New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-01
Every Inch of Country
Searched by Govern
ment for Unfit"
SOME ARE EDWARDS.
MORE MERELY LAZY
Physical Requirements Re-
Taxed to Aid Work
of Enlistment.
By ARTHUR s. DRAPER

LONDON, sept. S.-Two years ago men
half an inch under height or a pound
under weight or slightly nearsightsd
were turned away scornfully bv tho
overworked military authorities who
had to handle the immense throng Of
volunteers for the Great Adventure.
Those were the days before gas attacks
at Ypres, submarine outrages, zeppelin
raids, the battle of Jutlsnd, Gallipoli,
Mesopotamia; those were the DAYS
when business as Usual" signs ap.
peared In show windows, when railway
carriages were chalked ION to Berlin,
when people enjoyed week-ends. opened
champagne and imported American
motor cars because they liked their
color.
Two years rave gone; the past is
memory, nightmare, an awakening
TO different world. The old life has
gone and with it host Of those who
lived to make it lively. The past is
unreal, the present serious, the future
problem. A peace-loving nation has
become military power; a pleasure
loving country has become a reservoir
pouring forth all the death dealing de.
vices OF ancient and modern invention
and men to start them on their way.
Britain's Supply Ample.
When nations fight their peoples can
not remain spectators. In the game OF
war the entry fee is high. This
country is paying the price in life and
money, but the cost is ever increasing.
Carrying on the business across the
Channel is a constant drain on the
reservoir here, but it is still far from
dry. BY German standards il is sup
piled by an srtesan well. II Britains
supply was no greater than her enemy's
there would be no use Of further fight
ing. Fortunately for the Allies. the
British reservoir will still have water
In it when Germanys has been ex.
hausted.
Few soldiers are fighting now simply
because they enjoy killing the enemy
or like the smell Of powder, the roar
OF the guns and life in the open. Ask
any Canadian or any Australian. or any
other soldier who has lived for six
months out on the West front where he
would like 20 be? | wager he says
"home." Not that any soldier on this
side of the line wants TO leave before
the "job's DONE" but it cannot be fin
ished too soon to suit him.
And just as there are soldiers who
long for home there are men here who
do not want TO leave home. There are
almost as many reasons why they have
not gone "out" as there are men. So
the military authorities, with the aid OF
the police, are combing the country.
The comb is big and the teeth close to-
gether. IL brings out men who place
home before country, men afraid to
fight men too busy earning money,
men who think themselves physically
unfit, men who are simply selfish. Not
many are found, but the authorities
consider the combing process worth
while. The bag may not be large, but
the moral effect on the men who have
given and gone willingly is great.
The ComDing Process.
The other evening walked out OF
the tube into knot OF policemen.
plain clothes men and ordinary civil
lians.
Have you your exemption papers,"
q husky fellow asked.
'Im an American"
Have you an identity book and
registration card?" he countered.
After looking them over he allowed
me to pass. More than 200 men were
not so fortunate. They were herded
together in a bicycle shed and later
taken to a police station. Frantic mes
sages 70 homes were sent, misplaced
birth certificates eventually were dis
covered, family Bibles were hurriedly
busted and carried 10 the station, eY-
emption cards were found in the
"other" suit, many a dinner went un-
eaten. and il was midnight before the
last of the catch had satisfied the su-
thorities that he had valid reason
for not being in the army.
The combing goes on all over the
city-at theaters, cinema shows, boy
ing matches, department stores, hotels
and market places. Before 1t ends, ne
will be a skillful dodger who escapes.
No longer does a man have to be six
feet tall TO be soldier; there is place
for him no matter how short, or how
fat he is. A cook, clerk, dentist,
ar interpreter, a shoemaker, watch
maker, a barber can find place and
useful work in Britain's vast army.
Britain is catching them early, and
q youth OF seventeen may now attest
and become a fighting man when he
reaches eighteen. Men over forty so
far have been exempt, but II the war
lasts another year, or even less, those
between forty and forty-fve will be
called out. Long ago the Central Pow
ers found It necessary to call up these
classes and found them good fighters.
Youths and middle-aged men in France
have stood up well under the hard