STEP BY STEP.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1917, Page 2

STEP BY STEP.

MAKING UNFITS FIT FOR THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY. HOW THE WORK IS DONE. KEENNESS OF CI RECRUITS. Making unfits fit,! How is it done? The answer is being supplied daily at the CI Camp at Featherston, where just upon 1000 unfit men are in special training, and it is hoped as a result to so develop the majority of them that they can be passed as physically fit recruits into the New Zealand Army. The CI Camp has now been established for a full period of seven weeks, and having passed the essentially experimental stage —the whole scheme is entirely new to New Zealand—it. has become possible to ,gain a sound idea of the training methods pursued and the results being achieved. A Post representative paid a special visit to the camp for this purpose recently. TRAINING IN THREE GRADES. The training syllabus laid down aims not at training men in the art of war, but solely at the building up of physique and the rectification of certain disabilities which under the present New Zea« j. land standard disqualify a man from becoming a soldier. The men being put 'through this training are CI men only—- | "CI" means men likely to become fit for active service beyond the. seas after special have 'either been classified CI in the first place, or have been reclassified as such by the Special C2 Re-examination Board still touring the country. The course provides for one and a-half hours' physical drill daily alternate long and short route marches daily, plus short lectures on care of the teet, teeth, etc., feet inspections, and the ordinary parade ground movements. In addition, there is bathing parade at the river twice a week, and organised recreations. All meh sent into the C) Camp are put through this course, the J period depending on the progress they make, or the proved impossibility of 'ever converting an unfit man into a sound soldier. All CI men, however, are not of the same physical standard. The Camp Authorities recognise this, and have all recruits classified X, or Z, within three; days of their arrival in camp. Thi3 > classification i? decided by the officers and n.c.o.'s, who during the first three days put the men through a modified course of general training, and .observe | them closely, carefully noting their dis- ! abilities. These disabilities are brought under the notice of the specially selected I medical officer attending, who roughly divides the men into the.three categories named. The men fclossed X are those considered fit to go through the full course of Cl' instruction straight away; the Y men are intermediary, while the Z men are at least fit of all. The intensity of the training varies according to the classification, that given to the Y men being at a slower rate than for Class X, and that for Class Z men being slower again than for Class Y! As an example, Z.men while route marching are only expected to do 95 paces to the minute, while X men are obliged to do 120. For the purposes of pay, rations, duty, and discipline the men are organised into companies named after their respective military districts. For exercises and training, on the other hand, they are placed in squads according to their classification, all X men assembling together, ahd so on. To facilitate this, the men arc given diamond patches which they wear on the shoulder—X men wearing green, Y men blue, and Z men white. THE TEST OF FITNESS. The men as they emerge from the course are put before a special Medical Board, which it is intended in future shall sit monthly. About ten days before that Board sits, the training officers submit a list to the camp medical officer of the men they consider fit for transfer. This list is carefully revised by the official named, and if ho agrees with the recommendations made the men are put through a strenuous test to ascertain whether they are fit to be posted as recruits to the regular Reinforcement drafts. On passing this test, the men are finally placed before the Special Medical Board, which peruses each man's medical and training record, and after making a personal medical examination either passes the man: as fit or orders further CI training, X class being the only one from which men can be posted to the Expeditionary Force drafts, Y men are / required similarly to quality for X Class, while Z men are obliged to work up through Y to X. i The system, it will be seen, is about as good as can be devised, but, like all' systems, must fail if there is not ,% competent staff to carry it out. With a view to ensuring this, officers with special experience have been selected. The commandant of the camp is Major J. W.'Brunt, 11th (Taranaki) Rifles, who, after service on the Western frohi, spent six months in training New "Zealand convalescent soldiers at Codford, Capt. Wheeler, N.Z.M.C., the supervisingmedical officer, also had considerable cxjerience at Codford. A similar qualification is held by Sgt.-Maj. Brown, of the Instructional Staff, who likewise possesses on Aldcrshoi certificate. In addition, specially-qualified physical training instructors are included on the camp staff, and the whole of the officers and n.c.o.'s have the strictest instructions to take notes of any disability disclosed by any man during the course of training. - 60 PER CENT. OF FITS EXPECTED. Up to date close, upon 1000 CI men have been mobilised in the special training eamp. Of the first draft of 300 men. 118. after six weeks' training, were sent before the special medical board for examination, and of thesp A3 were classed fit, and posted to the Reinforcements. The balance were held over for nex't months' examination, and in the meantime continue their progressive training. The second draft, comprising over 600 men, concentrated on 24th October. Although it is rather early yet to anticipate results, it is confidently expected that fully 00 per cent, of 'he men already mobilised will ultimately be passed as fit into the Reinforcement camps. SPIRIT OF THE MEN. That there are good grounds for supposing this to be a reasonable estimate is evident to anyone who spends a day in the camp and watches- <the men in training. The CI men, taking them as a whole, are of an exceptionally good l type; they look well physically, and in the great majority of cases are vcr?

keen. It was a pleasure to observe! the-smartness with which squad after I squad of them, mostly well set \ip 'fellows, did their physical drill. "I havo never come across a more willing crowd of men," remarked Major Brunt to The J'ost representative, "Vou see a very larao percentage of the men are reject 3 under the old voluntary Bystem, and are keen to get away. They welcome their training here as giving them the chance which they have all along desired. After being here for, a while tho men soon begin to smarten up and feel tho benefit. One man who could only do. iy a in chest expansion before he entered camp found ho could do 4'/ 2 in a month afterwards, and is as proud as a man can be over it. The open air life and the physical exercise constitute a good cure for many complaints. Many of the men have certainly found the remedy for sleeplessness. Whereas they could, not sleep before, they sleep like tops now." The keenness of the CI men is further evidenced in the fact that they are bent on beating the Reinforcement draffs in both route-inarching and in keeping their lines. Their lines, indeed, are the best yet seen in any of the Reinforcement canvas camp. Nearly every tent has its own special decoration outside. This decorative work is done mainly with coal dust, red brick, pipe-clay, and large and small stones, which are whitewashed, "bluewaslied," ,or "redwashed," according to the artistic fancy of the .men. Some of the designs are particularly good, representing battleships, artillery, industry, etc. There is,, however, a general one for the whole camp standing outside headquarters. This is called "Before arid After." "Before" represents a CI man on his entry into camp—a very broken-down looking individual in khaki; while in "After" a well setup and smart-looking soldier is presented. Tho design appeals to the great majority of the men in camp, who are certainly bent on proving its truthfulness. Already tho CI men are earning the respect and admiration of Reinforcement officers, and are being quoted' as examples. ORGANISING RECREATION. The 0.C., Major. Brunt, is a strong bclieyer in organised recreation as a means of developing the men physically. He accordingly would welcome gifts of boxing gloves, footballs, cricket sets, etc., or anything which will provide healthy recreation for the men during the long summer evenings. Even croquet sets will be accepted. .. The CI men will be removed to Tau. hcrenikau Camp on 17th November. THE NOVEMBER QUOTA. In Featberston Camp Orders it Is announced that the November quot&'of Cl men will concentration Main Catnip on tho following dates, and transfer to Tauberenikau Camp on same day:—2t)th November, Canterbury • District;: 21st November, Otago Oistrict; 22iid November, WVdlin'gtolV; District; ber, Auckland District. Appj6';i;jni/t,te!vi 850 men will' concentrate.