The sun., 1917-12-14
RUSH TO ENLIST
SWAMPS FORTS
AND NAVY YARD
Recruiting Stations Liter
ally Overwhelmed With
Volunteers to COlOrs.
EAGER TO GO TO FRANCE
Thousands Cared For by Pri-
vate Citizens in New RO-.
chelle and Elsewhere.


Recruiting reached high tide in the
New York district yesterday when
thousands of volunteers stormed the
stations OF the army and navy and
c'amored TO be enrolled in one or the
other branch OF the service. The rush
was so great that the officers and their
corps OF clerks in the various recruiting
stations worked far into the night to
straiehten out the tangle the unprece-
dented rally to the colors had occa-
stoned.
This eleventh hour tlocking to the stan
dard followed close on the heels OF "A week
OF much activity in recruiting circles and
swamped the receiving stations for re-
cruits. Forts Siocum ana 1'otten. Gov
ernor's Island and the navy yard in
Brooklyn and other points where new
comers to the navy yard are sent pre-
paratory to being taken into the service
and assigned to ship or station. were
taxed FAR above their capacity.
The clamor to volunteer in the army
was so sreat that Cot W. n. Chatfeld
in charge o: recIuiting IN the New
YORK zone announced last night that no
more men Of draft age will be re.
cruite1. Prior to this announcement II
was generally understood that recruits
would be received until noon tomorrow.
Beginning Monday morning" Col.
Chatheld said, we shall resume re-
cruit.nC. hut we viii accept only men
between the ages OF 19 andsol wears
and those ranging from 81 to ~ years
we want all the men We can get who
are under or over the draft age. but
those within 1t will be excluded
Riss-st Rush so Far In War.
The army's roster was swel!ed by
l.3o0 in New York yesterday. This
district comprises tho Ave borouehs.
Jersey City and Hoboken. BY far the
Heater number Of recruits registered
from Manhattan. The rate of accep-
tances for yesterday and the week pre-
ceding was Ave times greater than at
An% time since war was declared. Col
Chatfeld said.
The create number of men enlisted
yesterday specified the ordnance base
depot In France as Their favorite OBJ
1e'tire. This oaused intense sratifca.
uon among the recruiting officers 10.
this hiGhlv important branch OF the
service Ia in need Of men.
Thes crpwd!nR Of troops Incidental to
lhe recent big. rush Is so ksat tina.
Forts Slocum and rottsn are unable TO
care for any more. and in fact tnou-
sands have been sen: elsewhere
There were 300 recruits destined for
Fort S'ocun who could not be taken
care ~ at the post. They have been
stationed around at various points until
the rost can be cleared Of some n.
the men longer in service. who are being
sent 10 csntonments and camps in the
South. The E will be an influx OF 5000
more recruits S, Slocun to-day. and an
additional 5000 is expected Tomorrow.
The offer Of the New York Athletic
Club Of its clubhouse at Trayers Island
for the housing %: troops has been
accepted. Charles r. Pond. chairman
OF the house committee: Cant. McAlee-
nan, Matt Halp,n and Supt kerwin
are at th" island 10 see that every
thing possible H. done TO add to the
comfort Of the recruits
New Rochelle Rede~ms Itself.
The Westchester Chapter of the Red
Cross. the New Rochel. Lodge OF Eiks
and the Hebrew Association all are doing
everything possible to house and feed
the great number of recruits. Col Chat
field announced that New Rochelle has
arisen magniicently to the occasion"
Many private homes have been thrown
open to the volunteers
The Atlantic Division Of the Red Cross
will see that the recruits are provided
with ample food and other necessities
until the army post can take care OF
them
At late hour last night II was an
nounced that the congestion Of embryo
troops at New Rochelle was so great
that churches, halls. theatres &C, were
being opened for their reception. and in
them man.s viii he uIartered until better
facilities are devised. The Knights OF
Columbus also have rendered valiant
service.
Columbus ODonnell Iselin announced
IL those financially unable to care for
soldiers will give them what comforts
they can he will see personally they are
paid for the service
II was announced AT the New York
Navy Yard last night that the rush to
join the navy had been almost as heavy,
although there were no reports Of recruits
being left homeless. Many Of tine newly
enlisted men are being shipped to dis
tant training stations such as New
port, where several trainloads Of en-
bryo sailors went yesterday. The Fail
River Line boat was loaded with newly
enlisted seamen last night. and many
more will leave by to-days boat
The shipment of troops south yester-
day was the heaviest in weeks,