Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1917 — BRITISH SOLDIERS IN CHICAGO [ARTICLE]

BRITISH SOLDIERS IN CHICAGO

BRITISH RECRUITING MISSION IS ACCORDED GREAT INTER- ■ NATIONAL COURTESY. The establishment of the British Recruiting Mission in the United States marks an event of historical significance. It is the first time in the history of this country that such an international courtesy was ever extended to any foreign power, and •more than anything else, it marks the entrance of the United States into the arena of world politics and international affairs. For the first time in more than one hundred years armed British soldiers on active duty have walked the streets of’an American city and like the hanging of the Stars and Stripes from the public buildings of England and France a few months ago, it is epoch-making. Not only has the United States government opened its doors to foreign recruiting and is co-operating fully with its own recruiting machinery in the work of the British mission, but tne military' training camps association is also ’ending its facilities for recruiting in over 1,500 cities. It is now possible for a Briton or Canadian to enlist at the nearest U. S. recruiting office, be examined and sent forward to the Chicago depot. What this means to the half million British-born men of military age residents in this country, is shown by the rate at which they have rushed to enlist since- it no longer means a long trip into Canada at their own expense with the chance of being' rejected in the end for physical reasons and the loss of time and money that few could afford. -Men are enlisted for the duration of the war and a further six months after the termination of hostilities, unless sooner discharged. Free passage back to the United States is provided on discharge to those desiring it. Applications are accepted between the ages of 18 and 45 inclusive, except in the case of skilled workmen, when the age limit is extended to fifty years. “The fact that men of British birth come neither under the provisions of the draft law in the United States, nor under the compulsory service act in England, makes the appeal a double one,” says Colonel J. S. Dennis, commanding the western % division. “No man with British blood can resist the call to serve under his own flag beside his country men, now that enlisting is made easy for him. It is a duty to the United States under whose protection he has lived and prospered.” That British bom are going forward enthusiastically, is proved a by the recruiting figures, which have set a standard sb high that King George '* recently cabled his appreciation of their loyalty to British siibjecst in the United States.