Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-22
LEAVE. TRANSPORT
TO BEGIN SPORTS
ARMY UPON LANDING
SPENDS FIRST HOUR ASHORE
IN ATHLETIC GAMES.

popular as ever, but there lS NOT IOOu
enough for all Of the men who want to
play.
TO meet this need. mass athletics
has been invented by a group OF 7. n.
C. A. workers including DR.. James II.
McCurdy Of Springfield. Mass. direc-
tor Of Y. NJ. c. A. athletics In France;
Professor James Naismith, professor
of physical education and hygiene It
the University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kas., and inventor of basketball; DR..
George l.. Meylan, professor OF physi-
cal education at Columbia university,
and DR.. p. Y. Pest, director OF physt-
cal education of the Y. M. c. A. OF
Newark, N. ]. Not only whole COM
panies but entire regiments take part
and enter into competition with other
companies and regiments.
The army heads demand that every
man shall be given a chance to take
part in the sports. This was tmpos-
sible with the older sports % compar-
atively few men may play at q ttme
and considerable practice Is required
to make a good team.
Witness Describes Sports.
It will come as surprise to many
to know that the American troops
landing in France are now marched
directly from the transports to ath-
letic fields where they are all put
through inter-regimental contests.
These games iron out the kinks &C
quired on shipboard. Chauncey p. HUI
bert, the writer, -who was present when
the first games were played, gives q
detailed account of them as follows:
1.-THE great convoy had come into
port. The official inspections and e1-
aminations had been made and visits
had been paid. The ships were lined
up along the docks. Great gangways
and smoke-grey ladders were lying
ready for use.
1.-THE decks were damned with
American soldiers anxious to land and
for the Joy Of unrestricted freedom OF
bodily improvement. A navGl oncer
accompanied by several soldiers came
aboard. There we're few minutes OF
parley and simultaneously the baQds
on each ship began to play.
Down the fore and aft gangplanks
marched the men as on parade. Fol-
lowing its own band each company
took up its allotted space In a great
level field q short way from the docks.
The schedule for the first hour called
for lao men.
Don't Know What to Expect
There they stood in columns OF
files, twenty men to a file, eight files
to a company. Between company files
was lane six feet wide.
"The men looked about cuHously
and with interest. This certainly start
ed differently from any drill they bad
so far experienced. Across the field
two hundred yards away stood a line
of stakes; each company's flag being
attached to the stake directly In front
Of It.
"The first man in esch file was
standing behind rope pegged down
in small ditch. Six feet beyond and
parallel to it stretched another rope.
The men became more and more cur.
ious as they took in these details. A
small group of Y. NJ. c. A men and
officers we're consulting together in
the midst OF the field. Suddenly
whistle blew and the little central
groups scattered to all corners Of the
field. The commanding officer Of each
company took his place across the
men.
An order rang out:
First man in each fle-toe the
rope. On command do standing
broad Jump across the trench: ad'
vance three steps from where you
land and about-face. Next man in file
do likewise, falling in behind the first
man. Each man clearing the ditch
counts one point for his company"
Think They are Goats.
Number One on each file looked
uervously down the line at the other
unfortunate Number Ones. They GER
tainly were the goats this time.
"Toe the rope!' rang out the order.
"One-two-three-jump!"
The line of men sprang upward and
outward, landing with anxious care.
Everyone had cleared the ditch.
Number Two!' came the order.
the second man In each file did like
wise. Four men landed in the ditch,
much to their embarrassment.
'"The officers were busiiy keeping
score. One thousand eight men out Of
the 1440 or II per cent, cleared the
ditch. Another set Of orders was given
and the men found themselves formed
again in their original positions fac
ing the line Of company flags.
"A short space before the officers
stood a long line Of men holding
rope 1T arms length over their heads.
The men were ordered to start sprint
Ing in the present formation until an
other whistle blew thirty seconds
later. All the men who were beyond
the rope, which was dropped to waist
height at the whistle, counted one
point for their companies. those be-
hind the rope failed to score. II any
man could outsprint the man in file
ahead Of him, he was to do so passing
on the left. When the race was fin
ished they were to line up in files BY
the company flags.
"Did he say race? whispered ono
man to the file leader. The man nod
ed silently. Again the whistle sound
ed and the Wild race began. Picture
1440 men sprinting simultiously down
field mud flying. arms gyratng.
tongues hanging out as they neared
the goal.
Sc Per Cent Score.