The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-26
BLISS TELLS MEN
INDRAFTTOTRAIN
FOR GREAT ORDEAL
Bz DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, 1911. by N. 7. Evening Post Co.)
Maj. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, acting
chief of stan of the United States
army. stopped reading a mass Of
memoranda from General Pershtng
long enough today to answer a Ques-
ton that must vitality interest every
young man who has been drafted or
may be called to the colors. That
question was: What snail the
drafted man do between now and the
time he will be called to the service
in October"
at would be q splendid thing" said
General Bliss, 'if every young man
can put himself in good physical con-
dition. He can do this by going to a
gymnasium or by a little work each
day outdoors Let him devote an
hour q day, preferably In the early
morning. to exercise. and the result
in a few weeks will be that he will
be able to withstand any hardship.
Easy To Condition.
THE transition from civil life TO
military service is sometimes too
sudden for the COMFORT Of the indi-
viduaL Soreness and fatigue. lack OF
wind, and strained muscles are surely
characteristic OF the recruits expert
ence. but this need not happen at all
The drafted man can, in few weeks,
so condition himself that he will
hardly notice the change.
Let the young man begin by taking
brisk walk every day OF twenty or
thirty minutes. gradually increasing
the length of his hike. 1t will
strengthen the Muscles of his legs
and make IL easy for him TO march
long distances later on. OF course,
the best thing the drafted man could
do would be to engage in sports and
games which ill develop his stamina
and harden his muscles.
There Is plenty of time for every
one to get physical training. 1t helps
not only to make better soldiers and
to start the individual on the road
TO promotion sooner, but II makes the
recruits life happier.
Irritation As Factor.
"one half of the complaints that
come from recruits about food and
disagreeable conditions of living are
due directly to the irritable state of
mind of the soldier. All this could
be eliminated II the drafted man
would take advantage OF the interval
between now and the autumn to
train himself.
Each man knows that, perhaps,
how to do that for himself, each man
can make the transition for himself
as gradual as is consistent with his
strength, and at the end OF few
weeks-at any rate, when the drafted
men are called to arms-we should
have a splendid body OF men in good
physical condition.
"The time to start II Is right now"
General Bliss is enthusiastic about
the material that is going to be avail
able for the national army. The Of
ficers now being trained are develop
ing more rapidly than had been ex-
pected. The versatility OF the Amer
lean youth is surprising the foreign
army officers who are stationed here
to cooperate with the American in
structors.
What General Bliss said about the
for sports and games H.
illustrates the Importance TO the army
OF athletics in general
President For Sports.
President Wilson has already urged |
that college athletics be not abandon
ed during the period OF the war, and |
II is quite likely that the Federal |
will go further and urge |
that amateur sports in general be |
so as to include as many
men, above as well as below military
age, as are not now called to the
colors.
Baseball, football, and tennis make
The American youth think quickly.
The principal difference between the
.roops OF the central powers and
hose OF the allies is the lack OF in
assertion of the Germans.
When once the machine is broken
he various army officers say that
he German lines break rapidly. The
British "Tommie" and the French
'poilu," however, are trained as will
'e the American troops in individual
responsibility and initiative.
The best kind OF preparation for
Iuch alertness is to be gotten by
ingaging in outdoor sports That is
Why General Bliss urges drafted men
o lose no time in preparing them