have camp
els