Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-01
POST OFFICE EMPLoyEs MAY
 AID IN MODELLING.
Postmasters Must Pass On Reservists
 Physical Condition.

:
 That the post office department as well as other departments of the United States government will assist in the mobilization of the military forces of the country in case Of emer- gency, is explained in the official bull |letin of the post office department.
 Postmaster General Bur1eson includ- es ir his communication parts of the act of congress passed June 3, last, for making further and more effectuaI provision for the national defence" !" Under the new law the services of all the employees of the government in tan departments may be called upon | to assist in the even of a mobiliza- tion order being issued. The order in- eludes the land, office, the geological
 survey, the forest service. the weath- CT and other bureaus.
 | What will interest postal employees most in this city~and throughout Con- Enecticut, however, is that addition them. In the event of a mobilization order, letter carriers will be supposed 1 to tell reservists to whom they deliver
 mail, or who may be on their routes, | of the order. so they may report. An other job falls to postmasters. They
 will have to look over all reservicts in their districts t9fce year and see
 that they are in good physical condi- | tion. The reservist is to report to the postmaster and have him fill in a
 blank form with which the reservist
 will be furnished. A quasi-medieal duty is thus placed on the shoulders
 of the postmasters. Their examination of the reservists. however, is not sup posed to be technical or minute. They ] will simply have to certify that tine
 reservist appears to be in good health and is able to take the field. In this, { r rTad in, oil Ao (lf n
 mobilization order, the bulk of the
 post office machinery would be put to
 work to help the war department 1 According to the clauses of the
 new law, "TIle president may, sub ject to such rules and regulations as utilize the services of members and employees of all departments of the government of the United States with l out expenses of the individual reserv- ist, for keeping in touch with, pay | ing and mobilizil1g the regular army
 reserve, the enlisted reserve corps and other organizations.
 "In addition to the mail notice sent 1 to each reservist the officer in charge I of the reservists' records may re-h 1 enumerators internal revenue agents and representatives of the general land office, geological survey. forest service. weather bureau and other bu- tsreauS to notify all reServistS who can l be reached by them that mobilization
 has been directed by the president. "As members of the regular army reserve are at liberty to live whatever They choose within the limits of the United States, and as their addresses I are reported only once quarter. It | is quite possible that if mobilization becomes necessary in the future for
 nal notices thereof may not reach the members of this reserve force. It is believed that members and enployes
 of your department stationed through
 cut the United States may, upon learn ing even through newspapers notices thereof, that the president has di- rected mobilization, tender valuable public service by informing such members of the regular army reserve az they may meet in the discharge oi their duties that such mobilization has been ordered.
 31n addition to this assistance 1T lmobolizing tfe regular army reserve advantage has been taken. of that par of Section B which mentions keeping in touch with the regular army re- serve by prescribing in paragraph ter of these regulations that each mem sent himself about Jan. 1 an1 July i 1 to the postmaster through whom his nnail is received, or to any officer o1 the army, navy, etc, requesting the postmaster to sign a statement on Q form which has been sent to tEe re- iservist showing that the soldier is ap- Iparent1y in good physical condition and capable of discharging the duties of soldier in war.
 '"The object of this certificate is tc Iavoid the expense involved in actua, physical examination by medical of ficer. Seni-annual pay prescribed by the act Of June 3. 1916, is made con- I tingent upon the soldiers identifica- tien and good physical condition. He is supposed to have earned this pay only by the preservation Of goot lrhysique which would render his ser vices valuable in war.
 .'It is not expected that post
 master in signing this certificate make any physical examination of the lreservist other than observation oi the man, when he presents the cer- lt;fcate. It is believed that the post master, being a government agent will not sign such certificate unless the applicant is the soldier designated in the certificate and is apparently in good physical condition"