Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-16
3 UlLDiNc UP SOLDIERS
Important Part Physd By tho Gymnasium
IN Our Amy.
Physical Trainlng for the Men II No
Longer . Fad-Good Re-
suits That Follow.
From the Illustrated American.

It II the generally accepted opinion IN
the army today that there Is nothing which
deserves more close attention or which
pays q larger interest in beneficial results
than the physical training Of the individual
soldier. Not that the subject was ever less
important than 1t II today, but 1t has been
only within the last few years that the
army, withdrawn from small and isolated
posts and concentrated In q great measure
into large garrisons with gymnasium IA
cilities, has been able to devote to this SUBJ
tect the careful and systematic attention
it deserved.
Marshal SAKE sounded the keynote when
he said 1.-The secret Of success in war lies
In the legs Of the soldier" And It might be
added further that not only to the legs OF
the soldier should the commander look
for success. but in the arms, the back, the
lungs. in fact, the entire physical organ
Ism; Tor the endurance Or lack Of endurance
OF all OF these may mean the difference be-
tween victory and defeat. All other things
being equal, that army which can cover
the greatest distance in the least time and
With the least fatigue-that army which
can stand sleepless nights and tiresome
marches with poor food and poorer COM
forts, and still be In good physical condi-
ton, has Its battles half won before the
first shot Is fired.
The only principle of strategy or tactics
that old General Forrest. the confederate
cavalryman. ever pretended to know was
that OF getting the most men there first
ana after all the volumes that have been
written on these subjects have been sim
mered down and digested. the whole thing
ciple. -
The problem then is how to "set the most
men there first" and not have them ex-
,at when they do arrive. The only
atto n solution is by uniform and system
atlc physical training, to render their bod
les almost insusceptible to fatigue.
ihs system or progressive instruction in
physical training Is carried on throughout
ne me en.lre army Several manuals have
Deen prepared. principally by Mr.. KoebIer
instructor In gymnastics at West Point and
oy Lieut.. Butts Of the 9Th Infantry An
oHcer who has special aptitude for the
work IS put in charge of the course of in
81. uc.ion at each post, and together with
Iis assistants takes active part with the
men IN all the exercises Drill halls or
symnaslums have been provided at a npm-
Der of the larger posts 1'''-
ing system begins with exercises Of tho
Aliioest nature, such as calisthenics with
out apparatus Of any kind. From thasa
oump Deiis, Indian clubs, bar bells. medi
cine oaIls, running, ETC., are taken nm
th men sutneient time has been devoted to
practice In vaulting. jumping, running fu,iv
armed ana equipped. escalading and final
~ exercises on the various gymna stic anne
ratus. appa-
Though the rate of advancement NOV
sometimes seem slow and tedious to those
men who show special aptitude for ath-
leucs they can put in as much extra time
as they desire in the gymnasium. The
system Is not devised for the making of a
rev highly finished athletes. but for the
training of the whole mass to MS great n
oegree OF proficiency as possible. lust az n
chain should be made strong not nv weld
ing a rev OF its links to unusual thickness.
put Dy distributing the metal as evenly as
possible throughout its entire length.
After the course has been we'll entered
upon neid days are held at the various
posts, prizes of no small value being given
TO the winners of events. In some insta noes
aiso athletic contests between teams from
diHerent posts have taken place. The MIA n
even of forming an athletic association
composed of all the regiments of the army
with grand annual contest at some CEN
tral locality has been seriously discussed
near future. 80
In Lieutenant Butts manual there "a
described very pretty system of using
the rifle In calfsthenic work. There are q
LUMBER OF exercises calling into play all
the muscles OF the body. not only sklllfully,
put IN manner very pleasing to the eve.
Facilities for gymnastic work are being
Increased and improved as rapidly as pos
siDie al every post in the army ANY one
Interested IN the work cannot but recognize
tne Iact that such exercises not only build
up the constitutions of the soldiers and
render them fnsensible to fatigue, but by
presenting free and interesting diversion
from the monotony of post life are power
icl factors In keeping the men from vast
ing their tine In useless and Dossihlv
harmful amusements
verify, instead of being a passing fad.
the system OF physical training in the army
has decidedly come to stay.