Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-03
ATHLETICS HAVE MADE
OURS WONDERFUL ARMY
Training Of American Soldiers Will
Have Lasting Effect on
Nation.
GLORY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS

| Heart, as, With Muscles Stccled,
the Men "Ovcr There" Defy Enemy
| Danger to Save the World.
NY WIN. II. t"BIC1 BILL") EDWARDS.
| When this great war is won--and II
| viii be won very soon--no small credit
! will he due TO the splendid work in
| conditioning our soldiers by the Com
mission on Training Camp Activities.
which so. sensibly gave SO much atten
ton to athletics. 1t was this great
play system AS part of the military
program that produced an army that
| Won the admiration Of the world.
When the call OF war came. among
tho first to enroll were some of the
| greatest athletes in this country-the
greatest in the world These men were
in the prime of condition, and soon
made themselves felt on the battle
| front abroad. There were thousands
OF others who. although eager TO help
were in no physical condition. What
have, done for these has been truly
wonderful. American youths have
been transformed into physical mar
vels by the combination OF outdoor and
athlettc training. and athletics has
MADE MADE for an esprit de corps. "a morale
nRh hss ma The the Tmy
including as they do rescue races. in
which one man runs certain distance
EIound and, using the fireman's hold
brings him back to the starting point:
bomb throwing. trench jumping. and
their worth abroad
And who will deny the efficacy OF the
When the 1he fram ,ba
close to the front 4 line 'I 'Tensht s,oSfT
more freedom, "A game of basebaii is
for baseball football is being intro
duced. There is nothing that will re-
lieve the strain of war like an athletic
contest; Properly, directed athletics
they may have " itnessed.
IT is only few days ago that
received cablegram from Johnny
household in the United States. He
asked me to send him at once 500 foot
pan uniforms ! hope by the time
ms article appears in print to have
the uniforms overseas.
MANY GREAT BENEFITS
FROM ATHLETIC TRAINING
could go on and relate without
received from athletic aiming abroad.
Athletics has been known 10 cure what
surgeons call the "trerch crouch" a
the head below the p.rapet causes
stifening, of the muscles of the neck
and shoulders, and results almost in a
writer. of boys books made a speech
recently in which he advanced what
explanation of the terrible crimes OF
which the Prussian soldiers stand con-
S victed before the world to-day: the
TO say, 1T took me tire. years TO he
leye the unbelievable" This writer
be traced directly TO the lack Of com
petitive fair play when they were boys
In Germany ~, boys never know the mean
sports that make that appeal Their i9
training is confined to feats of brute
strength There is nothing to develop
tiveness.", the initiative. tho thinking
process that are part OF our, athletics
the work Of serving the Kaiser .'u and
the result is in evidence on the bloody
battle fields OF Europe. The gratitude
training makes "A better soldier than
the graduate. the misnamed superman,
who has had the advantage of course
under the kultur professors who have
made a study OF w.at they call war for
forty years.
lean thoroughbreds the football world
ever produced; Joi my Poe, He will
France. but his spirit lives in, the heart
volunteer. He could stand 1t no longer
and Joined the Black watch. the FAM
Gus Scotch regiment Some men OF his
regiment were. needed to garry Loxes
OF bombs ahead OF the advance column
a, call for volunteers was sent out and
Poe Responded. He Joined what was
ferWsaa the hs., Sp he sqqad He wen.
raae rushed 70 his side, "Don't mind
were poe'm last words We should
never forget that great unconquerable
spirit Of Johnny rce-"Don't mind me.
he was a disciplined athlete.
Baker. the AMERICAN star hockey and
.sHtobey" Baker circiing about alone in
Clouds 5san nst tnTnSsnd rs OF feet above ne
hostile fiiers must be driven back at
All hazards, and think that his feel
he used to wait in the back field in
championship game of football for the
punts as they came from the opponents.
held to prevent loss to his team or n
possible disastrous score
:. Scarcely any one knew certain
back on the scrub team. He was max
ing a terrific effort the best he could.
Yale game lie had hoped even Ser0q ai Inc Inc
last hour that an oppoi unity might he
afforded him to be substitute quarter
broken in scrimmagc. As he lay on
the ground. in great pain. realizing
what had happened and forgetting him
mighty glad that it is not one OF the
regulars who is hurt. for our chances
against Yale will not be affected"
There never was a finer unscltish spirit
brought out in football than this. Don't
you think that this boy would he [!
credit TO Uncle sam" 1t is illustra-
tive Of only one of thousands OF heroes
who have been made in the athletic |
field. IL is the spirit that makes the |
American Army unbeatable.
GREAT TO III; PHYSICALLY
FIT IN THIS CRISIS !
Physically fit is proud state to be |
In in this crisis when the country
needs real men on the firing line. ready |
TO go over the TOP Uncle Sans O. * |
is an honor that thrills men through |
and through. Go back into the cities |
and towns OF our great United States !
and talk to the red bloodcd young |
Americans who Nearn fcA the Tine a |