12 JAMES N ANGLE. 



owing, no doubt to the superior powers of the physically 

 much better nurtured Australian in withstanding the 

 rigours and injuries of war. The ending of the war, how- 

 ever, made it possible to estimate the number of the 

 injured likely to require and be approved for training. 

 Analysis of the statistics of the injured and the enlistment 

 papers disclosed the total number of eligibles under the 

 scheme. This number, which was of a fairly accurate 

 character, had then to be reduced to the number of those 

 who, being eligible, would apply and be approved for 

 training. 



It soon became evident as the Department went on with 

 its work of investigating the claims of applicants for train- 

 ing, that there was a large number of men returning who 

 were not eligible for training, but whose claims appeared 

 to merit consideration. These were the soldiers who had 

 enlisted as youths or even as boys and who had embarked 

 and served abroad, and who, by so doing, had interfered 

 with their chances of getting a proper training in some 

 calling. The number of those who enlisted whilst still 

 under twenty years of age, and who embarked and served 

 abroad on actual war service, was very large. Never- 

 theless, it was decided, and wisely so, to alter the 

 regulations so as to render these men eligible. Thus, an 

 additional class of returned soldier became entitled to 

 training. 



The addition of the " under 20 enlistment men" involved 

 such a large increase in the scope of the training arrange- 

 ments that a review of the position immediately became 

 necessary. The experience gained even during the short 

 period which had elapsed since the establishment of the 

 Department and the commencement of the training, showed 

 also that a reorganisation was advisable, apart altogether 

 from the question of increasing its scope to provide for the 

 additional class of eligibles. 



