THE RELATION OF PHYSICAL TRAINING TO DEFENSIVE POWER. [To aim
EDITOR Olfvs." 81•110TATOR.1 SIR,—Under the above heading Mr. T. C. Horsfall has an alarmist letter on the physical decadence of the youth of this country in your issue of April 10th, which is, I think, quite unwarranted and unneoessarily pessimistic. I do not know the physical tests required for entrance into the British Navy, nor how they compare with those required for the German Navy, but cannot help thinking they must represent a very high standard if Mr. Horsfall's figures are correct, and only twelve and a half per cent. of the applicants are pronounced fit for acceptance. This I do know, however, that for close upon twenty years I have been the examining surgeon for admission to the Volunteers, and am now the same for admission to the Territorial Army, and my experience is widely different from that recorded in Mr. Horsfall's letter. I am quite certain that considerably less than ten per cent, of the recruits are rejected for the Territorial Army in my district, and the majority of those rejected are for defective eyesight. These recruits are drawn from all classes of the community, but chiefly from the working classes, and are a fair indication of the physique of the everyday English- man, and, in my opinion, quite ninety per cent. of these youths are fit to undergo training, and ultimately to bear arms in the defence of their country. I will not attempt to follow Mr, Ilorsfall into a discussion of the German methods of physical culture and our own, for they are, like all other German and English methods, fundamentally different. The German is almost invariably under official tutelage, while the Englishman, on the contrary, usually caters in an independent and private manner for his own physical welfare. In proof of this I Would call Mr. Horsfall's attention to the thousand-and-one bicycle clubs, football clubs, tennis clubs, hockey clubs, cricket clubs, swimming clubs, boxing and gymnastic clubs, rowing clubs, &ce Stc., scattered broadcast throughout the country, and would venture to suggest that in all branches of athletics the Englishman would hold his own, and more, with any Conti- nental nation he would nominate as a rival. More than that, not only is the physique of the youth of this country of this
satisfaetm7 quality, but the present generation of girls far excel their progenitors in strength, height, and general physical well-being, thus ensuring that not only is there little fear of decadence of the race, but a reasonable prospect that it will improve and strengthen.—I am, Sir, &O., JAMES A. RIGBY, M.D., Major, R.A.M.C. (T.)
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