The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-24
War Department Issues Rules Governing Boxing
Govern Contests Among a Million and a Half Men in Training New Code Diff fers From All Others.

W aShlngtOn, June A.---Omcial army LOXlng rules codified to govern con tests among the million and half men in training have been issued by the War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities. The new code differs radically from the reg ulations commonly in use for the last 10 or 15 years and resembles more particularly the Marquis of Queens berry rules which laid stress on fast, clever fighting. Greater credit is given to the boxer who is aggressive in spite of punishment than to the one who covers up or clinches.
 "A million and half men of the new army are being taught to box says Dr. Joseph P. Raycroft, head of the Atheltic Division of the Commis-, sion, because it develops in them those qualities of alertness and pug nacity which make them better bay onet fighters. Success in bayonet lighting depends upon aggressive de- termination and attack even more than upon skill. Boxing develops az gressiveness in offense. A fierce-at- tacking forward-action bayonet charge means 9S per cent. quota of fighting men returned to safety. That is one important reason why the new box ing rules set high premium upon offensive rather than on defensive fghting.' s All back stepping, covering up and purely defensive work are discour- aged under the army boxing rules and each contestant is made subject toza, penalty for such work. This, latter recommendation is a direct departure from the accepted standard of ring. strategy which puts a premium on purely defensive tactics.
 l Under the new rules a total of six blows constitutes the ground plan of the boxing program. The mainte- nance of such a series of blows must be taken into consideration in the final judgment of points. "The value 1 of attack cannot be overestimated, and should be considered a prime fac tor in the allotting of points," it is. stipulated. :.
 Under the army rules the referee is shorn of much power. Many of his active fuctions have been delegated to two judges, each of whom is assisted by a clerk. Fouls are clearly defined and are within the Jurisdiction of the referee who may disqualify immedi- ately any contestant for attempted unsportsmanlike tactics. Downs are limited to the standard of 10 seconds. To gain fast action the time limit per round has been made ? minutes in stead of 3 minutes for novice bouts Four rounds will be boxed except in the case of individual championship contests which may be six rounds. The principal features of the Army boxing code are as follows:. .-...-.--
 The ring, which is not to be less than 16 nor more than 20 feet square, must be enclosed iby at least three ropes, covered with cloth wrappings, to be stretched from four posts prop erly padded. The floor of the ring shall extend beyond the lower ropes fer a distance of not less than two feet. If the floor is of wood or other hard substance, it is to be padded with mating, corrugated paper or felt, or dampened sawdust covered with tightly stretched canvas.
 | Gloves in all novice contests shall not weigh less than ten ounces, and for trained men" bouts, eight ounces. Six or eight ounce gloves may be used for divisional championship contests.
 Trained men matches are for those who have won elimination company championships. All contestants who have not qualified in elimination matches will be regarded as novices
 C, Htests for trained men are limited to four rounds, of two minutes dura- tion with an inteFmission fone min ute between rounds for rest. If the judges disagree the referee may at his discretion call for a fifth round, limited to two minutes. The novice contests are subject to the same rul- ings. The final bouts in divisional championships shall consist of six rounds of three minutes each and no extra rounds can be ordered.
 The officials shall be a referee, two judges, two clerks. one timekeeper and a medical officer. The referee shall take his position within the ring, his primary duty being the strict en- forcement of the rules of boxing and of fair play. He can stop a bout at any stage and make a decision if he considers it too one-sided or in case he considers the competitors are not in earnest he can stop the bout and disqualify one or both of the contest ants.
 The judges shall be stationed at op posite sides of the rings to watch,
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