The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-05

ARMY CUSTOMS AND THE
REASONS FOR MAINTAINING THEM
Gen. Hugh L. Scott Tells Why Intensive Training Is Neces
sary for Men Over There
BY GENERAL HUGH L. SCOTT

The average young man that comes
from civil life to the army is physi-
cally soft, and very few have had ath-
letic training. They have been too
busy in offices, warehouses or fac
tories to think much about developing
their physique; and after their days
work, have gone home tired physical
ly and mentally, to look for some form
of amusement to quietly relax, such as
is afforded by the theater.
They have not been taught to take
care of their health, and most OF them
are. pale and undeveloped, and are
subject to coughs, colds, and prey
to other diseases.
The army needs men of the highest
type. in the best physical condition,
and no one is permitted to go over
seas who is not fitted in every way
to stand the strain OF the duty expect
ed Of him over there. and meet the
conditions we know will confront him.
Every soldier is examined again and
again by surgeons of the highest type,
and ii the man is not fit, he is trans
! ferred to some organization OF the
depot brigade in each camp, that suits
his particular case. 1t may be the
| Development Battalion, where his con-
dition is treated until cured, it may
be he has hernia that can be cured
by surgical operation, or condition
/ of the feet which proper shoes and
service with some light work will cor
rect and permit of sending the recruit
abroad with later contingent.
To insure that every man is fit be-
fore starting, every organization held
! in readiness for overseas is c0mbed
by the surgeons, with their specialists,
again and again These specialists
have X-ray and other machines at
their disposal with large and well
equipped laboratories to be used when
any doubt is developed in the exami
nation.
One of the most numerous condi-
tions for disqualification is that of
flat feet Among the remarks of Abe
Martin found in many papers was
seen this: ABE Martin says--'Cold
feet won't help you, they will have
to be fat" and unfortunately most
of the shapes OF shoes worn by men
and women in civil life conduces to
every i'll the foot is heir to. The
writer has known this for 40 years,
he caused change of the lasts for
shoes at the West Point Military acad-
emy in 1906, which practically elm
mated the cadet from the sick report
on account of his feet. This was fol-
lowed later in the army by shoes of
practically the same kind made by
our quartermaster department OH
lasts recommended by the Munson
Board of Officers, and our military
shoes are now probably the best used
in any army, and tend to cure foot
blemishes. Moreover, it is made one
of the most important duties Of the
company officers to superintend the
fitting of the shoes of every man in
the company.
Given proper shoes and clothing,
and an absence of physical disability,
it is the purpose OF the various COM
manders to gradually train their men
by various exercises adapted to their
particular needs to bring out all their
muscular activity, their endurance un
der strain, their ability to withstand
disease, to give them aggressiveness
and the will to conquer.
At the same time they are instructed
as to personal cleanliness and bodily
hygiene they are protected from vice,
encouraged to play games, and are
surrounded by every possible agency
to refine and keep clean both body
and mind. No army in the world has
ever been so protected, or has been
so free from vice OF all kinds, both in
the United States and France.