Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-21
By WILLIAM II. CRAWFORD.

6y WlLLlAM II. CRAWFORD.
EE1RAWFORD write a story about the i'm
portance of athletics in the National
~ Army and the necessity of thorough CO.
operation of all the agencies engaged in
this work in order to the best results said
the Editor.
This was poser for me, as belong to the
constitutionaly lazy group who spend most of their
time in libraries rather than the athletic field.
Icudgeled my brain that night for the answer when
suddenly | had an inspiration. my old friend
Walter Camp knows more about athletics than any
body else. know, to my sorrow, that he knows
how to train men for athletic sports for have
lost several hats and other things betting against
Yale; will go to him for information" long
distance call secured me appointment to see him
ct his office in New Haven. ! found him with eyes
as bright, shoulders erect and body as alert as
they have been these past twenty-five years. He is
living example Of the advantages to be gained by
rational exercise, properly directed.
Mr.. Camp" I began, Il have to write story
and have come to you as fountain head of all
such information
You don't want me to talk on the subject any
more than want to tell the American people about
it, my heart is full of it. 1t is SO important and
30 few people appreciate its necessity. We need
the corporation of all the magazines and news
papers to help us whoop up athletic training.
u
Of just being gallant soldier, always marching
with colors flying to the battle front to glori-
Gus victory die for your country Modern warfare
has made it quarter soldering and three
quarters working. Trenches have to be dug food
and munitions transported, road beds made; there
endless number of absolutely essential tasks
that require strong physical manhood. War is now.
survival of the fttest it is endurance test and
the efficiency of any military establishment is in
direct ratio to the physical fitness of its individual
units. The army whose men possess the greatest
ability to Withstand hardships and to endure will
be the victorious one. What we need now is men
who are able to fight all day. Men who can pick
mp their equipment, run forward couple of hun
bred yards and then be ready to fight again
There are many reasons why athletic train
ing Is important to the National Army:
TT INCREASES ITS Resistance.
More men die in the army from diseases than from
enemy bullets. The casualty reports of any body
Of troops will show this to be true. The man who
is physically fit has greater powers of resistance to
disease. The lurking germs are thrown off by his
vigorous system, as water is from ducks back,
whereas the man whose resistance is low, whose
vitality is impaired, will be attacked by disease and
will succumb to it.
"REDUCES HIS DANGER IN COMBAT.
1t is a safe guard at the supreme moment of impact
with the enemy. There has been much hand to
hand fighting in this and there will be much
more before it is finished. At such moments the
properly trained athlete will have the edge The
soft handed, Aabbty muscled, unframed man who
formerly Stunned athletics, will find himself I'M
PAR CONGRESSUS ACHILLE" (unequaly
matched with Achilles) For athletic training not
only strengthens his muscular power increases his
agility but brings about coordination between the
mind and the body, that enables him to determine
quickly his course and act upon it instantly. The
trained man will be more than match for his un-
adv
TT BUILDS Up HIS COURAGE. Cour-
sge largely is a/matter of habit. The boy who has
faced "the foe on the football field and in the
basket ball court, where he risked his life and
limbs for glory only, more readily faces the
dangers Of war 1t has been said that the English
army is made on the cricket fields at Eton. This
ID true. Good soldiers are strong soldiers, strong
soldiers are brave soldiers. You may be sure that
in al charges on the battle field, the boy who is
physically it, properly trained and accustomed to
take part in athletic contests will be in the fore
front. He will lead the way.
1T CURES HOMESICKNESS. large
number Of the boys have never before been far
from home. They are suddenly transported
thousand miles from all their former friends and
associates. They are among world of strange
peoples. Their inconsistencies makes them dissatis-
0ed and Disconnected. Little as it may seem, this
is serious menace to the discipline and training of
the army. The remedy? Give the boy something
to do that he likes. Let him engage in some sport
take part in some contests, let the training of his
body be along lines that will interest him Let
him be made to feel that by proper care he can
cell the other fellow, and he will become much
enthused over his physical prowess and over the
game itself, that he will forget to be homesick He
won't have time.
"IT ACTS rs 4 DETERRENT TO VICE.
The youngster has two normal instincts, play and
sex. It is safe proposition that his mind is al
H. pol1u
perfectly natural, and need 70 be properly direct