IN response to your front-page article "Race Claim Against Army" (LET, May 24), I can assure you that the points raised are in no way aimed at singling out Asians.

My son was at the Army training Regiment, Pirbright, from October to December,1995, completing his initial training for the Blues and Royals (Household Cavalry).

Although we live in Blackburn, he was brought up in Liverpool and therefore has a 'Scouse' accent. He was 'singled out,' as you put it, for comments such as, 'Lock everything up, Scouser's about,' 'Is your mother on the game?' 'Got any knock-off car radios for sale?'

Similar comments were made to lads from Newcastle, Yorkshire, Scotland - in fact, everywhere. And as for 'four-lettered verbal abuse,' the imaginative comments directed at the Welsh lads concerning sheep are totally unprintable!

The matter of the Asian youth being told he would be 'locked up' if he didn't complete his run is normal, everyday 'encouragement,' aimed at getting the recruits to reach their full potential and not give in at the first discomfort. This threat is rarely, if ever, carried out.

Let's face it, these young men are being trained ultimately to defend their country. They are not likely to succeed if a few insults send them running home to Mummy.

A lot is expected in a comparatively short time. I don't say that these tactics are necessarily right, but they do sort out the men from the boys.

I do not see this as a racial issue at all - merely that these particular boys, like many before them from all racial backgrounds, were not cut out for Army life.

ANNE COOPER-HALTON, Saunders Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.