Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-03-30
Turning a Landsman Into
d Man=o'=War's Man
Physical, Mental and Military Prepa-
ration of Young Men Who
Enlist FOrtFir Time.

group. While thus detained. however,
the recruit is not Idle.
Instruction in first aid to the wound
ed the care of the person and clothing,
the first steps III gymnasium work and
infantry, lectures on naval regulations
and exercises in the swimming tank
fill his days from reveille to tattoo.
when he turns in vastly improved in
body and mind. This period, too, is
utilized by the chaplain, who imparts
good counsel along moral and spiritual
lines, and by the medical officers, who
give such treatment and perform such
operations as tend to prepare the
young men for their work and lat the
same time discover defects overlooked
by the recruiting officer.
The second overhauling results in
wedding out all detectives, leaving
only men who are fit in every respect
to begin a career useful to themselves
and to the country they are to serve.
After the probationary period the re-
cruit is transferred to the brigade and
takes up Il regular routine of drills
and exercises prepared to cover the
time until he Is transferred to a man
o'-war, where his training is continued
and his real work begins.
Let us glance at this life at the sta
ton where The first steps are taken.
Reused from their sleep at 3 o'clock
in the morning by the bugler sounding
reveille, the youngsters turn out for n
days employment that fills their time
until 9 at night, when that same bugler
now more welcome, sounds tattoo, the
call to rest and sleep. 1t must not be
thought, however. that no time is given
to recreation and play, for at intervals
during the day periods are allotted for
amusements that relieve the tedium
and free the course from the danger of
making Jack a dull boy.
The drills and instructions are com
pleted generally at $3.50 p. M, and the
period from that time on to $50 p. III.
may be devoted to sports and recrea-
tons, the equipment for which, such
as baseball and football outfits, being
furnished by the government. There
are also well stocked libraries, COM
pletely equipped gymnasiums. writing
rooms, bowling alleys, billiard and pool
rooms and halls in which amateur the
atricals, moving picture shows, lectures
and roller skating may be enjoyed.
Liberty to leave the station is usually
granted to those whose conduct and
standing warrant it at least once a
week. while encouragement is given to
societies, organizations. clubs, parents.
friends of the apprentices and people
in general to come to the station,
where guides are furnished them and
all means taken to tell them fully of
our system of training. No doors are
locked, and no questions go unan-
Swered.
The young men are assigned to vari-
Gus groups, companies or divisions,
and drill and are instructed in ac-
cordance with schedule that provides
for every hour of the time from en-
trance to departure for the fleet While
one group goes TO the gymnasium, an
other is taught swimming, another in
fantry, another target practice. Still
others study and recite in the school
room or practice signaling in its many
forms, including semaphore, wigwag
and radio, or learn the important duties
that fit them for firemen.