The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-09
AFTER R. R. men
Army Office Begins Recruiting
Mechanics Here Today.
Many Santa Fe Men to Join
Railroad Regiment.

Orders to Immediately begin recruit
ing men from mechanical professions,
including the principal railroad trades.
and students of engineering for serv-
ice in the United States army engineers
were received here today by A. o.
Ragland, sergeant in charge of the
recruiting office, from the war depart
ment. Military experts are unanimous
IN the belief that the call is for men
to make up the nine regiments of
American engineers who are to be sent
Immediately to France.
The order today did not state wheth-
er or not the men would form a part
of the contingent, hut dispatches from
Washington to the effect that the en-
gineers to go to France would be
formed Immediately and recruits called
for support assertions of military au-
thorities here.
Need Many Mechanics.
The orders received today includes
q call for cabinetmakers, carpenters
clerks, drivers, craftsmen, drillers.
electricians, 'enginemen, foremen of
mines, bridges, machine shops and
other trades, horseshoers, Autograph
ers. packers, photographers, riveters,
shoemakers. harnessmakers, surveyors,
tinsmiths, and all other men of me-
chanical trades. Students of engineer
ing will also be accepted at good rat
ing, it is announced.
The Topeka army recruiting office
in the last few days, has been buster
than at any time since the beginning
of the war Tuesday, sergeant RAG
land shipped twelve recruits to train
ing camps. Five more went today.
Every day between a half dozen and
a dozen men are obtained for differ
ent branches of the army service
Stimulate Recruits.
Today's order is expected by Ser
geant Ragland to further stimulate
recruiting The fact that the engi-
neers will be the first men sent to
Europe is expected to bring those
eager to get on the firing line into the
service.
Topeka, it is understood, is expect
ed to furnish a large number of men
to go toward making up engineer
regiments because of the fact that
great percentage of its population is
trades. The Santa Fe shops will un-
doubtedly furnish quota of consid-
cradle size Practically every man o.
mechanical trade in the shops may
enlist under the new order provided
they pass the physical examination
Many to r.. X. Regiment.
Between thirty-five and forty men,
it was announced today from the Of
flee of F. C. Fox, general manager for
the Santa Fe, have filed applications
for places in the Santa Fe company
of the western railway regiment of
engineers WHICH Is DS1IlS lOA w
a company from each of six roads
west of Chicago.
The railway regiment will be Of
fered to the country if needed as soon
as it is organized. 1t will be used as
one of the units in charge of any rail-
way or railways the government might
build, wish built or capture. The men
who have already volunteered include
several Topekans and men from all
parts of the Santa Fe eastern lines.
One hundred and sixty-four men in
all are needed to form the Santa Fe
company.
AS soon as sufficient applications
are received at Mr.. Fox's office an
army officer and medical examiner
will come here to complete the or
ganization and examine the appH-
cantS.