The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-09-19
MEN WILL BE
ACCEPTED by THE
UNITED STATES ARMY
Announcement Is Made That Recruits
VIII Be Accepted " FIJI Up
Vacancies.


and citizens of the United States. A
certain number who are not yet citi-
zens, but who have signified their in
tention of becoming such, through the
taking out Of first papers, will be con-
sidered.
The foregoing Is the gist Of the
message that the Secretary of War Is
sending broadcast throughout the
country to all army posts stations and
camps. Accompanying the message is
the information that the army needs a
number of men to fill vacancies that
have occurred and which have oper-
ated to bring the army below the $780,
900 men for which there Is appropria-
ton.
Recruiting for the army, under the
new system, will be conducted by the
various posts, stations, and camps of
the army that are scattered through
the nine corps areas of the country,
From each of these, parties Of officers
and men are to be sent to nearby
towns to search out the best of the
young men who wish to enter, or re-
meter, the army, and to take them to
the nearest post Of camp. No general
recruiting stations are to be establish
ed for tn etime being.
Youngsters who have not yet
reached their 18th birthday are not
wanted. nor will they be accepted, 1t
has been directed that all Of the re-
cruiting forces investigate the state
ments of prospective candidates for
enlistment, and verify them before the
men are accepted. Men who cannot
read nor write English are not desired
in the new army, and will not be ac-
cepted for enlistment. The army is to
continue its educational system but it
is not going to take the man who can
not read or write and teach him those
things which he should have learned
when he was a child.
When the prospective soldier faces
the doctor, he will find the tests diff
cult for any but well-nigh perfect
man to pass. All recruiting parties
have been notified that Special Regu-
lations 65h of the War Department
will be rigidly enforced. These relate
to the physical examination of candi-
dates and are prefaced by paragraph
which states the standard which goes
to make up a good soldier. Briefly the
requirements are as follows ale must
see and hear we'll; his heart must be
competent to stand the stress Of phys
ical exertion, he must be intelligent
enough to understand and execute mil
itary maneuvers, obey commands, and
protect himself; and he must be able
to transport himself by marching as
the exigencies of military life may de-
mand." In addition, he will be wearing
the uniform of the United States, and
q certain dignity must be his at all
times. The inferior man cannot fulfill
these demands.
Enlistments are to be so handled
that the army will not exceed 100000
men at any time, therefore 1t is expect
ed that the standard of men obtained
will be the highest that the army has
ever had. That, literally, 1t will be
hand picked. 1t is stated that the al
lotment system will be used in OBJ
tanning men and that each Corps Area
will be authorized to enlist men to fill
vacancies only. Reports will be called
for frequently to assure that the en-
listments do not exceed the number of
vacancies.
No bar is raised against the re-en-
listment Of men who we're recently dis
charged from the army, providing they
can measure up to the new standards.
If man wishes to come in again how
ever, he must enlist for three years,
while the man who has not served an
enlistment may choose between one
year and three years, as the term OF
his service. Good moral character,
physical fitness, ability to read and
write and citizenship are the prime
requisites for the young man who de-
sires to become a soldier under the
new regime. But, - he doesn't have
to wait until a recruiting party comes
to his town. He can go to the nearest
post, camp or station and apply for en-
"A.