Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
STAR ATHLETES IN ARMY
MEL SHEPPARD DISCOVERS
EMBRYO CHAMPS IN KHAKI
ms Never Seen So Many Diamonds in
Rough ms Among Soldiers mt
Camp ScIby.

Mel Sheppard. the former Olympic
middle distance champion. who is down
Missouri looking after the athletic
work Of the 1900 soldiers stationed at
lamp Selby, near Hattiesburg. declares
hat he could develop a first-class ma
ional championship team from the
athletic material that he has observed
the various regiments forming his
division.
"In all my connection with track and
ield sports | have never seen moro
promising bunch of diamonds in the
ough' than number OF the men in
his division" says Sheppard. III these
men had nothing to do but prepare for
tthlctic events and had the proper Ia
:ilities. have no doubt that we'd turn
tut whole flock Of real champions
Town here In no time. The athletic
vents. which were only fairly Vol
)atronized by the soldiers at first. are
low crowded with the boys, who are
,nxioua to keep fit for the big test.
These fellows are going in for the
games with determination that means
more than the actual desire to play and
keel at it, believe that four-ffths
- IF the men who are running and play
ng football at this camp have their
Ultimate condition for the big game
over there IN view.
FHrors Compulsory Athletics.
The more | see OF army life with its
rear compulsion in the matter OF sports
he flrmer ] am in the belief that COM
oulsory athletics should be instituted
n both schools and colleges throughout
he United States. and the sooner tho
Better. All OF the men who have coma
,crc benefited wonderfully through
| heir life in the open, but OF all these
he most fit arc those who have kicked
he football about OF run bit. Par
| icipation in sports not only benefits the
muscular system. but 4, develops
spirit of self-rcliancc and a knack OF
making snap judgments under fire.
which are bound TO he of benefit to the
folders in the fighting that they Will
see In Europe.
VIC have had continuous string Of
tthlctic events here since I arrived. AT
I irst feared that too much athletic
york would find the soldiers wearying
I,f It all. because OF the rather stin
york they get at drilling and prcpar-
ng their new trenches. Instead OF max
ne the boys stale. ! find that athletic
competition: tone them UP. Officers
pave told me that their men have not
hown trace OF WEAKNESS In their
work. on the days following our big
ootball games and track meets.
The old saying that there arc ten
GOOD ball players in the grand stand for
Every one on the diamond believe now
o be perfectly true" continued Shop
bard. Among the thousands OF young
men that the draft has brought here
here arc dozens who would have made
great athletic champions had they tried
the moro or less horscpiay athletic
vents that We hold ono can spot here
md there really great athlete who
never Will wear the laurel. because he
donors.
Recreation For AL.
This Is especially true or running.
IL is genuine regret TO mo that
:annot take some OF these boys and
york them on good track for mum
|,er OF months. but my Job IS not to
leyclop a few world heaters. bu. 10
'urnish recreation. If possible. for
[,very one OF the $1,000 soldiers in this
|fivision.
II never wan, to tackle a more sci,
fatisfyinG Job than this one. The work
both strenuous and interesting. and
very night when turn in feel that
|, hive done just little to help in the
ask OF making Americas National
Army ut for tho great task that il will
soon tackle"
10 LOOMS. the star al-rouud athlete
4 the Chicago Athletic Association
ross work in France. has enlisted IN
he Three Hundred and Thirty-third
Field Artillery at Rockford Ill
4 LOOMS is quoted by Western cor
respondents AS saying tina. in the end
he war Will act as the biggest sort OF
II boost for sports. as millions OF sol
|Eiicrs the world over. arc getting their
recreation through athletic games. and
|will turn to this sor; OF business when
he soccer football is the most popu-
|far past!mc III the British army. hut
Pho baseball has made great stride.
In the estimation or the English.