The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-30
'SANMIES ID HOLD
 BIG ATHLETIC MEET
Thousands of Men in Service Will Compete in Tourney
 on Thursday

Soldier athletes are all set" through out the southeastern department for the
 big military and naval athletic meet to be held on July 4 in every camp and cantonment coming under the supervision of the military department of the south east. The big event, known officially as the Victory Athletic Meet, is made possible through the physical department of the Army and Navy '. NJ. z. A. h the various camps and will be under the direction of the Y. NJ C. A. physical leaders.
 i Col. T. Ridgeway, acting commandant of the southeastern. department. and Ad- miral F. E. Beatyt. head of the Sixth naval district, both have officially sane toned this meet.
 There have been military and naval athletic meets before, for the men in the service are always ready to show their athletic prowess, but never have a score or more athletic contests. held on the
 same day, in all parts of the country. been under one supervising board with every athlete in competition with the
 stars from every other training establish ment.
 A soldier flyer may win the 100- yard dash at Camp Gordon the big national army cantonment near Atlanta, only to find that a husky sprinter from the
 navy has bettered his mark done at Charleston and is therefore the winner of the department event. There will be two sets of winners: those who win at their respective camps and training sta tions and those who make the best rec ords and win the departmental honor.
 THOUSANDS ENTER The contestants number into the thou
 sands and all are on edge for the Fourth
 They have been training assiduously and are anxious to make their marks. But
 the unique strength of the meet lies n
 the fact that it has encouraged such a large number of our soldiers and sailors
 to get out onto track or field to show their skill.
 It is not expected that any world rec ords will fall, although it is very evident
 many will be made, owing to the nature of the meet. Each contestant will wear the regulation trousers of his uniform, whether soldier, sailor or marine. This will handicap the men to the extent they will be at a disadvantage to attempt the bettering of records made by men in light running costumes. But the records these boys do make will set a precedent fore other similar meets in the months to come
 TEST OF TRAINING 
 There is a real army and navy interest to be found in the special field events; the semaphore signaling and the litter
 bearers races. Here is work for two respective units, which will show in no small way how we'll they have been trained.
 All in ali, the entire programme is a test of training for the men now getting | ready for overseas service; men who are i taught to be on their toes every minute of the time; it is a training to make
 quick minds and quicker muscles and will show part of it's real worth in the 1 victory athletic meet.
 l The official summary of the winnes- cr
 all events will be gathered at the south
 eastern headquarters of the Y. M C. A. l in Atlanta, the results tabulated and the names of the winners of the department
 tai prizes will be telegraphed to all the l biz papers throughout the south. There /, will also be several special articles sent
 out, giving further results of the big meet.