Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28
MORE RECRUITS ARE NEEDED
Last Chance to Enlist near at
Hand.
Fine Opportunity for Ambitious Young
Men II Provided az Fort Ethan AL
len-Good Chance for
Promotions.

There are few young men who realize
that their last chance to enlist Is near
at hand. The fact is that the government
needs only about 10000 more recruits to
nil the vacancies in the regular army to
bring It to war strength. These men will
be obtained this week. The cavalry Is
filled now and also the coast artillery, so
the only two remaining departments to be
manned to war strength are the infantry
and the field artillery. Here is a chance
for Burlington boys to make a good show
ing, and to get into branch of the serv-
ice that they will like. 1t is to be under
stood that only young men of good
character are wanted and it is rare
instance that men who have had a record
in the police courts are now accepted.
The men at the post are of a good moral
type and the intention is to keep them the
same and to not lower the standards.
They must also be In good physical shape
at the time Of application. The fact that a
man has registered under the regulations
Of the selective draft law is no impedi.
ment to his enlisting now in the regular
army.
The mon now enlisting as privates have
as good q chance for promotions as any
body ITO the rank Of commissioned and
non commissioned officers in the new
army Of 100000 men that will soon be
raised and recruited. Their position is
somewhat analogous to the men at
Plattsburgh and their chances of promo.
tions compare favorably with theirs.
Those Of special abilities are soon found
out and they are promoted accordingly. 1t
is interesting to know that there are
many men at the post now among the re-
cruits who are professional men and ex-
perts in their respective lines, lawyers.
preachers. actors, college graduates foot
ball and baseball stars are all represented
there. In the khaki they all look the
same but the strong men are eventually
discovered.
There are about 20 to 900 men sent away
from the post now every dve days. the
last squad going Monday to southern
points.
THE ARTILLERY BRANCH.
Many people are in doubt or in the
dark concerning the workings of the
artillery branch Of the service. The
average recruit going to the post is not
acquainted with the work at all. and
it is not necessary that he should be.
for they are quickly put through their
PAGES and a good artillery man is the
carly result. 1t Is also not generally
known just what the artillery man
does; he Is concerned chiefly with the
big field guns which are drawn about
by tractors: with range finders which
are intricate machines whose work Is
| to do what the name signifies; and last.
ly with the telephone service. These
are only a few Of the many varied and
interesting features of the field artil.
| lery. The guns are a fine piece of ma.
| rhi not Hl,t1 ipto Srit Ia
a mechanical turn of mind. Some Of
the artillery is mountain artillery es-
pecially designed for this service and
is used only in mountain locations.
This type is drawn by mules.
| THE INFANTRY.
| The main body of the army. as almost
everybody knows. is made up Of tho
infantry. The infantry men march
afoot and are armed with 80 calibre
rifles. Their work is Of a scientific
nature, and they deal with the work.
ing out Of field problems largely. Tho
| men desiring to enter this field need
no special qualifications either, outside
Of being physically and morally At.
Under normal conditions the army
has had approximately 5000 officers.
and 5000 in the national guard; but
for the new army Of 1000, 900 men there
! VIII DC oO,OUO OnicerS needed. IneSo
will be procured later from Plattsburgh
and from promotions in the regular
army, The point then to be brought
out is that men enlisting now have a
good chance for promotion if they show
ability.
Any mon contemplating enlistinc ma ,
report at the recruiting depot at the
post near the riding hall, where lodg-
ing and meals will be furnished free of
charge until such a time as they shall
be enlisted.
Men enlisting now sign up simply
for the period of emergency
Y. NJ. c. A. NOTES.
At the Y. NJ c. A. building on the
State reservation. at the last picture
show there were about 1000 present
The picture shown was ITO Have and
to Hold" At the last chapel service
Mr.. Hindman. the general secretary
spoke. He has general charge of the
work At the post. There are four sec
: retaries doing Y NJ c. A. work and two
more are coming this week
There have been $4,000 sheets OF
writing paper and $4,000 envelope.
used in the last three weeks at head.
quarters.
Henry b. Wright from Plattsburgf
will be at the Y. NJ. c. A. building or
Thursday night to address the boys
Headquarters company will give a min
strel show on Friday night.