Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03

Philadelphia one out OF twelve. ana %
Chicago one out OF thirteen.
Only 10 per cent. Of those who applied
for service In the army could pass tho
severe physical tests applied by tbs gov.
eminent This accounts for the spiendid
physique of the regular army. ana TOR
the difficulty that has been experiences
In this and other states In promptly MI
ing the quotas required Tor the volunteers
army We believe that the governments
has wasted great deal OF the best light
ing material in South Carolina By the
unnecessary physical tests to which the
volunteers have been subjected. There
have been volunteers enough to nll the
quota from this state two or three times
over. but they have been turned down ~
the examining surgeons Under the reaus
lations, until IL has been found dimcuit
to Ill the companies even to the mim-
mum standard. IL is true, we believe,
that the life insurance companies. which
are very careful In their examinations.
would not have rejected one fourth or
the number OF those who have been re-
jected by the enlisting officers. The goys
eminent should change it's rules. uniesa
II intends to lose many OF the best sol-
ders that could be obtained for the rres-
ent struggle with Spain. The NorfofH
Landmark makes the following pertinent
observations upon the subject:
IF man can stand fatigue and has
plenty Of strength 10 manage hrs ride,
It makes very little difference IN these
modern days whether he measures up
10 a certain height or tips the beam 1t
a certain point or not. Size has nothing
whatever with his ability to vreek
damage upon an enemy. 1t was no moro
ridiculous for Frederick William /. OF
Prussia TO recruit regiment OF gfanx
In the eighteenth century than II IL TOR
enlightened nations at the end OF the
nineteenth to make mere size qua1inca~
| ton for military service. The times when
sweep of sword arm and might OK thew
, were of advantage In war are 10 more.
A wiry dwarf with a steady hand and
| sharp eye Is necessarily off much more
value as a soldier than a, Samson whe
cannot shoot. The government Is turn
| ing away many a good soldier by adj
| herring too rigidly 10 tape-line resuia~
| tions that may be all very well. az the
News and Courier says, when the coun-
| try Is at peace.
| The Landmark is right--"the governs
ment Is tuning away many good sole
| der by adhering TOO rigidly TO tape-l1no
! regulations" Napoleon was fairly
| good fighter: but he could not get corr
poral's place in the United States army
| TO-DAY.
| Many OF the most gaiiant soiolers On
| both sides in our late trouble IN TINS
/ country were not UP to the present physi~
! cal standard. There are over three hum
| bred pounds Of General Shaftsr and only
about one hundred pounds Of Joe Wheel
er, but the chances are that tho little feis
| low win do as much actual work ana 90
! II with more comfort end as much ssics
| cess as the giant; and we venture to say
| that a regiment of tough and wiry s.
| footers from South Carolina would have
gone through the brush at Ia 9uasina
J with greater ease and less loss Of life
than the splendid soldiers who followed
Roosevelt in his gallant charge. In view
of what the livls fellows have &C.
complished under nre In all our war;
fare. It is not fair that they should b9
crowded out OF the country's service now
because they do not come up TO an arbix
trary standard In height and weight ~
is not true test TO select soldiers ~
| the pound.