ARMY OF ATHLETES CREATED BY UNCLE SAM.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8178, 3 May 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

ARMY OF ATHLETES CREATED BY UNCLE SAM.

HOW THE SYSTEMATIC PRACTICE OF ATHLETIC SPORTS WORKED WONDERS IN PERMANENT PHYSICAL BETTERMENT.

In an interesting article the Scientific American explains how T the United States has practically created an army of athletes. We have had, in Europe and in the camps of this country, the paper states, approximately 4,000,000 men, and it is safe to predict that the great majority of these will be benefited for the rest of their live-s by the course of intensive training through which they were put. These men are in infinitely better physical condition than they ever would have been, in all probability, had it not been for the war. and it is likely that most* of them will make an earnest effect to remain so.

It is perhaps natural to think that with drilling and other taxing tasks of the soldier, athletics would be a superfluous commodity in camp. On the contrary, it has been found that the more the men were inured to the vigorous use of their bodies, -the more they longed for competitive games and tests of strength It is a known fact that men relieved from duty in the first line trenches turn instinctively to strenuous games like football to gain the healthy equilibrium necessary to sleep. From experience, 'too. it has been learned that an instantaneous 'muscular control is essential to the success of the fighter. For two military reasons—to develop .the fighting instinct and to arm that instinct with control—there has l«?en cairied out a programme of athletics unoarplleled in history. Uncle Sam considered athletics of the hard competitive sort that develops the lighting instinct of such importance that in the very beginning he summoned to his aid the very best talent the country possessed. Some 40 men, among them many famous coaches, were assigned as sports directors in the sever, aal training camps. Organising and directing the athletic activities of 40,000 men, and maintaining an athletic programme that will encourage the largest possible number of soldiers to participate regularly in some form of athletics during their leisure, is certainly a man-size job. But the reactions arc remarkable. Football, base-ball, basketball, Soccer, boxing, wrestling, tennis, track lid field athletics and all forms of Winter sports were indulged in by all the men in training. Never before in the history of the country have so large a number of men engaged in athletics; never before has physical welfare received Htch a stimulus. Narrow-chested clerks made three-base hits on the same ball teams with college athletes, and lea;»visaged philosophers learned how to use their fists. The bookkeeper and the street-car motor man came to grips on the football field. Men learned to get bumped, and not to mind it. The quality of persistence was developed. Being attached to division headquarters, the divison athletic director was able to co-ordinate his plans for intercompany and inter-regimental baseball or basketball leagues, track events, field days and the like with the military routine of the different companies. He k< pt in touch with soldiers who naturally lead in athletics and attempted to stimulate the sporting element of their companies hv the formation of a divisional athletic council, the members of which were in tu;n elected \ry the regimental councils. In the latter case each company had its representtives and its own athletic committee, so that the camp director was able to make things hum in an athletic way at any time, and to stimulate the interest o* the men of all the companies in camp. The i-ports included in the camp curriculum, such ns boxing, football, and other personal contact games, were selected primarily to prepare the men for the struggle to come, and the value of the athletic training they received was fully realised as they went over the top. Military authorities considered that boxing had great value an developing in the individual man the sense of confidence and aggressiveness that is generally desirable in a soldier, while it gives letter than any other form of training a sound foundation for modern bayonet fighting. Boxing and bayonet firactice are closely allied; the same unges and feints are employed ; the men learn to Ik* quick on their feet. Nor is this morelv theoretical. The Canadian troops who have been at the front report that the agility and quickness of eye gained in boxing is a valuable parti of the Soldier’s equipment. Detailed groups of men who bivl had previous knowledge of this sport were trained by the boxing instructors to become their assistants. These boxing instructors, bv the way, have included some world’s champion pugilists. In many camps from 2(10 to 400 assistant boxing instructors were developed and gave instruction. The growth of the popularity of boxing from a more or less forbidden sport to one adopted by the American army was one of the marvels of the war. Moreover, the soldiers were rabid fans. Camp bouts were frequent; even the Y.M.C.A. encouraged them, and made them a regular feature of the evening programmes in the huts. Last summer 40.000 kahki-clad soldiers and half as many civilians were spectators in a. huge natural amphitheatre at a series of bouts lie tween teams representing the 86th Divison, Camp Grant, and Canadian troops. It is a unique fact that Camp Grant was tho only camp in the country where any attempt was made to utilise the heavy .-nowfall and coll weather of last winter for winter sports. Six toboggan slides were in daily use, and 50 toboggans were at the disposal of the men. Tn addition. 200 pairs of skis and 150 pairs of snow shoes were distributed, while six artificial skating rinks and 80 dozen hockey sticks were provided. At Camp Grant use was made of the Brigade organisations as a clearing house for the distribution of equipment. Companies desiring to use any of the equipment would get it from the Brigade Athletic Officer, and. after using it. return it for the use of the next organisation. Tli ns several different grouns were enabled to use the same apparatus in one dav. According to Captain Lewis Omer. Athletic "Director at C;,nin Grant* and formerly director rf athletics at Northwestern University, the winter swifts proved mert efficacious in neutralism? tho bad effects cf the super-heated air • f tho barracks with its enon infl icore The greatest onorm- to the health of «oldiers in winter was the stove. For r'nv variety in the onen a'*r was instituted at Came Grant, one hour a. dav lyin'* devoted! to this. Cjmo Greet was also the first to pvt ero c ß-°onntrv running int'* tty scheme of ma=s nthlotie training. Tn the l*3rd Brigade weekly cross-country runs were held, and the wen brought to a. n'vnt vlier** the- could run t *v 0 and a half miles in weather without any had after effe-tc Tn the middle of January nnprovima to’ v ]onn nyn took nnrt in one brigade run. The nlan for d-volry- i ing crraf.epuptrv running nsed at thhf 1

camp was later put into effect in other camps.

As was to be expected, baseball proved to be the most popular of the summer sports. Every camp was provided with an immense field to be used ns a parade ground, and, what is more essential, an athletic field. Some of those in the National Army cantonments were* big enough to accommodate 20 diamonds, and these were put into lull use, particularly on "Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, which were veritable holidays in camp. As an index of public interest, it is only necessary to mention that a football game between Camps Grants and Custer, held in Chicago last fall, brouught in gate receipts of over 40,000 dollars. All this money was devoted to purchasing athletic equipment for the two tiinip.s, and for the boys already in France. The Government provided each company with a certain amount of athletic equipment—about 75 cents a man, which was not enough—but the men in many cases bought some things out of their own money, while every company had an athletic chest, which they took to France with them. The Y.M.C.A. also made a heavy investment in baseballs, bats and gloves, .basketballs, medicine balls, boxing gloves and wrestling mats; every hut was well provided for, and tho soldiers could borrow almost anything they needed for a catch or set-to in other games. Not only were all of the well-known games, such as basketball, playground hall, volley ball, football, etc., played at the average camp, but frequently the divison athletio directors invented new* games. And one phase of camp athletics which is hardly touched upon by the colleges was laughter-compelling games. This was important, for good humour is one of the vital elements of discipline. ; The games were popular, too. In addi- j tion to numerous improvisations, leanfrog, prisoners’-base and a dozen other j games that even schoolboys have out- j grown, afforded the men intense enjoy- j ment, and served the additional pur- ; pose of promoting good feeling and de- | veloping self-control, agility, mental alertness and initiative, all ha t Cß on which to build military efficiency.