AN ETHICAL PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 30 October 1916, Page 2

AN ETHICAL PROBLEM.

A nice question of military ethics (says the "Broad Arrow") is involved in the private provision of body armour by officers whether it be shrapnel-proof breast plate, which is exhibited at Knightsbridge, or the bullet-proof jacket designed by the Wilkinson Sword Company. Of the protective value of those articles there can be no doubt; in fact, they are the complement of the steel helmet. But the ethical problem arises from the circumstance that the rank and file aro not provided with body armour, nor for that matter are all officers—in short, it is not "uniform." On the 'one hand it may be said that the preservation of life in battle is a national gain when not accomplished at the expense of duty; on J tJ other hand an officer must have a >.-o'>d ci-'.al of what we euphemistically BP.II moral courage to call '&n men to expose themselves to a danger from which he has secretly protected himself.