The sun., 1896-10-24
GYMNASTICS IN THE ARMY.
Rules for the Pbynicni Training OF Sol
dlers-RnnCe Finders.

WAsHISGToS, Oct 23-The coming winter
will see much attention paid to military gym
nastics. this work occupying the interval be-
tween the open-air or field seasons OF this year
and the next. Department cOmnandcrs have
issuei or are issuing regulations on the subject,
and such books rs the Manual of Calisthenics
which was published for army use: Koehler's
Manual, and Army Physical Training. COM
piled at Governors Island in April OF last year
While Gen. Miles waS in command there. are
referred TO bv Cen Merritt IN a circular ms of
value. He also cites suggestions from var-
ous army and other reports on the subject.
Among these last that for running. the
principles Of abdominal breathing" should
be taught. beginning with n run of two or
three minutes. the time should be increased
until several miles can easily he covered. The
rifle is added. and after that the pack: and
then, with both, the soldier practises leaping
bitches. scaling fences AM walls. and helping
his comrn lc to pass such obstacles.
Cold baths after gymnastic exercises are
not recommended, nor are any tub baths
rs they occupy much time. and the num-
her OF men who can be accommodated with
them is limited. Besides. the only bath that
will brace and exhilarate after the gymnastc
drill says the order. is the sponge bath. For
this the apparatus needed is merely comfort
ably warm room. free from drauGhts supplied
with tub of tcpid and another of cooler
water the latter perhaps Of 6S' to 70', and,
iinnlly, basin sponge and two towels for
each man. SponginE all over with tepid water.
quickly followed by the cooler water. and dry
ing first with NJ absorbent and then with a
coarse towel will give III" best effects.
Dumb bells of four pounds are recommended
aS about Tie Lest for the average soldier.
Tie, Joint Timber ana .hc muscles piiabS phi aud aud
active Strong men can substitute the riho
for the bar holl. The ,ling is to put energy into
tine calisthCttcs. The drll must not be In
different: every man must set his mus cles and
concentrate his will power in the work"
to whether courts martial are not carrying to
an extreme the practice Of aIl,ng officers TO
besn rrs sT mot pHgnE sS d has
private and public capacity Of the officer is
sometimes =, 9blterated. on the other hand,
est court are that army and navy officers
may be tried by court martial for any act
done "pS ony m pTte upon Dusness sefTG TGs
being tie law. II IL not likely that the prac-
tice under 1t will be relaxed.
Srled at Fort Monroe, for use with guns.
mounted M at low level. Another finder will
middle middle. level. and q third a. Fort Winfield
Scott, for hgh-level guns. The lie Wis range,
1eITT's"a 1rI% and position finder is expected to
sort sort are so valuable in coast defence that they
VIII doubtless be esteemed indispensahle.
our army with those of foreign countries
shows shows themto advantage. They are lighter
,'",N except lIr 'Ep"IIiSt, ullu are
believed 10 b" more durable than the latter.
I,he uhe French and English litter carriages, and
lThssian and Spanish mattresses are, how
ever. well sDokcn Of Tn" rew adjustable
htier sings which the bearers carry are re-
gardtd as making decided advance ON the
old method Of CARRYING.
p, In an account given by Assistant Surgeon
General Adler Of the system. used in the uedi-
cal development of our army for detecting de-
scrters. an example Is given Of its workings, A
man was enlisted in 1890 and dishonorebly dis
charged, Heen listed again, of course under diff.
terent name. Jan 4. 1899, but was identified
and discharged: again on May 2 following, with
the same result. and yet again Sept. s. Finally
no turned up once more. and eT listed May
20, 1924, perhaps expecting more luck after
30 long an interval, but Cnce more was spotted
and that time was imprisoned for year The
system has been very fruitful in detecting
not only those who have been dishonorably !
DISCHARGED and apply for enlistment again.
but deserters, military conyicts and others.
The expenditures In the Paw Department of
the army for the last fiscal year were SIS, 900
less han the appropriation, result due large
~ TO the system OF paying by check. thus saw
Ing tho travelling expenses OF pAymASterA