The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-29
FOOTBALL A GREAT
help To MILITARY
VIRGINLAN QUOTED IN ARMY
JOURNAL AS AUTHORITY ON
THIS SUBJECT.
RIC HMON N-SoeciaI -

n - n n " N ~, NA--Speclal.-
The following is from the ARMY
and Navy Journal of February 1eth:
In making comparisons between
football and the military art to illus
trate how football can be a means of
increasing the efficiency OF the per-
sonnet OF the National Guard and add
ing to battery esprit de corps w H.
Feuersteln. guidon bearer of Battery
Il. First Battalion Field Artillery Vir-
slnia volunteers. draws upon his own
wide experience as one of the most
famous kickers that ever chased the
pigskin on a Southern griGiron. 1t
was at Blacksburg that he made his
great reputation as a player and won
place on the All-Southern teams OF
1896 and 1907. The principles en-
ployed in the training OF the player
and that of the soldier. he holds. are
nearly the same. First among the
things necessary in a voluntary mil
ttary organization is spirit, and this
spirits is greatly fostered by football,
Tor among the actual players spirit is
always essential. Again, officers of
the army, after familiarizing them
selves with their own strength, study
that OF the enemy. considering the
numbers and arrangement OF the on
posing line. the style Of defense Of
tered, etc. So il is In football. The
player must use his brains constantly
ana must scrutinize his Opponents
carefully In deciding whether it is best
10 buck the line. kick, or use the for
ward pass. Such calculations must
be made in the face of the enemy and
TINS cannot be done without training
Just as officers must make such cal
culations in leading an army in the
heio- discipline is an ipdispensab BILE
element In the success OF the militia
In the football teams of colleges te-
day discipline is enforced with almost
military severity. The captain alone
ls permitted to talk. to his men and
the officials. If a player has a com
pIaiht To- make, IT must be made to
the captain, who in turn refers the
matter to the officials, just as in the
Inliltary service everything of this
nature must pass through the pre-
scribed channel" las obedience To
orders is the first thing taught in the
Inihtary service, in football the player
VINO does not obey is first repri-
manded, and If he continues to he die
oDedient, is discharged from the SQUAD
EVERY spectator at a football game
mas seen players. taken out of the
game and substitutes put in when the
Eetired players were seemingly unin-
Jured- This is often done by the coach
as means of sending orders to his
men. The players know that what
ever orders are sent them by the coach
must be carried out. for obedience has
been continually drilled into them
Whet is team work? Simply obedi-
ence. Without. obedience there cam
not be team work, nor can there he
thliltary efhciency. Finally football
trains men to take punishment nm
flinchingfy. Every player goes into
the game knowing il is a rough and
dangerous sport, and if he cannot
take his punishment he is not fit to
be player. That is the spirit that
IS wanted in the soldier No other
game VIII do this for the soldier. like
Iootball. Mr.. Feuerstein says that nv
MS Datterys encouraging the game
among ITS ~mebeEsy it was able TO at
tract asgrecruits IA large number of
college graduates who desired to plav
more tootball but could not find the
I Up oeI tuhlty a1ter leaving 3. college
neSe~ men were easily brought under
military discipline, and showed by
their willing obedience the beneficial
results or their training on the foot
pail held. These views on the game
are round in a paper written by this
ertllleryman following the order OF
MAJOR L. M. Workman, Commanding
the First Battalion, First ArtiIIerv
Richmond, that men of the organiza,
tlon write papers pertaining to the
subject that interests them especially
Major Workman, who lis one of the
most enthusiastic and. progressive offl-
GERS in the National Guard anywhere
Iully realizes the 1ifnitations of the
state private or officer as a military
critic or author, but he says with much
truth that ANY man with reason
able amount OF education and intelIi-
Bence, VINO IS thoroughly in love with
his work and will devote a small mart
or each day to serious thou ght upon
the subject will in the course OF time
pc aDle 10 write something or make
some suggestions that will be both in
tereStinR and VaIuahIa