The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-16
BOXING GREAT AID
 IN TEACHING MEN
 BAYONET FIGHTING
Head of Commission on Training Camp Activities Denies Report Boxing
 Is Useless in Army

Washington, September Established articles to the effect that boxing does not give useful training as basis for bayonet fighting and that the two have To common relationship, have been em- phaticaly denied in a formal statement that has been issued by pr. Joseph F. Raycrcft head of the athletic division of the var department commission on draining camp activities, which directs the athletic activities in the military training camps throughout the country. The statement follows;
 Several more or less uniformed critics have published articles to the effect that boxing does not give useful training as basis for bayonet fighting.
 'Suea criticisms are based upon ignor- ance of both bayonet fighting and mili- tary boxing. The experience of the past year fm the training camps shows that boxing has great value as & preparation tor bayonet fighting, and in the develop ment of those physical and spiritual quail ities that are characteristic of thei az sressive fighting man.
 The great majority of our young men who make up the army have had little or no experience in physical contact games that develop self-reliance, courage, quick thinking, and quick decisions under fire. Bayonet training at it's best IS a drill to which speed endurance, and skill in handling the weapon are developed, but in the nature of things there can be no practice contests with the bayonets Box ing supplies this important contest factor and furnishes a means of training men to keep their headsgand to carry out an effective plan of attack, even though they are being punished by their opponents. In this way qualities needed in the make up of a bayonet fighter are developed by practice in boxing to an extent and with a rapidity that is impossible in any other plan of training thus far tried
 '.The commanding officers of the train- ing camps in this country have almost universally testified to ythe value of box ing as a part of military training. In many of the principal camps it has been made aregular and definite part of the daily routine. The following statements from generals commanding training camps are typical!
 Boxing. undoubtedly, is one of the most useful forms of physical training which a soldier can have. Especially Is this true in the case of the bayonet man. whose physical prowess is an absolute es- sential, and whose gerater spirit and punch than his opponent make him sure winner in the bayonet fight.
 
 ing, after one or more lessons, begin to showy an aggressiveness which they did not previously have. and which is abso- lutely necessary, not only in bayonet ex- ercises, but in all personal encountersi
 ''The primary object of boxing. as taught in the army, is to make skilltul, self-reliant, hard-hitting men, rather than expert boxers. An efficient soldier must not only be trained in the technique of offense and defense, but he must be charged with the proper fighting spirit Experience in boxing develops that spirit It develops in him willingness and ability to fight at close quarters and to give and take punishment. Practice in boxing has an additional value, because many of the blows and movements taught the men in boxing class have their close counterparts in bayonet fighting. For example, left lead to the head is very similar to long point tos the throat; a