BEHIND THE WAR CLOUD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2513, 28 May 1909, Page 6

BEHIND THE WAR CLOUD

[To The- Editor.]

Sir,—The advantages of some sort of physical training are quickly seen when we coinparo the old age of the man who has had the above advantages and the man who has not. A largo number of people agitate their minds about the question of whether a man is fit in time of war; what this letter will deal with will be: the best asset to any country—the absolutely lit man during peace. It lias been well said that “the nation that is internally sound is permanently sound”; that the time will come when the position of a race will be told by its people’s intelligence. It has also" been said that “he who conquers self can rule the world. ” This may be, but the nation which aims at having a healthy, intelligent, properous. people, will some day dictate to the world. Aledieal men are in a position to tell us liow individual health ifi promoted by a well-trained body, and how diseases can bo thrown off thereby; more than that—that hereditary weakness can be conquered. There are two stages of training to be considered; one, the training which leads to the aggressive, tlio use of firearms; tho other, the training which leads to selfculture. To illustrate, suppose, this young country were so trained in mental and physical qualities that it could dictate with great wisdom to tho older countries; a result possibly that would come from, individual self-culture. Then, suppose again, that this country simply agrees with the grievance of the older and less civilised country; making no attempt to understand the trouble. That would be simply following a policy of blind aggressiveness. The rule of the men who hold the dollars shows very sure signs of coming to an end, and so-with their tactics; the rule of a healthy and intelligent people must surely follow. A great deal can bo said about training the body •for war, but a great deal more, can he said about training the body for peace; many of the world’s bravest men know nothing about a. gun. Behind all the noise of war can be heard the cries of some of the most uncivilised countries, calling for better conditions. AVould the peace of the world be much nearer d the Germans were trained to bo brave citizens., rather than brave’ soldiers, seeking to conquer the world by brute force ? In conclusion, it may be said that a man may be trained to use the gun in defence of his country; no one will deny that his body should certainlv bo trained to ensure health, happiness, and strength.—l am, etc., 11 “GAZETTE.”