Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-16
.REGIMENTAL SPORTS
FOSTERED BY BRITISH



BEHIND BRITISH LINES IN
FRANCE. June 10. - Regimental
sports are fostered In the British
army in war times to introduce
competitive spirit into the military
routine and inspire the men TO do
their very best in times OF severe
stress.
"It gistains a soldier TO know that
he lis serving his country, but 1t is
more Immediately cXhilaratinE 10
know that be Is doing as well or bet.
ter than his neiEhhor," says one ut
the army manuals. "aud II Is SIN
more inspiriting for HIM to know
that his company can equal or per
haps beat some rival company N
the various vital enterprises OF the
training camp"
THE more a man feels that he Is
working, not for himself but Tor
his side the better soldier he VIII
be-" said arr officer In command Of
rogimontaI training camp, He may
forget about his company when he
gcts into the firing l.nc but he VIII
remember, perhaps at the critical
moment. that he belongs to the best
regiment. or the best division IN the
army the regiment which never re-
treats
As the correspondent came out on
the parade ground, ne found a mum
ber Of soldiers 10 a corner OF the
square engaged In 'tiluug the buck
oi" This ls merely the light relltt
Of the afternoon. The mounted man
tries 20 aim the pole which he car
rirs 30 thu, It goes through certain
hole in % certain piece OF wood; the
hope Of the spectators Is that he
will MISS IL ana receive the contents
Of bucket Of water on his head.
In another section OF the square
hterc was a mb-throwing compeu-
ton, with the chief bombing officer
as Judge. The men were throwing
clay bombs. which explode most
realistically when they fall They
have to throw the bombs over a can
vas barricade and land them In a
particular square marked out on the
ground
Another pastlme IS the alarm race.
Four men are lying on the ground
when a whistle blows They Jump
mp .hastily, get on boots, puttees,
pack and full equipment and then
fall in at certain mark. The first
man on the ozark, II properly
dressed. wins the prize.
Other events are rapid loading
and bayonet charging. The men go
in for these by companies, four men
TO company, and the company
with the best collective time wins
The bayonet race takes place over
the bayonet fighting course, in full
|. pack and equipment Thare are
Germans to be run through at every
obstacle
The entrenching race Is interest
ing. Each squad OF four men has
its little allotment OF earth. Armed
only with an entreuching tool they
are allowed TO dig themselves in.
E0nts OF this sort introduce a hol-
iday atmosphere into the ordinary
workday life OF the soldier In train
ing. Interest Is just as keen In the
singing competition. when a nervous
squad Of ten men marches into the
ring and gives, after one or two
false starts, the results Of a weeks
labored practice. The first squad,
representing Company a." is con-
| tent with Loves Old Sweet Song"
4 Company "B" comes In with linked
arms, and break into the latest vau-
! deyille tune. Company "C'' has been
! practiciug the same song as ~
| and is not well received Then
| comes Company -" with regular
| cantata. The judges award the
| prize amid cheers from the assem-
bled soldiers.