Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-26

 those problems which have. arisen al- most overnight the solution of which is occupying the entire thinking time of the biggest physical educa- tors in the United States. That the result of the work accomplished to date has been satisfactory is evident by the adoption of the Y. M. c. A. American army scheme of athletics by the French.
 Two big problems came with the advent of the draft. The chief of these problems was called upon to meet the great need by voluntary subscription through civilian organiza- t;ons like the Y. M c. A. and the | nation responded. The government, | about the same time, created the Com i mission on Training Camp Activities, | whose immediate job became one of | equipment. Everybody got busy and | the result was a tremendous thrush | of athletic equipment. Supplies of this nature were augmented by men like | Clark Griffith. whose Bat and Ball | Fund has made it possible for many i a soldier to keep fit and smiling.
 The second problem, and one aris- ing from the appearance of equipment, | was just what to do with it. Broadly 1 speaking. the Y. M. C. A equipment became a. loan equipment By reason | of it's service buildings at all sections of every camp and because it was entrusted with the entire athletic job abroad the '. M C. A. felt that a bigger use could be made of it's equip ment if each piece was loaned to the soldiers for the time they could use it, following which it was returned to the Y. M. C. A. so it could be loaned out again and immediately.
 The other organizations, not mili- hniF fa diers outright As yet they have been unable to supply anything like the nec- essary amount so the burden of SUD- plying equipment has fallen upon the military organizations themselves and the Y. M. C. A. has been criticized for not giving its equipment to the sol diers, that is in some quarters, it's present plan of holding title to it while placing it's disposition in the hands of the military has proven most efficient, especially in view of the fact | that it is sending supplies abroad in manner to keep pace with the growing needs Of the American forces.
 In the long run the Y. M. c. A. pol icy will solve a big end of the job for the reason 1t keeps it's supplies at every camp and cantonment here and abroad l replenishes them as they wear out. and | IS thus in a position to give service to everyone. While it is all we'll and good l to outfit each company with sufficient athletic supplies it must be remembered | that these goods are subject to hard
 usage and if such plane were univer- 1 sally adopted Ihe fear arises that within year or so, at the most, a | large proportion of the companies ! would have their supplies worn out, Such plan can be worked out by a government appropriation But as
 matters now stand the great bulk of | people who want to voluntarily aid the cause reap a tremendous amount of
 satisfaction out of their voluntary similar organizations. On the whole the Y. M. c. A. has a more flexible
 and therefore a better working plan l as conditions new exist
 With equipment at hand the problem Of athletics became an active one.
 There are three sub heads brought about by the varying conditions to be
 found in the first place at the train
 ing camp, in the second at the en-
 barkation camp and in the third place
 with our forces overseas. At each of
 these stations the problem is gigantic
 one, and because of it's newness no
 scheme has yet been universally ad- opted which applies to any of the three. In each case it has been a matter of individuality and adaptabiI- lty. And in all cases the job is done
 in cooperation with the military of- i, hcers whose time is engrossed in pro- lens more pressing and serious vel who keenly appericate the need of fur
 thering all athletic programmes as
 they spell greater eff1cienecy.
 In nearly every case there is ar athletic organization which reaches 1 al oI. up with some officer. Yet there stil
 remains the need of civilian co-opera-
 tion and aid especially with our forces overseas.
 Reverting to the three divisions o1
 the work, this difference is due to the
 fact that there are absolutely different X conditions in the training camps the Q embarkation camps and the billets Q overseas. In our training camps the 7 men are there for a specific purpose { and have certain hours for recreation 0 and athletics. Definite schedules are 9 worked out for ail sports In the em. barkation camps the men are neces 0 sarily new to the camp and are there I all but impossible. Overseas the jot {. is to get the men in the game a.
 soon as they get back from the front
 There the need for civilian aid is mos
 acute for the reason that the officer. 2 have fighting to do and some othe, f agency has to be at hand to have everything ready for the boys to iuml in and play as soon as they return a to rest billets. That is the big ath
 letic job of this war and so urgent i ' the need of men to fill it that too man, cannot volunteer for the work Tn, Y. NJ. c. A. wants men real men ant n men who are over draft age. Tn t volunteer doesn't have to be a cracl p athlete, coach or trainer, either. If h. !. appreciates the value of the work ant , has 8 been love for sport he'll do.