The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
TENNIS HEADS AIM.
TO FOSTER SERVICE
National Associations Stand
ard Is Set by Gen. GOrgas's
Army Requirements.
GAME DOING GREAT GOOD

Announcement by surgeon-Generai
Gorgas of uniform standards OF physical
examination to be used by medical Of
fcers In examining recruits indicates
the service sport can render in making
men At for the army, The new stand
ards apply to the Regular Army. Ma
tional Army and National Guard, and
are based on the experience of the med
ical authorities during the last year in
examining thousands Of recruits. The
official opinion as to the qualifications
a man must possess to be a good SOL
der follow:
THE rule for all three armies issthat
to make q good soldier a man must sec
well, have comparatively good hearing,
his heart must be able to stand tho
stress of physical exertor. he must be
Intelligent enough to understand and
execute military maneuvres. obey COM
mands and protect himself and must be
able to transport himself by walking
as the exigencies of military life may
demand"
Speaking as ce-presdent Of the
United States National Lawn Tennis
Association Julian S. Myrick said
THE association is glad TO have this
concise definition OF the Governments
requirements for recruits, as II gives us
definite object to attain. For two
years we have been working in this
direction and have repeatedly urged
upon our members the Importance OF
general participation in sport because
of the physical benefits that result.
Tournaments merely as such have been
discounted. and all our effort has been
to accomplish the greatest possible prog
ress in making our nation physically fit.
THE results are encouraging Re-
ports from all over the country show
that while tournament play has l9psed
in some places more tennis Is being
played than ever before. Manufacture
ers of balls, for instance. say that they
are behind on orders One distributing
house which serves six States recently
reported a shortage OF 5000 dozen balls.
and this condition is quite general.
Equipment for Service.
Another proof OF the widespread in
terest in tennis comes from the public
courts in all the larger cities. In New
York. Chicago. Philadelphia. st. Louis,
Kansas City. Cleveland and other cities
where courts in parks offer one of the
most popular means OF municipal recre-
alton. the number of players seems to
be larger than ever before. This means
that people are taking more exercise
having recognized the fact that they
some form of sport rather than by
enjoying a game merely as spectators.
Tennis develops speed OF mind and
body, for a player must think and act
instantly. No game does more to de-
velop a sure eye and perfect coordina-
ton of all movements, because most
strokes are made while a player Is in
motion. after a fast flying ball AS for
endurance any one who can go through
few sets these days will pass a good
test as to his heart and footwork.
Because of the ASSOCIATIONS conyic-
ton that the sport thus serves useful
purpose II naturally decided to support
the work OF the War Department Com
mission on Training Camp Activities
This commission is using sport both as
a means OF recreation for men in the SER
vice and as training for their military
duties. Construction of tennis courts
in many camps has extended the use
fulness of tennis in a remarkable man
Ger and the continuing demands for
equipment show that the men want tho
game.
The association is sending to all it's
members this statement by Surgeon
General Gorgas and will continue to inn
press upon the tennis public of our
country the importance of regular eXer-
else from the military viewpoint The
fact that thousa nds of our PLAYERS are
already in the service shows what the
game has done in the past 1t will be
the associaLons aim to make this con-
srioution sim larger in the years that
are to come"