Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
Gymnasiums to Be Estab-
lished at All Army Posts.
Pr YSICAL TRAINING
TO DEVELOP THE MUSCLES OF
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
Field Sports to Be Held Four Times a
Year-Many Unique
Features.

Copyright, 1904. by John Eifroth Watkins Jr)
Written for The Evening Star.
The War Department Is going to expend
several millions for gymnasiums at our
various army posts. The Yankee soldier
already able to boast of the highest stature
average among the worlds fighting men--is
to be Systematically Spartanized.
A half million is to be Immediately ex-
pended. At each principal post a pictur-
esque $4,000 stone and brick structure of
classic architecture is to be erected. 1t
will afford the soldiers of the post GYM
nasium space forty feet wide, sixty feet long
and twenty feet high with gallery entirely
surrounding and equipped with running
track as we'll as all of the most improved
engines for physical culture 1t will be
comfortably heated with steam, and beneath
its slate roof will be also a store room. bill
lard room. cafe and a combined reading
lecture and bali ROOM the latter provided
with movable platform to be withdrawn
when, dances are given. At the smaller
posts similar structures of less substantial
material are to be built at less expense.
Heretofore army gymnasiums have
been unworthy makeshifts. Outbuiidings
OF various categories have been pressed into
service, whenever possible. but in some of
nasiums whatsoever.
New Staff Department of Athletics.
Major John T. Guilfoyle. 18th Cavalry, an
accomplished athlete. who has been de-
tailed to the office of the adjutant general
and placed in charge of military athletics,
will systematic the scheme for building
up our fighting men.
Verify, this is the age Of physical culture.
| 4 da1 fxf
betterment of both man and woman has
overswept the civilized world and its crest
appears to be central above our own land
The army has considered all systems; has
endeavored to separate the wheat from the
char and to give our fighting men the very
kernel of the wheat. Methods which it has
officially adopted can be safely relied upon
as the most conservative and the best.
The sedentary. care-fretted civilian will
find mine of valuable information in the
text books which have been compiled for
the gymnasium ms ructors and the profess
sionai athlete will be Interested in the
scheduie or sports and games which is be-
ing carefully compiled for the different
posts. In each of the army's departments
throughout the country a board of officers
mas been appointed to prepare a course of
athletic exercises The department of Tex
as mas already responded with an elaborate
program of instruction and field sports
which will serve as a fair example of the
processes through which our boys will be
put
At least two hours per week are to be de-
voted to gymnastics and calisthenfcs but
instruction is to be given on as many DAYS
out or the seven as Is practicable. Short
and frequent exercises have been recon-
mended as better than longer and less fire.
quent. All officers and men whose duties
or health do not conflict are required to at
tend.
The apparatus selected for each post are:
Indian clubs. dumb-bells. Wands, bar-bells
horizontal bars, parallel bars flying rings
ladders, poles and climbing ropes for the
gymnasium and hurdles. jumping-bars, -
10. hammers. 16-lb- shot. measuring rods,
tapes and stop-watcEas for the track and
field. This selection may be safely used as
a basis for private gymnasium equipment;
Tor the army exactS wise economy and
eliminates all useless luxuries. AS it is.
much of the apparatus is being improvised
at each post and only that which must be
bought is paid for.
Quarterly Field Games Arranged.
Four athletic competitions are to be held
per year at each post and interest in these
general contests is to be fostered by prizes
and indulgences to competitors. especially
to winners. The day of each competition
will be holiday, all unnecessary duty be-
ing suspended The band will play, busles
will sound and the welkin will ring with
shouts. Winners will have their victories
announced in post orders read to the
u.
The prizes will include trophies and med
ais. to be held conditionally, and prizes
to become the property of winning teams
or individuals. The awarding of money
prizes will. however. be prohibited.
The indulgences will be extra passes
and privileges. Good men will be permit
ted to select their own time for practice;
will be furnished with athletic uniforms
and equipment.
At each post officer will be detailed as
superintendent of athletics" He will SUI
pefy1se the training of soldiers desiring to
enter the post competitions and will give
all possible assistance in the line of gem
eral athletics training of teams for field
days games etc. He will be assisted by
a team captain, selected from the enlisted
men. who is acceptable to those whom he
is to train.
Army etiquette will forbid officers COM
peting in the same events with enlisted
men, but one or more events for wearers
of the straps. or members of their families.
will be on the program of each post COM
petition.
The title post champion athlete" will be
conferred upon the man who makes the
greatest humber of points In the four com
petitions ending with that held in May of
each year. These champions will not only
be the heroes of their posts. but will be
given appropriate trophies to become their
personal property.
Annual "Wild West Shows"
On each Independence day teams selected
IlUHl the various posts VIII assemble Tor
grand department competition, equaling
our wild west shows in point of excitement
They will compete in the 100-yard dash,
440-yard run. running high jump, running
broad jump and standing high jump. They
will put the 16-pound shot and throw the
12-pound hammer. There will be also
hurdle and relay race.
Competitions in stent pitching and tent
striking will be novel features. One event
will open with soldiers lying in pitched
tents with blankets spread under them,
their hats and blouses off. their haversacks
centeens. belts and rifles at either side
signal being given, teams of two men each
will strike. roll and fasten their tents with
blankets, poles and pins inside; will jump
into their clothing and equipments. button
ing all buttons and clasping. all clasps.
Whichever team completes this task and
first falls in at the mark, in the position
of the soldier" with arms at order or
pistols at raise will be the victor
There will be competitions in wall seal
ingr between infantry teams. who will
stand at mark twenty feet from the wall.
fully armed and equipped The wall will be
OF wood close jointed, ten feet high and with