Show FITNESS FOR SERVICE One of the reforms which President Roosevelt has sought to effect is the development de of physical fitness among the officers of oC tho the army It would seem no one cn can cah take exception to that It would seem that a man of war should at nt all times be ho in the perfection of physical condition be he ready and I able to ride or to walk wall He need not be able to run run excepting as chasing his country's enemies may make running running run run- ning at times necessary But Dut when it was ordered b by the President t nt- nt aU- aU should I tice tico riding horseback and should do ascertain amount of walking each do day an an indignant complaint went up from er e every direction Half the army posts of or the tho country had one ono or more officers of excellent character and good record who were not able to mount with that ease and fashion prized by the horse soldiery Some of or them were not able to do the required amount of walking In a word they were not in good physical condition Papers opposed to th the President declared an officer was sufficiently capable if he could tell others when to march and when to mount and that it was not needful for him to be an athlete S But the defense and objection do donot donot donot not seem good Army officers are engaged engaged en en- engaged in a business of all aU others the thelast thelast thelast last expression of or force The idea of ph physical incapacity in a soldier is an anomaly His business is fighting it itIs itis itis is the overcoming of force with superior force It is b by no means the I business of physical defectives es Men Ien In ill health have commanded to to vie vic tor tory And a very yer- great sea fighter had but one leg But those are arc exceptions The Tho rule Is good A soldier and soldier and even the commander commander com corn mander mantler of soldiers soldiers solders should bo ho physically physically physic physic- ally capable The Tho noisy opposition to the tho Presidents President's order is ill iii advised It is not creditable to the tho very large majority of or arm army officers who are splendid specimens o of ph physical manhood man hood and who make their commands better because they themselves are arc aregood goo good |