The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-29
SHOULD HE ENLIST?
Information for u Father whose Son
Is Eager IN Serve His Country.

young men in your part of the middle
West, like those here on the Atlantic
seahoard. are eager to volunteer for
military service in Mexico. or on the
border IL needed there. Among these
fine young fellows. you add, is your
son. 20 years old. who has lust finished
his sophomore year At the state Uni
versity. You ask whether I think the
time has come for young men gener-
nlly TO volunteer who are not con-
nected with any branch of the militia;
also where your son could be OF the
most service TO his country should he
join a command.
IL Is something Of n coincidence that
your letter reaches me so soon as /
have made careful inquiry regarding
tie same matters for the sake of my
own son. who has Just come home
from his New England college TO
spend the hummer vacation. When
the Mexican situation became acute.
about n fortnight ago. I did not wait
to hear from my boy. | knew that II
the country needed him nothing could
hold him back. In order that he
might be prepared to act i~ntelligently
in such an important matter ! have
talked with experienced army men.
have spent several hours in one of the
principal recruiting stations and have
G. carefully noted down that which was
told me.
Without minimizing In any way the
value of the National Guard. it is sp-
parent that, as in times past. our main
reliance now must be upon the United
Ssnt.y arVn ~ "
campaigning Is borne by the regular
troops. They are the fellows whose
life job is TO keep constantly in condi-
tion. to keep hardened ana seasoned.
50 they can at any time axe the field
scouting. marching. lighting, avoid
ing ambush. suffering the lnconvc-
fience of hunger n thirst. going
without suficien, rest or sleep. doing
without shelter in semi-tropical heat
and downpour rs well. and escaping
disease which devastates raw volun-
teers under such conditions.
The regular troops are able 10 un-
dergo these hardshlps because they
are ain TO do so. and because they
are In charge OF experienced officers
whose professional standing. whose
chances Of promotion. depend in large
measure upon the are they give the
physical well being Of the men they
command. Camp sanitation. personal
cleanliness. medical oversight Of the
individual private, extreme guarding
81 water supply and severe restriction
or y to the army rations which
science and long experience have
proved TO he safe as well as sufficient.
all this n much more Is carried out
In the regular army az 1t cannot he
carried out by National Guard officers.
no matter who they are or where
they come from. However able is any
particular officer OF the militia. how
ever conscientious, he ia handicapped
at The start by the fact that his
command is full OF inexperienced nom
of practically raw troops who
really DO no; know what discipline Is.
as Judged by army standards.
History has proved. Bill. that II is
the volunteer regiment which suffers
disease and heavy mortality. There
fore, the safer place for your hoy or
mine is in the regular army. II your
Son enl!sts 1t would have to he for a
term of years. Owing TO a now pro-
Nv ''''" S''HiS w ~ u ullItl'ntt
~ opinion over some details. hut a.
nearly as can get AT 1t he would have
~ ehIlst TOT a total term or seven
years 'hfee with IN" colors and "
on reserve. with the proviSo tina Ice
fore the three years are over he could
pntchas" ms discharge upon payment
"f slZo' IL - the belief OF some army
'i"c'Ts 'hat a man VINO en'lsts now.
cause or the Mexican lmhr"Ello.
would he permitted to purchas" his
al the end OF one year should
peace come meanwhile. ! do not UNI
.,fstahd that th!s ~ IN" letter 81 tn"
visiting law, but mat provision Will
probably soon he made to that II
IA YOU nave seen by newspapers,
most or the National Guard regiments
apparently nave had little difficulty
III recruiting their ranks 10 Their full
Strength l am to.d. turther, mat re-
cunts FOR the regular army are com.
ing forward in n satisfactory number
ana this Notwithstanding the fact that
about 30 per cent. are rejected on their
physlca! examination Up 20 the pres
ent time there seems to be no urgent
reason why a young man looking
hhead toward CIVILIAN life hould 20
MO the regular army. The e%x!gency
may come. and come quickly, but 1t
fhs not arrived as yet. according "a
II formation given me. For a young
man who In looking forward To the
IA II M hAu !