How " Soldiering " is Avoided.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 46

How " Soldiering " is Avoided.

In the countries of Europe in which the military conscription exists many tricks are resorted to by conscripts in the effort to escape service. Often men have been known to mutilate themselves, as by cutting off a forefinger, in order to render themselves unfit for tho service. Pretended inability to see is exposed by the surgeons without great difficulty, but pretended deafness sometimes baffles the examiners.

A counter-trick on the part of the officers was for some time effective againsb this fraud. The recruiting officer, after a conscript had pretended to be deaf, remarked, in an ordinary tone of voice, "You are unlit for the service ; you are free." In many cases the recruit showed by evident signs of satisfaction that he had heard the remark.

He was then recalled, told that ht> had been detected in his fraud, and sent to the barracks.

After a time, however, tbe conscripts became too wary to be caught in this trap. They had heard of the trick, and were on tin* look-out for this remark, and when it wa3 uttered they made no sign of intelligence.

Lately the French officers have invented a new "trap," the success of which is a curious illustration of the ingrained courtesy, or at least the assumption of courtesy, on the part of Frenchmen of all classes.

After the "You are free" has failed to excite any sign of understanding in the recruits face, the; command to go is shouted at him. He starts out of the room, the door of which is held open by mechanical means. As he passes through it the officer says :

"You might at least shut the door."

This little unjust impeachment of the man's politeness is said in nine cases out of ten of pretended deafness to result in a quick turning of the man's head. He is then called back, and told that he has been found fit for the service.