The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-06-14
PHYSICAL UNFIT TO
DO MILITARY DUTY
Those Released For Minor
Defects To Be Used
In Service.

washington, June 1.-Two hum
dred and fifty thousand men released
from early service under the draft
because of minor physical defects,
but held for special and limited mill
tary duty" are to be brought into the
army within the next few months for
service in noncombatant units.
AT present every man in the army
has had to pass rigid physical tests
for field service. Tens Of thousands
of these sturdy, athletic young fell
lows, however, are serving as clerks
and storekeepers in quartermaster
and ordnance depots, as military po-
lice. hospital orderlies, headquarter
clerks, telegraph, telephone and
wireless operators and in other jobs
that could be as efficiently filled by
men not physically qualified for front
line work.
"Huskies" Must Fight.
In order that America may put in
to this war her maximum fighting
strength, General Crowder, Provost
marshal general has decided that no
man physically fit for front line ser
vice shall be permitted to serve in a
noncombatant capacity so long as it
is possible to fill acceptably these jobs
with men not fit for the trenches.
A man may have a thumb or finger
off, a glass eye or fiat feet, and still
be able to do everything that is re-
quired in noncombatant service. Often
he will be able to do it better than
the young athlete Some of the most
efficient Office men to be found are
often virtually cripples in the military
sense.
'There is a job in the army for
every man who is able to handle any
sort of job in industry" it was stated
at Crowder's Office. 1.-THE whole army
can not be on the batteline, and it is
absurd to apply battleline require
ments to the men of the noncombat-
ant forces.
GAS a result, we will release from
noncombatant work for duty at the
front the equivalent of 200 German
divisions-for every one of these men
brought in for special and limited
military duty will release from non
fighting work a man physically fit for
the trenches"
Limited Service"
Orders for the induction of these
limited service men into the army
will end the regime of sickers and
slackers" who although strong and
sound, secured assignment to desk
jobs and other duties that would
keep them far from the sound of the
guns.
Thousands of men in Washington
alone will be released for field duty"
this draft official declared.
This refinement of selection will |
continue until about the only Glass 1 |
men not in service will be the invalids
and total incompetents. For special |
lied work, too, we will go into the |
deferred classes when necessary"
From now on ability to serve is to be |
the deciding factor in selection. |
Probably the most expert wireless
operator in the United States has only |
one leg. Should the government
turn this expert down because of his
defect, and put in his chair sound,
two-legged operator? We think not.
The one-legged man can give more |
efficient service at the wireless key |
than the man who is physically sound. |
And putting him on the job for which
he is fitted releases the sound man
with his two good legs to charge the |
German across No Mans Land.