The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-12-06

ATHLETES DOING "BiT"

Athletes, as a class, probably are
attracting more attention in this war,
than the soldiers drawn from any 9th
er source. Every college and univer-
sity, even the high schools, are re-
porting on the number of their ath-
letes that they have sent to the front.
The football and other athletic teams
of a great many institutions were al
most riddled by enlistment.
That the government appreciates
what athletics has and is doing for the
army is evidenced by statements
made by Secretary of War Newton d.
Baker and Josephus Daniels, secretary
of the navy, in which they advised
colleges to keep up their athletic
schedules as much as possible, so that
they may turn out future soldiers.
They found that the athletic training
such as young men are given on foot
ball teams makes them better sol
diers, quicker to grasp military man
tuNtlS anu IllOIC NllllHS W AdllN u
commands.
The amateurs, however, are not the
only ones in the realm Of sports who
are doing their share of the work.
Professional boxers, wrestlers, billiard
players and many others are doing
all in their power to help the United
States win the war. A number of
boxing luminaries are in the camps
teaching the soldiers how to box. and
some are in the army. Kid Mccoy,
Packy Mcfarland, Mike and Tommy
Gibbons, Charlie White and Benny
Leonard are only a few of the men
who are acting as instructors for the
soldiers.
The tennis players of the country
are among the foremost in patriotic
moves. They have conducted a series
of tournaments in the east, the pro
ceeds of which go to purchase ambu-
lances and medical supplies. Lawn
tennis clubs have held Journeys of
their own, which were for the benefit
of the Red Cross.
In the east a number of tennis units
have been formed, which will serve in
France as ambulance companies.
companies. Players from all over the
country have joined these units, pre-
ferring to keep together as a distinct
organization. Their services have
been accepted by the government.
Bowlers and billiard players held
Liberty bond Journeys, in which the
proceeds from the admissions were
used to buy Liberty bonds, and in
some instances the prizes offered by
the roomkeepers for high scores were
Liberty bonds.
Many of these athletes are serving
as officers in various cantonments,
and some who had had previous mill
tary experience already are in France.
1t is significant that when the call for
the second officers training camp at
Fort Smelling, Mimi, was issued the
requirements were made so that cold
er men or athletes" would be adj
mitted. Few of the athletes were re-
jected.
They are better able to stand the
hardships of the army, having been
trained to undergo great physical ex-
ertion. They make better officers be-
cause they have been playing games
which require that they think and
think quickly.
The enlistment of so many athletes
enabled the cantonments quickly to
develop football teams which in many
cases approached the mythical All
American elevens. Most of these
teams were forced to take a beating
at the hands of the stronger colleges
of the country, although in the east
they were able to rounce some of the
informal %elevens.