SOLDIERS' BEST AGE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1917, Page 2

SOLDIERS' BEST AGE.

ADVICE FKO.M GENERAL CODLEY.

YOFXG MEX DOIXG WELL

(SpEOIAI TO "Bxi.S.")

Reports have come to hand from the front showing' that New Zca landers who enlisted at such an early age thai they were expected to "crack up" under hard campaign conditions have quite confounded their critics, and that they have stood hardships which the most mature men would face with trepidationAbout a year ago the military authorities were severely criticised for allowing men under twenty to go forward, some of I hem having obviously misled the examining' officers in regard to age. (ieneral tiodley has recently reported to the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, that he has had reason to vary his opinion regarding the ideal age for a soldiet- From the experience of the war, he is now of opinion that the ideal age is from 25 to 30, but, he adds, the younger men have stood tin to it remarkably" wellThis opinion from the highest quarter will lie bound to affect the (loverument's scheme of classifying the Second Division of the Kxpediiionary Force ReserveThat classification is ready for consideration by the Minister, and i understand that age. within certain limits, will have a greater hearing' upon classification than (he number of a married man's dependants- The State is now makine: more liberal provision for dependants, therefore, in considering suitable military age above all other factors, the (ioverninetit will be following the advice of the head of the Kxpeditionnr\ Force at the Front-