New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Crippled Men
Keen to Learn
Motor Mechanics
Disabled Soldiers of Many
BeEliserents Taking Up
Autonotive Courses for
After-tlle-War Livelihood
By Douglas c. McMurtrie
Director Red Cross Institute for Grip
pied and Disabled Men

Motor mechanics has proved most
popular subject Of instruction for
crippled soldiers who are being re-
trained to become self-supporting, self
respecting workers. In fact. the trade
is almost too popular, say directors Of
Canadian schools in which hundreds
OF disabled soldiers are to-day being
trained in new occupations.
Practically every Canadian soldier
who is asked to choose from among the
various trades in which classes are
operated, selects automobile mechanics.
But most of uoe men have to be dis
suaded from 1heir intention and are
turned into other channels of industry
Otherwise, every crippled soldier in the
Dominion would be looking for a job
as automooila mechanic after he had
completed his course of training, and
tie supply would far exceed the de-
mand.
Canada. England Germany and India
are among +he belligerents that OFFER
training courses in motor mechanics
TO the disabled men Of theie own
forces, ana America, in line with the
programme of reeducation that She has
adopted. is teaching her wounded and
disabled soldiers automobile repairing.
At Fort McHenry, where the United
States opera .es a large reconstruction
hospital, one of the trades taught to
convalescent soldiers is automobile me
chanlcS. a One-armed or Il one LEGGED
automobile mechanic viii not be a new
thing under the sun once the general
public has been committed to the prjn-
ciplos of readucation.
In British Columbia gasolcne engine
classes were organized soon after lhc
wounded began returning from over
seas. Vancouver, Victoria, Esquimault
and Wcsthaven provide instruction in
motor mechanics. in Victoria the Mill
ta1y Hospitals Commission and the
Board of Education together operate a
ully-equlppcd motor repair shop in
which men wko wish to become chauf-
feurs are taught. Men trained in This
course conduct well-p a1ronzed ji5-
ney stand IN the town. Those who wish
thorough course preparing them Is
motor mechanics arc sent TO Nancon-
Yer, and later to the new workshops at
Esquimault and Wcsthaven
The Military Hospitals Commission
has made an arrangement by which wal
crlppies at Vancouver are taught driv-
ing at an excellent automobile school
IN evening classes. Then, too, through
elt generosity OIL ino owner OF TINS
school. any disabled soldier may at
tend his day classes free Of charge
Several men from other parts of Brit
'lsh Columbia are kept in Vancouver OF
maintenance allowance while receiv-
ing training.
Thos, is big field for workmen in
this trade in Saskatchewan, as through
oil the West, and thorough courses are
given for war crirples by the Univer-
sity of Saskatchewan. Another course
is 1T the Provincial Institute of Tech
nology and Art at Calgary. Disabled
men so trained compete successfully
with the average sound mechanic One
soldier, who lost his right arm, is pre-.
pairing with his chum to have a small
-four and grist mill in one Of the cen
tres Of the Peace River district. HIS
course in automobile mechanics and gas
engineering will enable him to take
charge of the power plant stationary
gas engine), to run wood cutting
plant. and to mend automobiles as :
side line. His chum will attend to th<
milling proper.
While the wounds of English sol.
diers and sailors arc healing at Queer
Mary's Convalesccnt Hospital at Brigh.
ton and Redemption, they are afforded
ar opportunity of learning motor me
chanics. The workshop at BoehamptoY
is fitted up as q model garage in chargc