The Washington herald., 1909-04-02
Army and Navy AthIetlcs.

Mr.. Roosevelt left the influence Of his
athletic tendencies on the military and
naval personnel by the orders he Issued
establishing a standard Of physical At
ness as qualification for continuance Of
officers on active duty. The standard
has been pronounced by. some service OBJ
serves as excessive and unreasonable
in so far as it pretends 10 determine pro-
fessional usefulness or individuals. Prob
ably the system win be modified. but
there is no avoiding the realization that
a comprehensive and systematic system
OF physical training IS a good thing for
officers and enlisted men. as II Is for peo-
pie in civil life. The system ought 10 be
encouraged for that reason. and It is,
therefore. with appreciation OF conserva-
tive views that his associates in the serv-
ice will read a paper. Just published By
the United States Naval Institute. writ
ten by Commander a. P. Niblack. L. S n.
That officer does not believe in an i'm
mediate adoption OF compulsory exercise.
but he maintains that there should be
installed on ships Of war machines and
appliances which viii enable officers and
men to take exercise regularly. He says:
II the army can afford 20 buy 800 messenger
horses with a view q encouraging polo the navy
can certainly afford 20 introduce physical training
on board ship a scientific basis. II taken I'D
part of the routine drills. II would increase
the physical development Of the officers and crew
from % 10 80 per cent in the first year II eft to
mere voluntary Effort without a system the ma
chimes would be left 10 rust and would soon reach
the scrap heap. We have seen revolution brought
about in the glnneTy by the Morris tube and the
dOtter The system Of athletic training here de-
scribed Is quite revolutionary and as farreaohng
in gymnasium methods.
Anything which will put the service
personnel in a physical condition, con-
tributing 20 individual alertness. and af-
fording a successful resistance to sick
ness. is good thing. II need not go so
far TO have undoubted merit as Mr..
Roosevelt's requirements OF an endurance
test IN horsemanship. or pedestrianisn. or
bicycle riding. in order TO determine
whether a major or a colonel IN the army
or = commander or a captain in the navy
is fitted to discharge the active duties Of
his grade. -sthletics in or out OF the serv-
Ice are useful in keeping men In good
condition only when the exercise is
regular instead OF spasmodic in prepara-
ton for an annual test. Commander
Nfblack concludes his admirable article
with this passage in his plea for physical
training in the navy:
"oaicsrs who are sEfuIy keen on additional
weights on bard ship viii say that We have too
much apparatus on board now. II is curious
fsc, however that there are lots Of officers in the
navy who are worrying about weights and whether
or not the amor belt is on straight 70 whom
physical test viii act in turning their thoughts
toward the improvement in the personnel. which
Is. after all. the thing that counts in all navies.
Our ships are all right; our gunnery is arriving
because We have the correct system; and as rood
the physique Of our officers and men Is in
general Il is IDLE TO say that Il is not very much
neglected item in the sum total that counts for
War-and hence for peace"