New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-02-27
ATHLETICS BENEFIT MEN MEN
TALLY AND MORALLY AS
WELL AS PHYSICALLY.

| "A SulIIlldIy VI WIldG Gl+C W al lie.
partment Commission on Training
Camp Activities has accomplish ed in the
last few months in providing at letic
recreation for the thousands of men
in the thirty-two Nation Army and
Guard camps and a forecast Of its plans
for further promoting this vast work are
contained in statement issued by DR..
Joseph E. Raycroft, athletic supervisor
of the commission, who has m oyed his
headquarters from Prime eton to Washing
ton for the duration of tie war.
The keen relationship between ac-
tual warfare and the various sports
that have been fostered in the canton-
ments is emphasized in tie statement.
'"The sports included in the camp cur
1icu,um, such as boxing, football and
soccer" DR.. Raycroft declares, have
been selected not only as means OF
amusement but to prepare the men Tor
the struggle to come, and the value Of
the athletic training they have received
will be fully realized when they go over
the top"
'ssWhen the Commission first began
it's work in this direction there was a
well-defned belief prevs lent that a
soldier was made by putting man IN a
un form and teaching him the manual
of arms" DR.. Raycroft states. We
have proved the utter fallacy Of this
theory by showing that athletics in
crease mans fighting efficiency as well
as providing him with wholesome recrea-
ton during his leisure hours.
ttSome idea Of the scope of the work
we are doing can be obtained by visualize
ing the fact that at one western canton
ment 16 baseball diamonds have been
laid out in one great field and games
have been in simultaneous progress on
each, while at another rs gridirons, with
goal-posts and bleachers having seat
ing capacity Of $4,000, we're in Use last
fall. i.
with this picture in mind, it can
be readily seen that the various sports
have been promoted on a scale un-
paralleled in history. The old order
Of things has been banished and in its
place new rules and regulation have
been formulated to govern conditions
attendant to the participation Of hum
dreds OF men in single game. For
instance, the player limit on football
teams in most camps has been raised
I from II to IS, while in soccer games
I in which 400 men have taken part, with
as many as eight to ten balls in use at
once, have occurred frequently.
Nothing like it has ever been at
tempted before. Experience has taught
Allied officers the great help a good
athletic training renders man in battle,
but it has remained for the United
States to give sports a definite place in
the military program and make it plain
that thorough athletic training is a
vital adjunct in the equipment of every
American soldier. .5
Dwelling on the part that athletics
will play in the conflict, DR.. Raycroft
points out that the training they have
receive in such sports as boxing and
soccer will he of ire:timable valte.
'Whi,e playing soccer he explains,
"a man must be ready constantly to
strike at tie ball with either foot. In
this way he naturally acquires short
gait and a balance that will serve him
in good stead in traversing the churned
and furrowed surface of No-Man's land.
'.In boxing" DR.. Raycroft continues,
"nearly every blow and position has its
counterpart in bayoEeting. Where a
man now starts left hook for the head
Of his opponent in a friendly camp, but
he will soon be using the same move
ments in sending his bayonet slashing
at the throat of an armed antagonist,
while right hook to the jaw will be
duplicated when he swings the butt Of
his gun on the jaw Of disarmed foe.
| Dr.. Raycroft has been greatly elated
| by the fashion in which the soldiers have
taken, to soccer. His statement says: III.
ut is a highly exhilarating game,
combining the maximum of exercise
and recreation with training that
will be mighty useful to tie men when
they meet the enemy. Then, too, any
number can participate in game
and it can be played in the company
streets, as no special equipment or
field ale needed. These advantages
make it an ideal sport for the camps.
'Plans are now being worked out,
DR.. Raycroft says, whereby prizes
and medals will be given companies
and individuals for athletic profcien-
cy." This, he expects, will excite even
greater interest in camp sports.
There are more men participa ting
in organized athletics today than ever
before" Dr.. Raycroft concludes, and
not only is this training Helping them
! To fit themselves physically, but it is