Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-07
NINETY-T RECRUITS
OFF TO FORT SLOCUM
Fifty of Them, Prompted by
Bob" Crawford, Designated
as Conshohocken Cavalry

Today was big day for the army no
less than nincty-t.ree recruits being sent
to Fort Slocum. n. Y, for training while
$50 new enlstments were recorded. Other
arms of the service also experienced boom
in recruiting, thirty "roolues" joining the
navy up to noon and the 3OOO-mark being
passed in the last day for applications for
officers training
Among the new fighters for Uncle sam
were fifty Conshohocl;en boys-the Con
shohoclsn cavalry'--who swooped down on
Philadelphia with their sweethcarts and sis
ters this morning to spend "A few brief hours
in merrymaking and farewell before being
sent away for training as cavalrymcn.
The "Conshohocken Cavalry" as such
owes its existence largely to the efforts Of
one man-Robert J. Crawford who began
the movement in that town that resulted
in Conshohocken giving its finest young
men to the nation.
BOB CRAWFORD'S RECRUITING
Crawford, an old football star and foot
ball manager of the Conshohocken Athletic
wished he could GO But his hair is turn
ing gray and he is married So he did a
better thing: lie persuaded his boys" to
volunteer
This was brought about at many talk.
fest" in Crawford's cigar store where the
Conshohocken boys like congreEate. Be-
hind the front door. which is quite cur
tanned by a huge American flag, Bob
Crawford explained to them what il means
when the country needs men. His hearers
listened as attentively as when he cx,
planned how to catch punt or block a kick
Last week army recruiting officers were
mystifed by the sudden appearance of
fourteen ConshohoCken youths who volun-
teered. \ few days later nine more ap-
peared. They said their carfare had been
paid to the city. Colonel Hatfield looked
into the source of the fine recruits and
found Crawford. Since then n recruiting
sergeant has been in Conshohocken and
Uncle Sam has paid the carfare of tho
other twenty-nine recruits from that town
Only two failed to pass the physical test
Bob" Crawford refused to take any
credit for the army" that was escorted to
the Conshohocken railway station this
morning by the music of two bands and
the ringing of church bells and footing
of factory whistles.
''The boys enlisted of their own free
WILL he sad. only urea 10 encourage
them and tell them that it was the right
thing to do Others did the same. But
believe most of the boys would have vol
unteered anyway You've got to give
the credit to the boys times We're never
so prosperous in Conshohocken, and some
of the boys left fine positions to join the
army.
One thing we did that was more impor-
tant than encouraging the boys TO enlist
That was to tell others not to. We told
them that the army doesn't want men who
work i'm plants filling Government orders
England made mistake there and had to
take its skilled workmen back from the
trenches We must not make that same
mistake"
PHILADELPHIANS WAITING CALL
Orders are being awaited today that will
send about 1000 Philadelphians away to
Fort Niagara, y. Y, for three months
training as officers. Today Is the last day
upon which applications will be received
at the offices of the Military Training
Camps Association, In the Commercial Trust
Building. where the lists will be closed at
5 o'clock.
Skilled workmen, engineers, electricians,
carpenters and the like are needed for the
army engineers corps, which Is being re-
cruited I'm the Wtherspoon Building.
The following enlistments were announced
today:
UNITED STATES ARMY
Frank c. Hiltner, 90. Conshohocken, Pa.
Franklin +. Kriebel, "a, Conshohocken, Pa.
Charles Smith r. COnshohoeken Standardization Ps
Jonn w Shade, 2S. Conshohocken, Pa.
James Jane +. Mcfarland, 25. censhohoeken Pa.
James j.. Blake, TO- conshothoSken: Pa
Marrsp ssHsrfy Fshsy nssShSsksn
Lewis G. McQuins, rs, Plymouth Meeting. Pa.
Albert $, Allen.o 2I Conshohoekenb Pa
joseph joseph L, Carter. %, conshohecken, Pa,
Joseph Gsh Beaver, 81 Conshohocken Pa,
Gharles A Horteg 60 S9nshGn9cksn s.9 "ansbScrn Pa
LeWclyn Jones. 81. Conshohoeken., Pa.
Patrick 1. Cannane;a 81 CSnshohGocSena hnhoGeS
George Jones. 21, Conshohocken, Pa:
Roy s. Metzger. 81. Conshohocken, Pa.
Herbert Z, Mcfarland. 20. Conshohocken. Pa.
IIoyd w Behmke. II. Conshohocken, Pa.
George w Wood. SS2' Onshohocksn' COnshohhoSksn' Pa.
Robert L. Woicorric. 81. Conshohoeken. Pa.
William d. Minnis, 81. Conshohocken. Pa.
Amos isbrecht,. %. Conshohoeken. Pa.
Francis b. MeEyoyo 49, conshShocken. Pa
Samuel N. Beaver. ~, Conshohocken. Pa,
Francis A. Higgins. 20, conshohoekep, Pa.
Richard MasParand. ~; ConshohoeHen. Pa.
chsries II. ouiss. s2, conshohocken, Pa.
Water Il. McGann. 2s. C9nshohocken, IA.
Daniel w, kirkpatrlck; ~, Conshohoeken. Pa.
John 4. Higgins, 20. Conshohocken, Pa.
Howard Redlnston. I2s, Conshohocken. Pa.
S::Ss HR:ss.s; S.s.:so = M ssI S.9 q 81
2Ss;;I !.