"I appreciate the efforts of you men who are working for the press. I know that some of you have been following the troops for a long time. I hope you will fulüll your duties and take care not to fall ill, as there are various difficulties ahead. I wish to allow you to dispatch your reports as freely as possible, so far as they do not run counter to the provisions regarding military secrets, It is né- cessary that the people at home be kept informed of the activities of officers and men and the progress that is being made.
"I think it can be said that whether the cause of justice and humanity of our country can be properly upheld depends to a great extent upon the Physical fitness of our people.
"When I was present at the conscription Physical examinations of Youths at Osaka and other places at the time of my service there I was Surprised at the poor showing some of them made. I concluded that physical deficiencies were common among the residents of the commercial and industrial cities,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.