New-York tribune., 1918-03-31

~ Will lSculIS UHUSudl cllOItS W SUS
game during 1918. The ravages of
their real sting-are bound to have
mer on interest in lawn tennis as in
Those who argue that we, as a ma
ton, should turn our back on sports
of all kinds and speak, think and act
nothing but war may be inspired by
the highest motives OF patriotism. but
they are on the wrong track. England,
non military nation before the war,
is a striking example of what sports
will accomplish when it comes to rails
ing fighting mea. Great Britain takes
its sports soberly, sanely. as it does
everything else.
1t is not a case of the schoolboy
and the college man in the British
Isles bending ell their energies dur
ing their student life to the break
ing of records now. and then, once they
have entered their business careers,
to abandon athletics entirely. No, the
Rriton takes his athletic sports far
more intalligently.
Always Loves Outdoor Sport
When the Englshman reaches that
age where Rugby and soccer, Gross
country running and rowing are bit
too strenuous for his years, he takes
up with less violent forms of exercise.
1t may be cricket, it may be lawn ten
Ills or it may be golf. but whatever
it is that claims his attention the
Englishman keeps himself physically
fit long after he is we'll along in
years. And this love Of outdoor sport
never deserts him.
Even the great war, that has been
draining Great Britain of its manhood
for the last three years, is regarded as
"sport," grim though it be- 1t has
come to national, a racial chars"-
teristic, this hobby of the Briton's to
cherish his sports, and this same quail
ity is going to be the deciding factor
that will win the war for the Allies,
despite the Teuton onslaughts against
civilization.
Win the war? The war is won, my
masters!
And America, about to throw her
thousands, yes, her millions, if need
be, into the maelstrom of battle, is t.
have part in this triumph of civili-
Zation over militarism run mad
The struggle may be a bitter one yet
for years, but the longer it RACES tn.
greater will be this country's influence
in the final decision. And America is
preparing the youth of the land, and
the man of middle age, for just that
contingency.
Walter Camp, famous for years
wherever college football is played, and
now identified with the National Secu-
rity League, is taking a leading part
In fitting this nation to meet the physi-
cal tests that are bound to come.
Sport Fine for Soldiers
Mr.. Camp recognizes the value of
outdoor sports as conditioner for
soldiers. He has already accomplished
great things along these lines for the
men IN the navy, and while football,
of course, is his particular inspiration
he came out last week in favor of
lawn tennis as an aid in bringing about
the desired results. The famous Yale
football coach believes that the court
game can do a tremendous amount of
good in raising the physical standard
OF the younger men, those not yet
within the draft age, and those who
are beyond the service limits in point
of years.
Julian S. Myrick, vice e-president of the
United States National Lawn Tennis As
sociation, has placed the facilities of
posal of Mr.. Camp, and the two bodies
will work together to accomplish the de-
sired end. 1t is partly with this pur-
pose in mine tina; Mr.. Myrick evolved
the idea of holding handicap tennis
tournaments during the coming out
door season. 1t is hoped by this means
to interest greater number of play
ers than ever played the game before,
and there will be more tournaments
played from coast to coast.
Speaking Of lawn tennis, Mr.. Camp
has said: "Men of all ages have taken
up tennis and have found it an ideal
exercise, but at most it. is an outdoor
seasonal sport. And how many players
stick to it as permanent conditioner?
Does not the tennis player enjoy the
sport few years, then abandon it
either temporarily or permanently, and
thus destroy the hope of securing regu-
larity and continuity in his physical
condition, through the hope of even
suLh an excellent game as tennis really
is?"
The reluctance that many ranking
players felt last season to enter tour
naments while the nation was at war,
seems to have been removed under
present conditions. All tournaments
Training Camp Activities, and every
man able to play should regard it as
his duty to help the great cause along.
Nation Must Keep Fit
In closing, it is we'll to set forth Mr..
Camps own IDEAS as to the value of
physical training for those who may
be called upon in the future to take up
the battle against the German world
menace. Mr.. Camp says:
"The great question which is exer-
cising US to-day is one which we
now recognize we should have con-
sidered generation ago. A social
scientist, with what we now recog-
nize as startling prescience, said
forty years back that the greatest
nation of the future would be the one
that could send the most men to the
top OF the Matterhorn, and the world
is proving his case to-day. Think of
our history! And yet when war
broke out we were fat. rich, fabby
and helpless! 1t was not ten years
after the War OF Independence be-
Tore we had begun to lapse. The
war OF 1912 awakened US bu. little.
Then came the Civil War, and when
that ended we knew the value of
hardened, trained men.
For time there was great
boom on the physical side. It was
!nen that our colleges began erect
ing gymnasiums and our people be-
gan athletics, notably baseball. We
nave kept the sports, it is true, but
wnen you turn nation into city
ofhting, moneymad race, even these
sports help out little. No sooner does
a boy to-day finish his schooldays
or his college course than he drops
nis sports for what (mores the pity)
Tor what we. az parents. have been
wont to admire. namely, the serious