FITNESS ESSENTIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 7 October 1942, Page 3

FITNESS ESSENTIAL

NEW TYPE OF WAR ROOSEVELT PLEA FOR PHYSICAL ALERTNESS Washington, Sept. 1. i Exceptional fitness was required for the battles—of a type never known before —being fought by the U.S. armed forces in distant places, said President Roosevelt, in an address at Bethcsda (Maryland). He was speaking at the dedication of a naval medical centre on the centenary of the Naval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery “In the South-West Pacific ships and aircraft of the Fleet and long-range bombers of the Army are striking at the enemy from widely separated bases, and striking together,” he said. “Such co-ordinated warfare requires j men of extraordinary physical alertness and exceptional bearing. A split ( second in timing by one individual may cost innumerable lives. “In addition to finding new methods j of healing, doctors must discover new , methods of preparing men for the un- : precedented combat conditions in submarines, aircraft, and tanks. “In this hospital our Navy battles against disease, disability, and death. Those who fight this vital battle arc the anonymous heroes of this war. Surgeons, nurses, scientists, and technicians are part of a service throughout the world carrying on the unending fight to keep as many men at as many guns on as many days as possible. CIVILIANS’ PART “Progress in prevention and cure of disabilities must not be limited to the armed forces, because the whole population is involved in winning this total war. “There were 40.000 fatalities in motor car accidents last year, and almost 1.500,000 were injured.” said the President. “There were 19,200 fatal accidents in industry, and 2.000.000 workers were injured, including 100.000 permanently disabled. This resulted in the loss of the almost incredible total of 42.000.000 man-days. Thus it is not only our enemies who kill valuable Americans. “It is going too far to say that any civilian who. through reckless driving or failure to take proper safety measures in industrial plants, kill or maim fellow-citizens, are doing an injury to our sons and brothers who are fighting this war in uniform. “Similar injury to the armed forces is done by pedestrians or workers who through thoughtlessness and carelessness put themselves in harm’s way. Not all can participate in direct action against our enemies, but all can participate in saving our manpower.”