Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-01
Defense COUNCIL WANTS
REQUIREMENTS LOWERED
Suggests Notifications In Physical
s. examinations for Army
and Navy.
MANY GOOD MEN EXCLUDED
DESCENDANTS OF Many European
Races Do Not Average Height Now
y Required, and So Cannot Serve in
United States Forces.

Many alien-born men will escape
selection for the army because they are
too. short in stature. This statement
wae made yesterday by the Council of
Dsfense on the authority OF the Fed
9FH committee OF national research.
- Virginia Council Is asked to lend
ITS influence to proposed changes in the
recruiting requirements now enforced
4Py the. United States government so
40 TO include larger percentage of
Americas foreign-born population.
mis- recommendation, according TO
Z adyices from Washington is made after
3specialfsts have subjected the whole
question to exhaustive study. 1t mas
been forwarded to the general medical
board. and will be considered by the
medical section of State Councils OF
Defense.
There are numerous European ma
tlopaiities, the committee says. with
average height OF adult males but few
tenths OF an Inch over the minimum
requirement OF the United States.
These nationalities." II Is pointed
out. most of which are we'll represent
ed In this country. include Italians.
Greeks, French. Swiss. many of the
Slavs. the Magyars. Russian and Aus
trian Jews. Lithuanians and some of
the nationalities of the German en-
pire.e Should the present minimum in
stature for the United States Army
be adhered to. from two-ffths to more
than one-half OF these men belonging
to. or descending from the nationali-
ties mentioned would be excluded by
the rule
PRESENT MINIMUM
IS FIVE FEET FOUR INCHES
'lThe committee points out that the
present minimum requirements in any
branch OF the army or navy Is five feet
YOUR inches, and in case OF the artil-
lery, 1t is five feet eight inches, al
though the minimum for the English
infantry. and for some other branches
B OF the service prior to the present war
= yNs five feet two inches. and this mini
%mum was later reduced.
.hc continent" IT is stated the
minimum differs according to peoples
$1a- view OF these facts. and since a
small stature in large majority Of
cases signifies normal variations rather
than degeneration. IT appears advisable
that our minimum be reduced for all
branches OF the service to si1ty-onc
inches and that. corresponding TO this
change, the minimum weight require
ments be reduced from los TO 100
pounds.
This conclusion was reached by the
committee after extensive investigation
on problems in connection with the es-
tablishment Of the best basis on which
the largest number Of men who are
fit for war can be selected or be made
At for war by training. 1t has been
suggested that the taking OF only the
tallest men for military duty would be
unfair and. from the scientific point Of
view. unwise And the committee
points out that the existing standards,
though probably sufficient in normal
times. do not take account OF the rad
ical differences in stature and weight,
and give little consideration to the
question Of improvement in the indi-
vidual that is bound to follow the six
or nine months Of training. medical in
spection and outdoor life"
SUGGESTS CHANGES IN
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The following recommendations in
the rules and regulations concerning
recruiting In this country arc made:
/. That the rule mo person shall be
accepted for the army or navy who
cannot speak. read and write the Eng
lish language" be changed TO read
who does not possess fair speaking
knowledge of the English language"
2. That the present regulation requir-
ing the recruit to have twenty sound
teeth. including four opposite incisors
and four opposite molars be changed.
since most defective conditions of the
teeth are connected with the food or
other habits OF our civilization and to
accident. and since most OF these con-
ditions can be remedied. be changed TO
one permitting more latitude.
3. The committee also suggests the
elimination OF the paragraph in the
enlistment Instructions Of the United
States Navy which enumcratcs the
disqualifications of recruits for the fol-
lowing causes: Parasites OF skin or it's
appendages; deformity OF the skull.
some of the more moderate degrees Of
which are common in the negro; in
equality OF the upper or lower ex-
tremities: color blindness. polpl: great
enlargement Of the tonsils; 'predisposi-
tion' to heart or lung trouble; enlarged
abdominal organs; ingrowing nails;
bad corns: large bunions and deformity
OF toes"
These cases are covered sufficient
ly. the committee contends. by the
paragraph that stipulates among the
causes Of disqualification. ANY dis
case of deformity either congenital or