The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-06
Recruiting Officer Says
Many Who Would Enlist
Are Not Accepted.
STRINGENT DEMANDS
Thorough Examination Made
Of Every Candidate for
Place in Army.

Many are called, but few are chosen
This ancient proverb accurately de-
scribes the recruiting situation in thu
United States regular army, according
to Sergeant Gordon NJ. Dawson, il
charge Of the Missoula recruiting sta
ton. Cowardice and lack of patriot
ism are not the reasons for the scar
city of men in the army. Instead i
can be attributed to physical defects
according to Sergeant Dawson. HI
would serve their country at arms il
reallyS surprising. but even more sur
prising Is the number of applicants HI
must reject on account of various mi
nor infirmities which ara not apparen
on the surface. Sergeant Dawson ha
been serving as recruiting office
for long time, and though he doe
not conduct the strenuous final phys
ical examinations through which tn
would be soldier must pass, he say
that he can tell whether the applican
is fit or not almost at a glance ate
he has stripped for the preliminary eN
animation.
In spite of the fact that so man!
men are rejected for varying mino
imperfections, Sergeant Dawson say:
that he does not believe that the gov
eminent will let down the bars, ever
during the present time, when an at
tempt is being made to raise as large
an army as possible. Experiences II
previous wars. he says, have laugh
the army experts that those who may
seem only slightly unfit for service, in
variably drop out first and become {
burden to the rest of the army.
The physical examination, held At
the local office. though only prellin-
mary are most eXacting. Numerous
tests for the eyes, ears, throat. nose
mouth, teeth, neck, chest, stomach
limbs and feet are made and any
thing except slightest imperfections
will cause the rejection of the appli
cant. After the recruit has passed thu
preliminary examinations here, he Il
required to undergo. a final physica
examination by physicians at Spokane
Ayhere the recruiting Headquarters TO
this district are located.
Eyesieht Important.
The applicants eyesight is thorough
ly tested by the same method as is use
by opticians. 1t is absolutely neces
sary that the applicant pass what
called the 600 test, which consist
Of reading a certain type of print on
card at a distance of 20 feet.
Good hearing is considered very i'm
portant and many tests arc made
Failure to pass any of these test
causes rejection. The cars and tn
nose are also thoroughly examined 70
any imperfections. Goitrc is a bar t
the army, and the officer alway
watches closely for any trace of sucl
An imperfect set of teeth is a sur
bar to the army, and so is perfec
set of false teeth. In order to pas
muster, the candidate must have q
least two molars or bicuspids on eac
side of the jaw. Teeth properly file
paid to the front teeth as to the molar:
as every soldier must be well equippe
to chew the solid food which the com
missary department passes out.
\ fiat chest is not bar to the army
as the system of exercises prescribe,
for the soldiers will help to remed
this afflction. but Il chicken" breas
will cause immediate rejection. An ap
phcant with prominent embonipoin
has no chance for service. while rup
ture is sufficient cause for rejection
Flattoot and broken down arches
and even corns or bunions of cxton
SiNc size are not conducive toward
making good soldier. and the unfor
tunatc or perhaps fortunate posscssor
arc barred from military service. =
sufferer from flatfoot as the condition
in which the foot is when the arch o
the instep has been flart,nrd so tina
the entire sol. Of the foot rests on tn
ground, - called may march for
mile or two before the certain cOIMps
occurs, but when it does come he i
helpless. TIL" applicant must posses
perfectly straight spine in order I
become Il soldier. Broken bones. it the
have been set properly and healed per
teCtly are no bar but any stiffness q
joints or bones is Il cause for rcjec
ton.
Pronounced stamm"rjng viii caus
rejection. Chrome diseases of an
kind will prove d bar to the arm,
and the vital organs especially ar
given thorough examination.
Seven recruits for the regular arm
have been sent to spokane since tn
first of the month, according to SCI
geant Dawson, six Of them lcaVin
Monday, and one, Frank Whitehead
who will join the infantry, yesterda,
A number of recruits have been OF
tanned by the postmastrrs in the cite
where no recruiting stations are lc
Gated, and several new men will !
brought in today from Anaconda an
Lewistown.
a CHANCELLOR SELLS OUT.