The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-03
ENLISTING RECRUITS
BY Frederic j. Haskin, Director
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
Washington, d. C.

upon the SeTNlCS- All cA-
| tire reorganization has been necessi-
tated; new offices are being establish
ed as rapidly as possible in every sec
ton of the country, and an advertis-
ing campaign has been launched for
the purpose of putting the advantages
of enlistment before every American.
Heretofore, we have rarely come
into contact with the recruiting sys-
tenn any more than with any other
employment bureau But now we
read, ''Wanted-Men for the Navy,'
Posters showing the enlisted man in
bright new uniform, and bearing the
words, "See the World" or Save
Money" are displayed in local post
offices, railroad stations and market
places; while around the corner is a
recruiting station itself, flourishing the
American flag and presided over by
a couple of young ladies in blue serge
MILDLY costumes, VINO are making
highly efficient recruiting officers.
Since the recruiting system of the
navy is separate and distinct from that
of the army, it is necessary to deal
with each separately. The navy for
merly had the majority of its re-
cruiting stations along the coasts, but
these did not obtain enough men, so
new offices have been opened up thru
out the interior, and especially in
rural towns In the first place, the
! country has been divided up into four
districts by the Navy Department, with
a lieutenant commander at the head
! of each district. New York, New Or
leans, Kansas City and San Francisco.
The Recruiting Stations.
| At present there are 1876 naval re-
cruiting stations scattered turnout the
country, but within the next year the
navy department hopes to have at
| least 500. Uncle Sam is most par
ticular about his sailors, so that the
J hos ct
when it succeeds in attracting appli-
/ cants The navy department must
know all about a mans character,
how many teeth he has, whether he
| has any living relatives and, if so, any
! who are dependent, and, most i'm
| portant of all, if he is a citizen of the
United States. In the navy a man has
to be a full-f1edged citizen, his inten-
lions of becoming so not being conSid-
cred sufficient.
| When a recruit is brought into the
recruiting barracks, he is given an ap-
plication to fill out. which contains all
| the questions mentioned above, as
we'll as others equally pertinent, con-
corning his age, references and previ-
Gus military service, if any. The lat
/ ter question is treated with the utmost
| caution by the officers in charge. If
man has ever served in either the
army or navy and deserted, it is neces-
/
| it, so the unsuspecting recruit is put
thru a test. An officer will suddenly
shout technical naval command, IA
miliar to sailors but meaningless to
| the civilian, and watch to see if the
recruit makes an involuntary move
| ment in answer to it. This test is al
most invariably successful, for a man
who has served on a battleship can
rarely conceal his knowledge of com
mands, especially if thrown at him
Unexpectedly.
! Qualifications for Recruit
The matter of references, too, I'M
less the man is obviously satisfactory.
| is very important Often, several days
! tranSpire before the recommendations
are received from the mans home
town, and during this time he is main
| tanned by the government at a nearby
| hotel. In the meantime, Il record of
his finger-prints and his photograph
are sent on to the department in
Washington, where a special finger
print bureau checks them up to be
sure he is not a criminal or "a de-
serter.
After this preliminary examination,
conducted by the recruiting officers
the recruit is taken to the hospital
room for physical examination. When
did you last have a bath?" is the
first question of the examining ply
stefan, and if the date be somewhat
|
bling. Then, his heart, lungs, teeth,
feet and eyes are tested. The eye test
| in the navy is Stricter than that of
! the army, since one of the first re-
! quirements of a good seaman is good
eyesight, and, above all, he must not
be color blind. 1t is absolutely essen
tial that he shall be able to distin-
gu:sh green from a red light, COM
munication between ships being car
ried on by such lights Minor ply :
steal defects, however, such is slightly
| flat feet or underweight or defects in
the teeth remediabIe by dentistry are
often waived by the Navy Department.
What Enlisted Man May Do.
With his enlistment certificate and
Identification card, the recruit is then
! given a railroad ticket and money for
his meals en- route, and sent to the
training school or ship to which he
has been assigned by the lieutenant
commander. There are over fifty rat
ings in the navy and it devolves upon
the man himself to choose what he
wants to do. If he is already a
| plumber, painter, carpenter or baker
he can pursue the same trade in the
navy; if he is totally inexperienced
| he becomes what is known as an APP
| prentice seaman and is sent aboard a
training ship and initiated into the
complicated system of ship life. Here,
if he shows any special aptitude for
wireless telegraphy, signaling, me-
chanies or music, he is singled out
and specially educated by the govern
nent.
AS for, Seeing the world few men
| of the enlisted mans station ever have
such direct opportunities for travel.
In the winter the training squadron
is anchored off Guantanamo Bay.
| where strategic maneuvers and drills
tare conducted, and where the men go
ashore and play baseball before the
adn1fring Cubans. American vessels
are employed in all parts of the world.
altho at present foreign travel is some
what limited.
What Is Required of Him
The military recruit is examined
much the same as the naval recruit in
the recruiting office, but he does not
have to be a full-fledged citizen of the
United States, his first papers only