The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 31, 1915. "THE BANTAMS"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2475, 31 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 31, 1915. "THE BANTAMS"

Everyone must sympathise with the men who are eager to go to the front to fight for King and Empire, but are compelled to remain a.t home because of some physical shortcoming. The lot of "the bantams"—the would-be soldiers who are not quite able to meet the requirements as far as size is concerned—is especially hard. They have missed what they regard as the chanco of their lives— perhaps just by an inch, or even less than that.. They may he fit and well, strong and hardy, and able to pass evory other military test. It is not surprising that they havo got the impression that all is not as it should be. Their disappointment is keen and they are insistent in their protests. The eagerness of these enthusiasts to share in tho great adventure which the war has provided for the young manhood of the Empire is so great that they will not take "No" for an answer. In a letter which recently appeared in The Dominion one of the "bantams" unburdenod his soul. He declares that "it is absurd the way recruits are selected." Looked at from his point of view, the regulations no doubt seem unreasonable, but even if the measurements were lowered by an inch or two there would still be dissatisfied men who would bo "turned down" just for half an inch. Some definite standards must be fixed. Still it is a pity that young men in perfect health and imbued with the true fighting spirit should be denied the opportunity of fighting for' their country at a time when an urgent call for soldiers is ringing through the Empire. The recent announcement that the New Zealand "bantams" are to get their chance- will meet with general' approval. We are told that they are to be given their opportunity well before, the end of the year. Their commendable importunity has compelled the authorities to admit the right of the short men to serve their country on the field of battle, and it is to be hoped that they will now be able to possess their souls in patience until their turn comes. In Britain the "bantams" have already secured recognition from the authorities, and the first march past of the Bantam Battalion of the Royal Scots took place a 'few days, ago at Edinburgh. It is quite a mistake to think that the British War Office views tho formation of such battalions with disfavour. Loud Rosebery recently mentioned the matter to Lord Kitchener, and the Minister of War stated with emphatic bluntnoss: "If anyone says I am_ opposed to bantams he is a liar."

The case of the "bantam" is receiving a good deal of attention in Australia, where many men are complaining because they have been "ploughed for the want of half an inch." One disconsolate Australian "rejected," in discussing his hard luck with a comrade, who was also too short to be a soldier, said:

"Talking about hard luck, are you? Well, what price me? I was accepted in the country. I threw Tip my job, and delivered rousing speeches at a couple of farewell socials. I came to town, and thrti a suspicious sergeant-major referred me here for examination. And what do they say? I'm under the standard height, they tell m«, and I'm rejected. It's bad enough to go home again without haTing seen a trench or a dry canteen, but what is my position in relation to the presentation wristlet watch and pair of mittens?"

A good many men in Now Zealand have had similar experiences, but there are now indications that common sense will soon triumph t over official rigidity. A short man, who is thoroughly sound in mind and bpdy, ought to' make as good a fighter as his bigger comrade. It may be true that the latter would possibly 'have a slight advantage in au encounter in wnich the bayonet had to bo used, but the healthy, welldeveloped "bantam" would probably have the best of it when it came k) a question of staying power. In modern warfare endurance counts for a great deal, and handinoss is at least as important as size. If a soldier is physically lit, an inch one way or the other is not a matter of vital importance. In days gone by when soldiers fought in heavy armour and had to wield sword and battle-axe in hand-to-hand conflicts preference was naturally given to the big man, hut the conditions of modern warfare are very different, and a sturdy man of sft. -tin. is in most situations just- as good as a giant. FpenEßtn AYnxnM I of Prussia had a mania for ijugfl snd w»j»d lii.rg* «ama Lb buying up. the gianta of

I Europe. His successor, Frederic the Great, realised the absurdity of the whole business. In describing the soldiers his father had left him lie said the Cuirassiers "consisted, like the infantry, of very big men and rode enormous horses. They were giants on elephants, and could neither manoeuvre nor light." In the twentieth century more size is still less important than it was in the days of Frederic the Great. Battles nowadays sometimes last for weeks, and the greater part of the_ ordinary soldier's time is occupied in trench warfare. Steady nerves, discipline, and capacity for endurance are the things that make for victory as far as the human element is concerned, and from this point of view the healthy bantam is almost, if not quite, as useful as the "six-footer," A writer in the Manchester Guardian reminds us that "martial ardour is not something to be measured by inches," and goes on to say that the willingness of the British military authorities to lower tho standard_ of height may be accepted as conclusive evidence that the sft. man in the infantry branch of tho Service will not necessarily be placed at a groater disadvantage than the man who happens to have a few more inches to his credit. The authorities in New Zealand should certainly consider the advisableness of giving unmarried "bantams," who are physically fit, a chance to join our Expeditionary Forces before calling upon the married men to enlist. The present recruiting rules and regulations require revision. They are not working any too well, and a little more elasticity is much to be desired.