The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-25

we know, Of course, that the raw
recruit is a lar different individual
from that person after he has gone
through the ministrations of the drill
sergeant, says the Philadelphia Tele-
graph. The army officer is apt, indeed.
10 tell us that drill is everything, that
the native material and the disciplined
soldier have not single point in com
mon. sun, some vital statistics, as
we may call them, are, in spite of the
opinions of officers, of practical con-
Germ in this question, such considera-
tlons as height, weight, organic sound
ness and freedom from the alcoholic
nablt. Some significant comment on
these and allied matters was made at
the United States institution in Lon
don recently by Lieut.-Col. Douglas,
brigade surgeon. He spoke of the re-
cruit from depot medical officers
point OF view, and his remarks. as re-
ported in the Times, gives the English
people something to think about. 1t
has been generally admitted for some
time that the British soldier is a
much less perfect physical creature
than he was in other days, but it has
been left for Col. Douglas to indicate
clearly how he has karograded. AS
a fact, the English II aaas the ne.
Rod is deficient in E;5ss
weight, as compared
fought under Welliny r.
with the fighting men ssSSa A3| ySs
DAY. The British armi 49, llSs
contain S
doubt. but not s. ssss Il
1t is a vital consider pine
can make of the blacRgadar,! a good
ma for army use, but it can do little
forS.-o degenerate. The men who are
driven into the ranks in these days
take the step mainly from hunger:
they are mostly artisans, understood
and so devitalized by long course of
insufficient food and absolute neglect
of sanitary living. that all the drill
IN the world cannot make them SOL
dlers OF the first class. We give the
opinion of an Eng.ishman who ought
to know. The BLACKBOARD was more
to be desired than the degenerate. With
all this, the English private soldier
outclasses his brother of the continent
The French, German and Russian SOL
diers are even inferior to those Of Eng
land. Compulsory military service ac-
counts for this. While there is some
pretense of sitting the drawings from
the insatiate net, the demand for even
greater and greater armies is so press
ing that multitudes of men pass the
examiners who never should be al
lowed to do SO. In marked contrast
with these various classes OF recruits
stand the men who make up the
American regiments. With us it is
no question of a degenerate class. Our
soldiers are picked men. They are so
because we need fewer of them. and
because among those applying for en-
nstment more are rejected than are ac-
cepted. 1t is made kind OF favor to
get into the army, and only the best
men Offering get the chance. This is
not from any unjust selection, but only
through living up to the letter of the
strict regulations. This material is re-
ropean society, and is very superior
physically. Bodily measurements tax
en- of several thousand young Ameri-
cans between the ages recognized in
recruiting showed an average weight
of 156 pounds. height of 5 feet So
inches, girth of chest "a 1-3 inches.
Average results OF British recruits in
a great number of examinations were:
Weight, 126 pounds; height, feet 51s
inches, chest measurement, 331h inches.
Col Douglas said that within his re-
membrance recruiting sergeants would
have laughed" at the British recruits
of today. On the contrary, the Ameri-
can soldier has never been more
complete figure of man than he is
at present. In all respects he towers
above the fighting man of every other
country.
Not In the Tactics.
There is much in the strategy Of war