Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-07
AFTER DRILL AT THE TRAINING CAMPS
I.-GLOVES AND BAY
BY FREDERIC j., IsAsxIN.

WASHINGTON, November 3-I3ox-
ing which u faw months ago was
known chiefly as u professional sport,
prohibited as such by law I'm many
ports of the country. has been elevated
by the Wan Department into, the i'm
portant place of an essential OF mill
tary training. Every man OF the Ma
tional Army is to be made us proii-
cIeni with his fists as his natural
limitations permit. The stars Of pro-
tessionsl pugilisin have been called
away from their contracts and made
instructors in the American army.
Benny Leonard and Kid Mccoy, Bat
ting Levinsky and Johnny SchiH have
promptly left the glories of ring and
sporting page 10 teach the soldiers the
most primitive and fundamental of all
methods Of lighting. Richie Mitchell.
Milwaukee's star lightweight. has gone
TO Camp Doniphan; Packey Mcfarland
has left his brewery and his family
TO teach the rockies at Camp Nc
Arthur how to use their hands. These
are only a few OF them; thare is a
professional gladiator at almost every
cantonment.
Credlt to Armstrong.
This interest Of the United states in
INST hghtinE Is based upon Il discovery
much OF the credit for which belongs
10 Il sergeant named Armstrong This
man has been teaching the Canadian
recruits how to use the bayone.. often
leading groups Of 700 or 500 man
through the primary movements from
an elevated platform. Armstrong soon
hoticed that the essential moves In
baSonet dueling were the same as those
OF boxing. TIL. left lead at a mans
head or body. the uppercut at his Jaw
or throat. and the right swing at inc
side OF his head with the butt of tho
gun. are all Fundamentally similar to
the standard blows with the Rloycd
hand. The foot work OF sldesteDpinE,
rushing and retreating arc almost en-
actiy the same. 1t follows. OF course.
that the same coordination OF hand
and eye. the same ability to watch the
o'aer fellow and guess what he is
going TO do are necessary to success in
both bayonet lighting and boxing.
10 practice dueling with bayonets
is not highly practicable. You can
teach man the lungcs with the help
CT Il dummy, but when IL comes to
matching two men. armed with eleven
pound guns. so that they may learn
to defend themselves, the wear and
tear on the pupil is apt to be more
than the instruction is worth. Even
with spring bayonets and padded suits
and helmets. men are often badly hurt.
and to provide these accouterments in
large numbers would. OF course be
heavy expense. Hence. the value of
teaching man in boxing the speed.
the nerve and the Fundamental move
ments upon which his success as n
bayonet fighter will depend
Bayonct ls Inst Renort.
The importance of bayonet work in
modern warfare Is we'll known. The
last struggle for every trench is a
hand to-hand struggle with bayoncts.
The superiority OF the British In bayo-
net work has been one of their great
est sources of strength. The British
soldier is a boxer. Tho Germans in
1915 got hold OF the British bayonet
drill and began teaching 1t to their
troops. The British have now worked
out a new set of tricks with which TO
confound their enemies
The athletic training OF the Amcri-
can National Army is entrusted to the
commission on training camp activi-
ties. OF which Raymond Is. Fosdick is
chairman. This commission has the
twofoid duty Of providing the men with
exercise and amusement and of safe
guarding their health when they are
amusing themselves on leave. DR..
Joseph T.. Raycroft. of Princeton Uni
versity. has charge OF the athletics for
the commission. and he IS the man who,
more shan any other. Is responsible for
the extensive training in the use OF
their fists. which the American recruits
are to receive.
which he has devised for the National