MILITARY ENLISTMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2938, 25 November 1916, Page 10

MILITARY ENLISTMENTS

Sir, —Being a married man with three young children, and having volunteered to serve when necessary to be called up, I feel I havo a right to ask that all single men who are at present classed as medically unfit should-be rigidy examined by the Military Boards. It is well known that many havo been able to obtain a medically unfit badge by the help of the family doctor, some on account of varicose veins, footballer's knee,j!tc., and although these dcfccts havo been with them for years, it has not prevented them from taking prominent parts in athletic games, tennis tournaments, etc., right up to the start of the war. Yet these men, when the call-conies to serve their King and country, are allowed to excuse themselves as medically unfit. I contend, Sir, that as these men have already proved themselves physically fit by taking part in atnletic games, that many of them aro fitter men to serve than k>nie who havo enlisted and been accepted. These men will probably excuse themselves by saying that they have not been able to tako part in athletic contests for the last two years. This is no doubt true, as several branches of sport, football, tennis, etc., have not held their usual competitions since the war commenced. We married men will not lie willing volunteers, when our .-turn comes unless the military authorities give us some guaranteo that the above class of men have been thoroughly tried out. Hoping lam not trespassing too much on your valued space,—l am, etc., AN OLD SPORT. [Neither the family doctor nor the eligible single man himself has any power to deeido the question of medical fitness. That is left to the special mediea! officers appointed by tho State to examine recruits of all classes No doubt some of tho medical examiners aro more careful or better qualified for tlio tasTc entrusted to them, .than others, hut ovory effort is made to ensure.that the tests shall be uniform.]