New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
Too. Much Is Being Made Of Slight
PHYSICAL Defects
To m. Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In connection with the many letters
that have been appearing In your columns
relative to the present ridiculous red tape
system under which the War Department is
still laboring, and because of which the
armies Of the United States are to lose many
splendid potential officers, perhaps the fol-
lowing extracts from a letter by member
OF the Officers Reserve Corps, in training for
the past two months at one Of the officers
training camps, would be Of interest.
This man, according to regular army in
structors, possessed special qualifications for
leadership and command Of men. He is a
husky college man, footba.. player and gen.
eral enthusiast on military work, particularly
on this war. In the shooting on the range at
the camp he repeatedly has made the highest
possible score In record practice. On the
third or fourth physical examination he is
ruthlessly cut down because OF defective
vision. He wears glasses which correct his
vision to normal, and these glasses have never
caused him any inconvenience while on active
service there or anywhere else
at Is a shame" he writes, "to see dozens
Of men, natural leaders, being turned down
for slight physical defects. One real soldier,
Of officer material, wearing two campaign
ribbons, was disqualified for being six pounds
under weight. He cried like baby. (This,
mind you, after two months intensive train
ing at government expense.) To-day an even
more rigid examination was given, and many
more men failed to make the requirements.
On the other hand, many fine physical speci-
mems with no character or personality are
kept. They never will become officers and
will cost the government much for educa-
tion. Even II they get commissions they
will be fatal to the discipline and morale
of the new army. It will take broad-minded,
deep thinkers to understand the cosmopolitan
psychology Of the conscripts. The War De-
partment is driving big. relentless and un-
intelligent steam roller over the camps and
will regret it. As one major said, They will
be on their knees to get you fellows within
few months | have had sympathy from
regulars, reserves and scores OF students.
They have been so sincerely complimentary
that 1t hurts me 70 think that cannot con-
tinue. However, I am determined to con-
Nihuc W Wy W get u CRACK AT inc NUNS.
may have to try the Red Cross or American
ambulance; in the latter case I would prob
ably have to provide my own equipment and
passage to Europe. / may also try the
Quartermaster Corps, but rather detest the
idea. IL the worst comes, / suppose I will
go back to work, and they cannot keep me out
of the Home Guard. Civilian life, however,
is repulsive to me now, and will be as long
as the war lasts"
know of several other instances where lust
such stupidity and lack Of judgment were used
in turning down two very valuable men for
the American Aviation Corps, one we'll
known hockey and lacrosse player, the other
a tennis star. The latter became disgusted,
went up to Canada and is now serving in the
Royal Flying Corps, and still our govern
ment calls for men to sign up for the second
series Of training camps.
From personal experience with War De-
partment methods on active service last year
on the Mexican border, can say without
hesitation that II any business man at
tempted to run his business along the lines
laid down by our arbitrary, befoeged and
absolutely incompetent War Department he
would be bankrupt in week. Every busi-
ness man who has gone into the service ha,
been appalled, by the red tape, stupidity and
blind machine-like system, devoid Of ali com.
mon sense, under which our splendid officers
are laboring and against which thew dare
say nothing. We are still in the expert
mental stage OF soldering on large scale.
PRO PATRTA, BUT DISGUSTED.
New York July IA, la1l.