The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-27
Athletics Real Backbone
OF Army, Says Edwards
Traits of Sport Fields Help Yanks and Allies in Big
tame Over There-Lack Of Competitive Contests
Stamps Itself on Boche Character.

ehco ana oetenCo winning ana fOsln4
ground. Ten miles and ten yards are
taken the rough material and is recreat-
Ing 1t. He has given them the signals Of
war. Their head gears are gas masks.
1t Ii true in war as II 10 true in ath-
letics and true in life that we have no
use for gutter. A gutter Is a man
who shirks in time Of need. There IL no
place in the firing line for q man who Is
yellow. Gen. Pershing seeks the aid Of
no such man. have no doubt that the
records show that the athletic contests at
the training camps have transformed
many youth who was inclined TO be
afraid into q real thoroughbred and fear
less fighter.
recall n day In Yale Field in New
Haven when Princeton beat Yale and
how the Princeton enthusiasts swarmed
over the field and carried the victorious
players Off the gridiron. What happi-
ness II was then to think, not so much
the Joy 1t brought to the victors there.
as that back in tho old town the college
bell would be ringing and the boys there
who had been unable TO be at the game
would be rejoicing over the victory.
knew they would prepare a big bonfire
around the cannon. l pictured our re-
ception when the team came home.
Think of the reception when that great
American team on the other side comes
home.
"Good Athlete, Good Soldier"
athletics has been clearly proved by this
war. One Of the first to recognize It
was Gen. Pershing. Now all the allied
| commanders recognize II. Governments
have seen its value. And the men are
| loud In their praise Of It A good
athlete makes a good soldier and a good
soldier always Is a good athlete.
l have talked with physical directors
| Of the Y. NJ. C. A. the knights OF Co
lumbus and the other organizations
banded together IN this war. 1t Is a
pleasure to hear them enthuse over the
feats Of their charges and tell how
willing the boys are to work. I look
forward to new records in every line of
sport after the boys come home. Their
muscles will have been steeled and their
courage will know no limits. / have
been told by these physical directors
that the kinds OF athletics in which our
soldiers. sailors and marines are indulg-
ing are almost without number. and
that the permanent plants created to-
gether with the great spread OF interest
in the competitions among men will
make this n more athletic nation for
many years after the war.
Napoleon said, IAN army travels on
Its belly" The American army travels
on its muscle" as the Hun Is rapidly
learning. The resourcefulness. quick
thinking. discipline. initiative which are
the ground work OF our great American
sports have laid the foundation for the
wonder army of tho world.
The UnconquerabIe.
Let US all be optimistic. Let US
never think of a possible setback. Let
US at all times be animated with the
spirit which knows no defeat like the
little drummer boy who was ordered by
Napoleon in crisis In the battle to beat
the retreat The boy did not move.
Boy. beat a retreat" Still he did not
stir. At third command he straight
ened up and said. Sire, / know no
retreat. but l can beat charge that
will wake the dead" He did So and the
troops moved forward and were vic
| torious. II Is this same spirit which
, animates American athletics and Is ami
mating the American army to-day. II
Is the spirit that has won this war
In closing let me repeat the wonderful
poem OF Henry Newboldt, whose stir
ring lines seem fitting eulogy to many
young American thoroughbred now on
the other side:
VITA LAMPADA.
There's hreathless hush in the close to-
Ten to make and the match TO win;
humping pitch and binding light,
An hour TO play and the last man in.
And It's not for the sake OF a RIB ,ned coat
Or the selfish hope Of a seasons fame.
But his captains hand on his shoulder
Play up! play up. and play the Eamep'
Tho sand ~ tha da.or. a.. .o1ao, -,