The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-10
FEOCKINC TO NAVY
Hundreds of Kansans Enlist in
q. s. Sea Forces.
Scores of TOpekans Accepted at
X. C. Station Weekly.
"NAVYITIS" IS AN EPIDEMIC
Contains All Symptoms of Pa
triotism and Manhood.
Men Sent to Great Lakes School,
Largest in World.

Kansas City, Aug. 10.-Kansas men
by the score are daily putting aside
their civilian occupations and are an
swering the call of duty with Uncle
Sans fighting sea forces, according to
enlistment records of the Kansas City
navy recruiting station, the head
quarters for the Kansas district.
Every day hundreds of men, in long
lines, file into the mill which, in a
few hours, grinds out material from
the shortgrass country. the farms and
shops and offices of Kansas, for the
Great Lakes Naval Training station,
the largest sea school in the world.
A third or more of these recruits
come from anywhere in Kansas. In
truth. the entire state. along with the
rest of the Kansas City district, seems
to be affected with "navyitis," a COM
mendable epidemic which contains all
the symptoms of patriotism and de-
sire for clean, red-blooded fighting
service.
1t is this epidemic which is keeping
more than 10000 men in the various
schools and instruction departments
of the Great Lakes station. These
men, of which so large a percentage
are Kansans, come and go. Every
day they leave by the shundreds or by
the thousands to take their places
aboard destroyers or dreadnaughts, or
in stations in all parts of the world.
Inc eFOluuOn OF these men IS a thing
of wonder Many of them are al
ready bronzed by the glazing western
sun, and tho some may be lacking in
tan and muscle. this is made up by
eager, snappy enthusiasm. The de-
tention camp they regard as a eneces-
sity and the first alterations in their
civilian habits, thrust upon them at
this admittance camp, are accepted in
matter of fact way and an eager
ness to comply with all orders of the
commanding officers.
Training Is an Adventure.
, Training in the monster schools of
the station is an adventure. The Kan
sas recruit when he begins receiving
his instruction in sea warfare, mingles
with thousands of blue and white cap
ped men who are receiving training in
all sorts of Vocations and trades essen
tial to the progress of the navy. These
same trades and Vocations are of the
kind III; will be of great advantage to
the men in civil life after the war. az
want to set in the navy because it
offers me chance to do my bit and
get a chance to swat the kaiser and, at
the same time, will allow me to obtain
a training that will be of benefit in
civil life after the war; is the way
scores of applicants express their de-
sire to enlist daily
The day does not pass that Topeka
does not send anywhere from four or
fIve to more than a dozen recruits
thru the Kansas City station to the
Great Lakes. Mostly as are the other
Kansas youths, these men are young,
from 1 to 81 years old.
Topeka Enlistments.
Today's enlistments included the
following Topeka men:
Raymond Wilson Troth, SGT Mon
roe street, a son of Mr.. and Mrs Har-
ley Troth. Valley Falls, and an en-
ploye of the Wolff Packing company.
Frank A Gordon, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Dave Gordon, 916 North Harri-
son street, and an apprentice machin-
list at the Santa Fe shops
Roy A Gookins, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
T. H Gookins, 1928 Seward avenue.
and machinist's helper at the Santa
Fe shops!
William J. Fritze, a son of Mrs,
Helen Fritze, 139 Norton street, a ma
chinist at the Santa Fe shops.
Gordon and Troth enlisted as an
prentice seamen, Fritze as a machin-
lists mate and Gookins entered the de-
partment of public works Fritze has
one brother, Charles, in the army.
|Iodays enlistment records also in
cIude the name of Russell c. Skid
more, son of Mr.. and Mrs. A. M
Sk1dmore, Willard. He enlisted as an
apprentice seaman.
The navy is today open to men he.
tween the ages of 8 to 40.
Men subject to draft may enlist by
obtaining releases from their loca,
boards. Enlistment in practically ali
ratings and trades, common to ciyiliar
life, is omen