The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-04-13
Another Roosevelt Hobby Under
Fire.
Times Democrat

Times-Democrat
1t is not at all unlikely that the
Roosevelt order requiring certain
endurance tests" for army and navy
Ulcers may follow his other order
removing marines from the ships,
into the realm of things that were,
but are not. Four naval officers,
according to the reports from Wash
ington, have been injured during the
past fortnight while training for
the ''test." OF these the least
seriously hurt is laid up with a
broken rib. another has a broken
shoulder. the third sustained tract
ures of both wrists. and the fourth
received Injuries that will permanently
disable if they do not prove fatal
The New York Sun, commenting
upon the recent death of a we'll
known army officer, asks if it were
not caused by the test ride, since the
officer seemed to be in perfect health
up to the moment of that ride, which
was closely followed by his death.
The Army and Navy Journal declares
aCelonel of Artillery. who was
in his prime before taking the riding
tests, and whose record was of the
best, surely did succumb and died."
The consequences of that ride, it
adds, led to a modification of the
order so far as it applied to officers
of the Coast Artillery service.
So far as the record shows, the
good results have been pr actically
nil. The younger army officers have
many Of them. hugely enjoyed the
junket. 1t has worried some of the
older men and furnished the public
more or less amusement. But there
is nothing to show that it has i'm
proved the personnel of the commits
stoned corps or made for greater
efficiency of the army or navy. It
goes without saying that every officer
should be physically fit for any duty
that he is likely to be called to per-
form. So far Mr.. Roosevelt was
right. But he overlooked the fact,
apparently, that many officers, even
in the event of war, will be retained at
General Staff and bureau work.
where their long experience or som
special training or talent may render
them exceptionally valuable.
The old regulations worked very
we'll in practice, and there seems
to have been very little need of the
Roosevelt innovation. The extension
of the order to require practically
the same tests of naval officers as
we're required of landsmen, with
radically different duties, il
Illustrated the former Presidents in
consistency. If Mr.. Roosevelt
had served a brief term as midshipman
In the days of sailing vessels, in
stead of receiving his baptism of
fire. as Lieutenant Colonel O
Rough Riders, he might have required
the army men to climb trees or ascend
rope latters with as much reason as
he requires naval officers to submit
to tests ''for which they have had
absolutely no practice, and which
they were eve intended to do in
their careers as ~Oficers.'
Concerning one result of the
''test order" the Army and Navy
Journal offers this biting and ironic
comment: There was one other
Colonel of this same heavy foot
artillery, who was scarcely ever off
his horse. in the desert wilds of
Arizona, and when his tern came to
take the ride he not only desired
to take the required ride, but was
prepared to follow it up with the walk
- we'll. In his behalf the Medical
Corps became seriously concerned
and his life had to be preserved at all
hazards. Everything had been done
to break his heart possibly drive
him 70 distrsction-but the solicitude
IA his behalf has saved one life at
leask"
The service journal refers here, we