Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-06-08
BUILDING UP SOLDIERS.
fhs steal Training for the Men L. No
i.onEcr N tad-sood Re-
suits That Follow


the army to-day that there is nothing
which deserves more close attention On
which pays a larger interest in bcne-
hciai results than the ply sicul training
OF the individual soldier. Not that the
subject MAS ever less important than il
is to-day, but il has been only within
the last few years that the army. with.
drawn from small and isolated posts
and concentrated In great measure
into large garrisons with gymnasium
facilities, has been able TO devote TO this
subject the careful and Systematic at
tention il deserved.
Marshal SAKE sounded the keynote
when he said "the secret of success in
war lies ia the legs OF the soldier" And
IL might bc added further that not only
TO the legs OF the soldier should the
commander look Tor success. but in the
arms. the back. the lungs, in fact. the
entire physical organism: for the en-.
curance or lack OF endurance OF all of
these may mean the difference between
victory and defeat. All other things
being equal, that army which can cover
the greatest distance in the least time
and with the leas; fatigue-that army
which can stand sleepless nights and
tiresome marches with poor food and
poorer comforts, and sim be in good
physical condition. has its battles half
won before the first shot il fred.
The only principle OF strategy or tac.
ties that old Gen. Forrest. the confed.
crate caValrymnn. ever pretended &c
know was that OF getting the most
men there first" And after all the vol.
umes that have been written ON these
subjects have been simmcred down and
digested, the whole thing uarrows
down 60 pretty nearly that principle.
The problem then is how TO get the
most men there first" and not have
them exhausted when they do arrive
The only natural solution h. by uni.
form and systematic physical training
TO render their bodies almost insus.
ceptible Co fatigue.
This system OF progressive instruc.
ton in physical training Is carried on
throughout the entire army. Several
manuals have been prepared. principal.
~ by Mr.. koeh'cr, instructor In gym.
nastics at West Point, and by Lieut.
Butts OF the Fifth infantry. An officer
who has special aptitude for the work
is put in charge OF the course of instruc
ton nj each post, and together with
his assistants takes active part with
the men in all the exercises. Drill hall,
or gymnasiums have been provided at a
number of the larger posts.
The system begins with exercises al
the mildest nature, such as cnlisthenic,
without apparatus OF any kind. From
these, dumb-bella. Indian clubs. bai
bells, medicine balls. running, etc, ar,
taken up. When sufficient time hai
been devoted TO the milder forms tn,
training proceeds to practice in vault
ing, jumping, running fully armed ane
equipped, escalading and finally cNer
cises on the various gymnastic appa
ratus.
Though the rate OF advancement ma
sometimes seem slow and tedious I,
those men who show special aptitud,
for athletics, they can put in as mucl
extra time as they desire In the gym
nasium. The system is not devised 70
the making OF "A few highly finishc,
athletes, but for the training OF TN,
whole mass TO as great degree OF pro
iiciency as possible, just as chair
should be made strong. not by weldin,
"A Few Of its links 10 unusual Thickness
but by distributing the metal as even
~ ms possible throughout its entir
length.
After the course has been well en-
tered upon field days are held at tn
various posts. prizes Of no small valu
being given 10 the winners OF events
In some instances also athletic con
tests between teams from differen
posts have taken place. The plan ever
OF forming an athletic association com
posed OF all regiments Of the arm,
with a grand annual contest al som
central locality has been seriously dis
ctssed and is not among the impossi
biiiues in the near future.
In Lieut. Butts manual there is dc
Rcribed a very pretty system Of usfn,
the rifle in calistbcnic work. There mr.,
number Of exercises calling into MIA,
all the muscles Of the body, not onli
skiilfuily but in a manner very pleasin.
to the eye
Facilities for gymnastic work are be
ing increased ano improved a. rapidlt
az possible at every post in the army
Anyone interested in the work canno
but recognize the fact that such excr
cises not only build up the the consti
tutions Of the soldiers and render then
insensible 10 fatigue. but by presentin,
q free and interesting diversion from
The monotony Of post life are powerful
factors in keeping the men from vast
ing their time in useless and possibl,
harmful amusemenfs.
Verify, instead Of being passin,
fad. the system Of physical training +,
the army has decidedly come 20 stay
Illustrated American.
Just the color.