Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1917 — ENLISTMENTS NOW FOR PERIOD OF WAR [ARTICLE]

ENLISTMENTS NOW FOR PERIOD OF WAR

This Decision of the War Department Should Cause Ranks of National Guard to Swell.

GET INTO COMPANY M. Add Your Name and Your Strength To Make the Local Organization One of the Best in Indiana—Captain Tuteur is a Splendid Drill Master and You Will Have All the Advantages of Early Training and Will Be Associated With the Home Boys.

As has been expected, the war department has authorized that enlistments taken now in either the regular yiny or the national, guard will be for the period of the war only. This was embodied in telegraphic instructions received in Indianapolis Thursday by Adjutant General Harry B. Smith from Secretary of War Baker. It means that as soon as the emergency that resulted in the call to arms has passed those who have enlisted for it will be discharged and not held as members of the army or the guard. It is meeting a popular demand from many who did not care to bind themsqjves for ■Wie seven years’ army enlistment or the six years’ national guard pledge. While new blanks for the enlistment for the war period have not been sent out and may not be, the secretary pf war has directed that recruiting officers can assure those who enlist that they will be discharged at the end of the war.

This is one of the things that young men have held back for and now that it is settled there should be a rush at once to get into the service. The motive should be prompted by patriotic reasons, but if this can not be mustered then* for the reason that conscription will make it necessarv anyway. That these enlistments should be made in the local militia company is very proper. There are many advantages. Some are here enumerated. The company will serve throughout the service together and after the close of the service the fraternal features will be valuable during all the balance of the lives of those in the company. Letters-and news from home will reach the members of the company more frequently and the friends of the boys will better be able to keep watch of them than if they were scattered about in different organizations. In case of injury or sickness they would receive the care of comrades who knew them at home. Another important thing is for the sake of having the company ready for rapid response when the mobilization takes place and tyr having the company rank with the very best in the state. Captain Tuteur is a drill master of unusual ability, as is proven by the marvelous success he has had in the large recruit class he is drilling every Wednesday, night and by the success of Company M during the border service. He is ably assisted by Lieutenants Jerry B. Garland and Edward L. Watson. The former is one of the best military marksmen in the world and is an able instructor in the nomenclature and use of the rifle, one of the most important du=ties of soldiering. Lieut. Watson is also an able instructor, and has been commended by regular army observers for the ability he has shown in field work and in instruction in guard duty. With the advantages of drill mstruction, there is every reason why Company M should take the very front rank of efficiency and this should furnish a further reason for being identified with it In the larger membership there will be manv opportunities for promotion. Captain Tuteur will have a number of corporals and sergeants to appoint and they will go to the men showing application and efficiency. That a number of them will be able to become the officers of the next increment of the army is to be expected and there is today no better place to enlist than with Company M, of Rensselaer.