The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-23
MILITARY VALUE OF SPORT.

From the London Journal.
The value of sport as means of de-
veloping and training soldiers has al
ways been recognized in all armies,
and, as regards officers, at any rate,
has been well appreciated by us. 4
distinguished cavalry officer stated in
public few years ago that, in his
opinion, no man was fit to hold COM
mission who did not ride fairly we'll to
hounds. The immortal Jorrocks, too,
was not slow to appreciate the rela-
ton between war and its image, with
only twenty-five per cent. of its dan
ger. In India we encourage our men
to go into the country on shooting eX-
petitions, and a few enthusiasts at
home have even allowed the wool
hounds. The great duke kept
pack in the Peninsula. and
a race meeting has not seldom formed
the closing act of many of our little
wars. But it has been left TO our
friends the Russians to definitely or
ganize sporting expeditions on large
scale, with view to giving realistic
instruction to their rank and file.
Hunting fosters nerve and manly quail
tiles. 1t can not fail to improve horse
manship: but il makes man far more
than mere rider. 1t teaches him 10
husband and save his horses energies,
study his idiosyncrasies, and. above all,
perhaps, bring home to him the need
of thoughtful bile management and
careful fitting of saddles and brides.
man who hunts grows accustomed to
finding his way about in strange
country;he acquires an eye for ground,
and becomes resourceful in danger or
difficulties. Thus it affords, perhaps,
the best training ground mounted
man can have.
But victories are won mainly BY in
fsntry, and nowadays, especially, when
formations are loose, foOt-soldier
must have head on his shoulders. 1t
was stalking deer and antelope that
made the Beers the dangerous foes we
found them, and the man who has been
brought up as gamekeeper is the most
valuable prize of the recruiting SER
geant. The Germans, for this reason,
have called their smartest regiments
''Jagers," and the French 'Chasseurs"
illustrate, too, the appreciation which
the same class meet with, and have ever
met with. on the other side Of the
Rhine. Our rilemen are distinguished
by no such characteristic title, but are
clothed IN the traditional green affect
ed by the natives of the woods. How
ever. "Jagers" and cha can no
more all be sportsmen than killed men
in our service can all claim a birth
place north OF the Tweed. and the name
Is but a survival of the olden time.
In France and Germany game pre-
serves and tillage have destroyed any
chance there might ever have been OF
allowing the natural instincts Of men
2 free outlet. But in Russia there is
more scope, and the chance 8 sparSely
populated country offers have not been
thrown away. Hunts have of late
years been set on foot IN the height Dor
hood OF military stations in which
whole battalions occasionally have
taken part The quarry has usually
been bear marked by the villagers n
en- adjoining forest. and excitement
Of pursuing an animal with reputs-
ton IN popular imagination for ferOcity
forms delightful break IN the weary
monotony of barrack life
20 far, however, As we have gathered
from some accounts OF these expedi-
tions- poor bruin has bat small
chance indeed. and 5 simply sEr-
roaDo-d by bowling crowd % excited
men. y 40 destroy him ey sheer weight
Of NUMBERS Little % value IN war or
auyw mere else can o. derived from
such performance but al hunts are
not OF this character. and better man
agenent = displayed IN many districts
The Russian military authorities are
now, indeed, quite alive 20 the beneft
--hs; nay be derived from encouraging
= neA- love % spo.t. zu6 Gss..te gsiss