Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-02
BOXING BRINGS
ARMY RANK
knowledge of Fistic Art Means
Swift Promotion in Uncle
Sans Military Camps

There is no question but that the
matches will be permanently chang
ed by the new system offered by the
Federal Athletic Commission. for
the sufficient reason that it fills a
need. Its prime difference from
Marquis OF Queensbury rules is that
IL places a premium on the man who
forces the ring battle. takes his
chances and uses his best efforts to
win. and win decisively.
Billy Recap, sporting editor in
Philadelphia and authority on boxing
was the first to introduce the Federal
suggestion practically, for he says
that in arriving at decision re-
Gently at the Leonard-Britton tight
he kept continually in mind the new
code of rules. He explains: Leon
ard did the greater part of the lead
ing. landed the greater number of
clean blows on leads. blocked when
blocking counted, and was entitled
to the decision. Britten fought
defensive battle, being the aggres-
sor only in streaks. He frequently
played evasive and used the ring to
keep himself out OF harms way.
These tactics were all right before
the war. But not now. America is
developing an army of fighters. Each
man must learn TO tear in and give
his opponent no quarter.
"All back-steppIng, covering up
and purely defensive work are dis
couraged under the army boxing
rules, and each contestant is made
subject to a penalty for such work.
An efficient fighting soldier must not
only be trained in the technique of
a Of hrn
charged with the proper hghung
spirit.
1T is to be hoped that every
critic, every referee and all men who
Judge boxing contests in America
will stand by the government in its
effort to develop a lighting army and
live up faithfully to the new code.
The amazing growth of boxing in
the army is said TO be due to the
fact that officers of the National
Army place high premium on their
noncommissioned officers who nave
developed through their application
to boxing which develops qualities
fitting a young man to be an aggres-
sive leader. "Packy" Mcfarland, in
charge at Fort Zachary Taylor, Lou
isville, noticed this Immediately. and
DIR. Joseph E. Raycroft, director OF
the Athletic Division OF the Com
mission declares: There is no doubt
that a knowledge of boxing is big
factor in the mems promotion from
the ranks; not so much that they
know how to box as a sport, but that
the fighting spirit and leadership
which results from boxing as taught
in the army makes the promotion
a possibility. Out of the thirty-nine
priVates and corporals who took the
intensive instruction for assistants
in boxing in one camp, twenty-seven
were made top-sergeants. This spe-
ciai training is a great help TO the
noncommissioned officers in main
tanning the respect of the men. and
it makes the ''noncoms" themselves
ngake valuable officers. The company
c bmanders and officers of higher
r'ork value especially those sergeants
who can develop in their men a fight
ing, aggressive spirit as a basis for
bayonet instruction"
DIR. Raycroft said that in some
camps as many as 500 men have
been developed as assistant boxing
instructors. These men work under
the supervision of the commissions
boxing instructor and the commits
sion's policy of building up an or
ganization for teaching the funda-
mentals of boxing to our soldiers is
proving effective.
Among the recent appointments
for athletic director and boxing in
structor are T. Dinsmore Upton,
C'Dlnny'D, at Camp Macarthur,
Texas; Mike Orrison, Middle West
boxer, at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Tom
Gibbons, brother of Mike. at Camp
Meade, Admiral. Maryland.