Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-19
|UsCLES OF SELECTMEN
NOW BEING DEVELOPED
frious Kinds OF Exercises Given
camp Lee Soldiers to Insure Per-
feet Control OF Body.
LERTNESS MAY SAVE LIVE
fpidity OF Movement Essential to
atodcrn Warriors - Two Virginia
Regiments Now at full War
Strength.
n'rom a STAR corrcspondcnt.)


CAMP LEE. VA. November is
farninS how to sight "A riilc. thrust u
E"nci. throw n grenade. and handle
ichinc guns and biz: field pieces is
rS important aud essential to the
aiming Of soldiers. hut there is am
hcr factor that plays IN equally in
spcns;ihlc part of the iigitin;; iuau'w
Etruc,ion. That is the development
his physique. tic hardening Of his
lscics making him quick on his feet.
getting his body in perfect Coadi-
IN, not only for tho purpose Of en-
ling him to withstand the rigors .of
iriarc. but to mobilize his physical
sources for use when he finds himself
tight place on the frinS liiic. and
Zen 1.-the body and rapid movements
u. perhaps. save him from the saw
re- Of the enemy.
And this physical training goes on
instantly 1T Camp Lee. For every
|ur that may be spent in instricting
mon in the parts of a rifle. and tho
rious other Instruments OF war and
Ter urc. there ia also an hour de-
ted TO building up the body. in max
S II as near perfect working lu-
Nh mcchanlain. as arc the dcath-dcal-
9 guns in tlcir mechanical arrange
cn'. There is never ~ DAY, except
'nday and exceptional holidays. that
troops are not taken out for OK
else Of ono form or another. each
fthod designed for the development
muscles tn various parts of the
dy.
This has resulted In bringing out
nsclcs in the mon that they ntvcr
hcw they possessed. Tho greater per
ntaGc OF the selected troops came
re In an und"rnXcrciscd condition.
fw OF them had been engaged IN real
renuous work. and even those who
81. their occupations had not brought
TO play every muscle Of tho body. AS
tho various drills and calisthcnlc
struction that has been givcn thcm
re. The training which the men
NC been undcre ding since they have
en- in Camp l.cc has been hard fo,
en-, but IL has been hard because il
lust necessarily be SO. and in no other
Ry can they be wrought into we'll
undcd defenders Of democracy.
kLIsTIIENIC EXERCISES
DEVELOP ALL MUSCLES
For the first Two or three weeks OF
National Army mans instruction
athletics, time Is devoted TO calls
cnics very much like those that arc
uEhi in the public schools. except
At the men continue them for sew
al hours at time instead Of The
" minutes OF instruction which they
f;eived when they were in their Gle
Fniary grades at school. The mus
rs OF the arms, shoulder, waist and
Es were brought out b. arm move
cnts. sIuatting drills and dozens o.
her methods. Gradually the inStruc-
pm became more intensive, until drills
NC been introduced for developing
I'd STRENGTHENING every muscle in the
.dy
Before instruction in the various
c.hods al lighting arc started, the
en- arc pu, through drills which ap-
Foximnic movements that they will
ecutc In performing the work This
ab!cS tho troops 10 carry out grenade
rowing. bayonetine and similar fight
8 instruction with case. in that the
8usc!cs necessary for the work have
zen trained and made TO respond.
Special drills arc given the men for
NcN'IOPH9flJ OF inc SnONIOcr ana
IN muscles In order that thcy may nc
pie TO IN themselves easily out O,
lell holes and trenches. and they arc
Eusht 10 jump hurdles OF various
Flights TO make it easy for them TO
sercome obstacles when they are max
& an assault or chasing the enemy
xERCIsEs OVERCOME
AwIIwAnDNEss Of MEN
Some OF the most important exer-
SO which the men are receiving is
hat to enable them to overcome awk-
ardness. Many OF the men are not as
ert or energetic as they might be,
nd they would consequently be at
disadvantage II the enemy was upon
hem and quick action was necessary
Me French officers have brought with
hem many methods which are being
scd by the men in their own armies.
nd which tend 10 make the troops
sht on their feet and move around
uickly.
In war many occasions arise when
idden and wcll-cXccu;od move on the
art OF the soldier will save him from
,e butt OF the enCmy's rife or the
hrust of a bayonct. Al the same time
J will aid him in making a successful
Etack against the foe and deliver :,
ital blow. Officers here put the great
II belief in the advantage of exercise
will aid the men In THE