The Times SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1942 Concern For Youthful Soldiers

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 112, 5 September 1942, Page 4

The Times SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1942 Concern For Youthful Soldiers

Under the Army policy in the Dominion in this war, youths of 18 years of age are called to serve in the Army, but soldiers are not sent overseas until they attain the age of 21 years. Thus it is possible for a lad, on leaving school, to go straight into the Army and there remain in a camp in New Zealand for three years. That is a long time to be engaged upon “unaetive service.” Quite a number of young men have been already a long time in camp under such conditions; and as the war goes on their number will greatly increase. It is not Suggested that these men should be sent overseas at any younger age. Concern is, however, being widely felt as to the morale, both current and future, of the generation of youth compelled so to serve. How widespread is this concern can be appreciated from the fact that a major article in this week’s issue of The Sandard, the official organ of the New Zealand Labour Party, is devoted to the matter and quoted in that article is the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Clearly, therefore, there is no political bias in the discussion of this highly consequential subject. The article itself and the authorities quoted, consider the value of education in the Army. Since that was written there has been announced the appointment of an ex-senior inspector of schools to the position of Director of Army Welfare and Education. The appointment appeals as soundly made to judge from the qualifications of the officer. It is felt, however, that this of itself does not sufficiently treat the comprehensive problem—the three years’non-combantant soldiering for our youth. Army life under such conditions is absolutely uninspiring. In the training of an army the time factor is a big consideration. This is appreciated in the training of boxers, athletes and even of racehorses—that the training must be so commenced that peak performance can be assured at a certain future date. And if the effect be not made upon that date, then the trainee grows stale and his form will fade. Hitler apparently has well appreciated this fact for upon several occasions during the past three years, when his army has been comparatively disengaged, he sent back big proportions of his soldiers to their civilian occupations. That is an attested fact. '

Rather than take a youth of 18 years into camp and keep him there continuously for three years, would it not be : much wiser for the Army to take that lad at 18 years if needs be—train him intensively for six months—then send him back to his job, his apprenticeship maybe, or perhaps to pursue some course of studies. It might very probably be desirable thereafter to give such youthful troops an annual refresher course, of maybe a full month. This could be well arranged and without causing any grave upset to the youthful life. Then at 21 years, if the war effort still makes such calls, these soldiers can serve their country overseas. And be the training as it should, then they would require very little preparation for the great ordeal.