Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-16
American Soldiers Being Taught To Run. But NotAway From Enemy
sammies Training to Low CT the Record for Dashes Across No Mans Land When They Start Big
 Push Toward Berlin.
(By Walter Kellog Towers)

can cover remainder distance when the barrage lifts in, let us say, two minutes. But suppose they could cross it in a minute and three-quar- ters. The result would be that the time during which the men would be exposed to German machine-gun ire would be reduced one-eighth and the casualties in consequence would be one-eiphth loss. Not only would many lives be saved, but those addi- tional men who reached the enemy trenches might we'll make the differ ence between success and failure Tn the attack.
 Speed has been an asset to the fighting men since the world began. The faster/a body of troops can tra- vel. the safer and more effective they are whether they are making sur prise attack. rushing forward against machine gun fire in counter attack, or hurrying from a trench raid or dropping shells.
 It is easy enough to assume that. because we consider ourselves an at1- lctic people, our army is composed oe trained athletes. The physique of the American soldier is superb, but this does not mean that his athletic ability cannot be improved and IS not improved by the training he is recelv' ing in the army.
 One group of six thousand odd Am erican soldiers in France who may be considered as representative of the whole. was put through series Of athletic tests by Dr. J. H. McCurdv, head of the department of the Y. M. c. A. which is in charge of athletics among the soldiers of the American Revolutionary Force. Dr. McCurdy is head of the Normal Course for train ing athletic directors at the lnterna- tional Y. M. C.. A., Springfield, Mass. and a veteran trainer of athletes and athletics.
 He found that IT per cent of these 5000 infantrymen could not run 22o wards in 30 seconds, 28 per cent could not jump a six foot trench. This means that a considerable proportion of these troops could neither run fast enough to catch Hun, nor get away from one. Nor did they have enough ability to leap small trench or ditch or to scramble quickly from a shell hole.
 Some years ago the American army awcke to the realization that, while 1t was possessed of some crack marks men of whom it was justly proud, the average of craftsmanship was low. So it began paying more attention to training the average soldier to shoot, and by developing ability from the bottom, instead of from the top, trained the army as whole to shoot straight. A somewhat similar thing is being done in relation to athletic ability. When a man can run 220 yards in 22 seconds, it requires correct conditions and the most painstaking effort to enable him to clip even fiftieth ot a second from that time. But it is not difficult to scut asfull second or even two or-sthree seconds from the time of 8 30 second man. And while 1t is the slowest men who are easiest to improve, so it is the slowest men who are easiest to improve. so It IS who set the pace and hold the others the slowest men who need improve ment most. for they are the ones ' back, or who fail to arrive when their help is. most needed.
 It is ;toi make the American soldier In Franceaa better athlete and a more useful fighting man that army officers and the physical directors oi the Y. M. c. A. already in the field are cooperating in an athletic pro- gram of wide significance. Enough has been done already to show what results may be hoped for when suffi- cient trained directors and proper equipment can be placed in the field The aim is to develop agility, speed skill and endurance. besides provid ing wholesale recreation which will maintain the morale of the army.
 A soldier is not many hours il France before he meets an athletic director. The incoming soldier in g port town is quickly given chance to loosen the muscles cramped or shipboard and shake off any depres sion Or homesickness bv healthful wholesome games. Baseball, of course is the favorite sport. The "Y" ath letic directors have laid out diamonds and provided balls, bats and gloves They organize leagues from among the company teams and play goes oI from daylight to dark as the mer from the various organizations car find time to participate. Track meet: are held regularly and there are ire quent boxing shows.
 Besides these organized games fol company teams every opportunity i: given every man to indulge in les: formal pastimes. Volley Ball is play ed in the spaces between the bar racks; they are handballs. soccer footballs, medicine balls, quilts ane indoor baseballs with which scrul games may be played in confined spaces. Often. where the army off cers request it, the Y. M. c. A. phy sical directors conduct the regular calisthenics and setting-up exercises among the men.
 Complete bathing and similar faci lities are usually supplied in the arm, barracks, but at one port of entry thu Red Triangle has erected gymna sium for the soldiers. To it, as to ev cry "" activity in France Uncl' H- q F. yA&& N,