Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-29
CLEAN SPORT.
AN ESSENTIAL
M.ARMY LIFE
General Gorgas Says Athhet,
les do G treat Deal to
Make Men Fit

announcement by Surgeon General
Gorgas of uniform standards of ply
steal examination t o,be used by medi-
cal officers in examining recruits, in
dicates the service sport can render
in making men fit for the army. The
new standards apply to the regular
army, national army and national
guard, and are based on the expert
ence of the medical authorities during
the past year in examining thousands
OF recruits. The official opinion as to
the qualifications q man must possess
to be a-good soldier, follow:
"The rule for all three armies il
that to make a good soldier a man
must see well, have comparatively
good hearing, his heart must be able
TO stand the stress Of physical exer-
tlon, he must be intelligent enough
to understand and execute military
m%aneuvers, obey commands and pro-
tect himself, and must be able to
transport himself by walking as the
exigencies of military life may de-
mand."
Speaking as vice president Of the
United States National Lawn Tennis
association. Julian S: Myrick> said:
The association is glad to have this
concise definition of the governments
ACCIuAlS, DIS IL Elves
us a definite object to attain. For
two years we have been working in
this direction and have repeatedly
urged upon u members the import
ance Of general participation in
sport. because Of the physical bene-
fits that result. Tournaments merely
as such have been discounted and all
our effort has been to accomplish the
greatest possible progress in making
our nation physically fit.
1.-THE results are encouraging, Re-
ports from all over the country show
that while tournament play has
lapsed in some places, more. tennis is
being played than yer before. Manu-
facturers of balls, for instance. say
that they r behind on orders. One
distributing house which serves six
states reported a shortage of 5000
dozen balls, and this condition is quite
general.
Another proof of the widespread
interest in tennis comes from the pub
lie courts in all the larger cities. In
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St.
Louis, Kansas City. Cleveland and
other cities where, courts in parks
offer n Of the most popular means
Of municipal recreation, the number
OF players seems to, be larger than
ever before. This means that people
are taking more exercise. having rec
ognized the fact that they beneft
themselves by taking part in 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 docs more to
develop a sure eye and perfect CO.
ordination Of all movements, because
most strokes are made while a-player
is in motion, after a fast-flying ball.
AS for endurance, anyone who can go
through a few sets these days will
pass a good test as to his heart and
footwork.
Because Of the associations con-
vfctlon that the sport thus r a
useful purpose it naturally decided
to support the work Of the war de-
partment commission on training
camp activities. This commission is
using sport both as a means Of re-
creation for men in the service and
as training for their military duties.
Construction Of tennis courts in
many camps has extended the useful
ness of tennis in a remarkable nan
ner and the continuing demands for
equipment show that the men want
the game.
THE association 10 sending to all
its members this statement by Sur
geon General Gorgas and win on
tinue to impress upon the tennis pub
lie Of q country, the importance Of
regular exercise from the military
viewpoint. Tho fact that thousands
Of our players r already In the
service shows what the game has done
In the past. It will be the sassocia-
TONS atm~to make this contribution
sttll larger In the years that are to
come"