DOMINION WAR NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16447, 19 January 1918, Page 7

DOMINION WAR NEWS.

GREAT SUCCESS OF CI CAMPj*

la reply to a question by a "Press** representative, Kir James Allen (Minister of Defence) said that the matter of providing an appeal tribunal in coonecaon with the medical examination ot reservists had not yat reached hi™, but tho Minister took tie opportunity to refer to the .work being dona at the vJL Clamp. "lie CI Gamp," Sir James said "is startling evidence of the value of the special physical training of men. I 'tell sou that wo will get over fiO pe* cent, of the men who go into the CI Camp physically fit for the front It is almost impossible to say definitely than a man is Jiot fit until he has heen to ibis camp. There is tßie question of men sent to camp who are ultimately turned down. It is asserted that this is a waste of money, and that the man'r business has hem disturbed. It is perfectly true, and we are very sorrc for it, but the case of such a man is not so had as if he had not heen discovered to be physically unfit. end had been sent on to run tho risk of going to the front The lessons we are learning at tho CI camp will ho carried ouS m our civil life after ihe war is ended, for it has shown that with physical training we can make men-phvsical fit." "How long are men kepi, in CI camp ' before being transferred to the muitairv camp?" asked 3Er. W. S. Moorbouse (chairman of the Third "Wellington. Military Service Board) of Captain Baldwin (military representative) on Tuesday. they are transferred after seven and __ a-nalf weeks -*in camp. 3 ' "And sometimes," suggested the chairman, "they are turned down after only three weeks in camp?" Captain Bald"Sometimes, perhaps, hut the statistics show that the camp has heen extraordinarily snocessfufl."

EFFECT OF AGE L'LMJP. "A deal of confusion appears to exist regarding the ago at which a reservist is exempted from being called on to serve abroad. From inquiries, we learn says an exchange, that if a reservist, is 44 years of age at the "tamo he is called in the ballot, or a* the tamo ha conwe up for medical examination, ho is eutomatacaHy classed as C2. If he is, My, 43 years and nine months of age. end is passed fit by the medical officers, and goes into camp, the fact that be may reach 44 while he is in camp, does not release him from goinc to the front. The authorities say that there must bo a dividing line, and that if a man verging on 44 years of ejga wero tb Be exempted, they would be simplv wasting 1 their time in having him nrpdically examined, provided witoa uniform, trained, ete. The belief in some q-naxter" that any man who reflche? ii r np rtre of | 46 while on. active service is -n-itiiclrawii , is entirely without foundation.

MAIN BODY MEN'S LEAVE, ONLY THREE WEEKS. Pes P&ess Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. I*. Consequent upon the cancellation of the proposed general leave for members of the Main Body, a number who wished to return to New Zealand on urgent business'or for family reasons were invited to apply for permission. This was granted to a small group, and others were informed that arrangements would probably be made to give them furlough at a later date. The first party recently arrived, and having been led to anticipate two or three'' months furlough, in the Dominion, were disappointed at receiving only throe weeks. The Returned Soldiers' Association made inquiries on behalf of these men, and it appears that the authorities in England omitted to send details of the conditions upon which the members of the party had returned. Consequently, until this information was obtained only the regulation three weeks leave could be granted. The members of the parry have since been notified that they should apply to the Director of Base Records for an extension of leave sufficient to enable them to carry out the private matters for winch they were allowed to return.