The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1913. THE BRITISH ARMY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 22 January 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1913. THE BRITISH ARMY.

Tho report of the Medical Department of the British Army for 1911 shows that the health of Britain’s soldiers has improved in a very marked degree. Tho ratios for admission to hospital and invalids discharged, and the average number sick, are the lowest on record, being a good deal less than half those recorded between 1889 l and 1898, while tho number of deaths j is a little over a third what it used to be. Enteric fever, malarial fever, and alcoholism are all reported to show comparatively large decreases. Practically tho same improvement is shown, !in the Indian Army, excepting as regards deaths, which are slightly on the increase owing to cholera and plague. During the year 48,178 recruits were medically examined, as compared with 45,671 in 1910, while for the decennial period 1901-10 the annual average was as high as 64,997. Of tho recruits 12,403 were finally rejected, against 14,124 in 1910. The report attributes the increase over the preceding year in the number of recruits offering and accepted as partly due to the labour troubles which have disorganised industry so much of late, but also largely on account of the more elastic system of judging the teeth of recruits, the body, weight, and physique being more regarded than tho. number and condition of tho teeth. Among the causes contributing to the decrease shown by tho figures for 1911 as compared with those of 1901-10, it is suggested that emigration, the general boom in trade with its consequent increased employment, and perhaps tho influence of labour exchanges in finding work for men who might otherwise enlist, may play an active part. The report also remarks that, as in former years, tho great majority of the recruits raised were growing youths, and a large proportion of them were out of work, so that

ns a consequence many wore in poor condition and exhibited that general want of maturity which has always been a characteristic of .England’s young soldiers. There is no evidence of irrespective improvement in this respect , but still the quality was not verv satisfactory, and in view of the

great care and attention now given to

recruits at the depots and more especially to their physical training, it is considered that, with few exceptions, they will develop into the useful stamp of soldier characteristic of the British Army.