The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-17
GET READY FOR RIG ~
MILITARY OLYMPIC

inc with i.7oO athletio offieers in the
a. m r. ana the recent of sport..
supplied valued ct S419.7a0. the great
program Of recreation and competition
which General Pershing has outlined
tor officstA sn4 .dpughboy alike as-
for the construction OF tho great Perish
ing stadium 1t Joinvifla are keeping
pace with the development OF the rest
Of the proxram.-
rY. v1.sh.r~.r ~ tho Y-r,v.r.,,v
~ f.aIKornJa enA TJeutenant r. r
acho~Aer fnrmsrlv sfh,etIc orY,c.r a,
Nitnhel EiHlA TT. n a A. ha.n.d
~. rer>v ~ r>nnrt .rrivey~ pnth -.
10 - ssss~rad - the Ererch arn,v end
donhtle.s vili fa,ra an active nart In
~. da~~tn,,,nsnt ~ w.r ~ t.r~ 49,
~ ~nn srtnr-s,itad ,rfiSterv nIv,rrta
rsAss ,.ta ~ IN .rrinr 20. nthsr.
80 - - srtn tha r. ra
qusstsd By General PershinE In the
following letter to r. c. Carter. chief
secretary Of the Y. M. C. A. In France:
Il am now most anxious to encour-
ags IN every way possible the athletic
side OF our training. both as q means
Of Keeping the personnel wholesomely
and enjoyably occupied during the
periods not needed for other military
duties and ~ a means Of keeping them
in the state OF physical ana mental Mt
ness which Il 90 necessary to the
morale which breeds contentment
sYour orrnc,x.tsor haS alre.av rsc.
A.re6 :. 80 .~r~As1,.n.-~ raro. 80.
ma ,rns4 ,...Sni s..;starc. ~ a.h1stse
srttvfts.. "a ..~rr. var thas
thornr~h;v .rr.e.,s4~ All that -. 80.
dona ana ~ .nirst h.cL ~ ths ss1r'
ss-r,r~sn 80. .s.,,.pnn 80 sn,,,e s
the members Of your star OF athletic
directors. Because OF this and because
OF my confidence In tho desire OF ali
Of You to help In every way. I am writ
ing 70 ask you to continue your as
sistance At this time. when expert
athletic direction 10 10 vitality neces,
sary, by arranging to keep at least one
OF your best fltted and most compe-
tent men with each Of the divisions
IN the American expeditionary force.
to Cooperate with the divisional ath-
ietio director
The majority of the man who are
now coming over have been trained In
the system directed by DR.. J. II. Nc
Curdy at Springfield. Mass. Y. NJ G. 4
college. DR.. McCurdy came 70 France
in August. 1917. to take charge Of the
"Y' athletic program. He found two
men in that denartment. ore ~ uhor,
soon enlisted. when pr. McC.urdv re-
turned to the tinted states on T.nn.
ary he LEFT 40. exnert snnrt Ieas.
ere, all who remained Of 4 e0n seut
overseas. but diverted :, otbor aansr.
ments hecauss ~ Ureater r.ed st~
hundred athletic acids had h.a, ron~
strncted IN T.ry ra.os ~ ah
boys heIpinh the French to harvest
their crops so that they might lay out
baseball diamonds and Fairgrounds
quickly.
Down ~ 81 yazai-e thAx t.v. no,
ceased 70 talk about the track and
hsld meet which DIR. McCurdy ran off
in one afternoon with s.4oo contes-
tants. There were three events.
trench jumping, Coward dash and
soccer. The army athletic officers had
complete charge of the games, work
ing on plan devised by the "Y"
On a straightaway rsa wards VITA.
/ sea men took their n1arts for ths
nrst heat Of the eao w;,bin ta,, r,,r
utes the results were tah,aatss sach
offfcer he,nr re.rcr.sh1s &c ~. 49,.
unit. The comnet,tors we've an a,
shot from the cannon rnnn,ry ura.r
rope at the finish line which was
dropped when thirty seconds haa
elapsed Those who crossed before
the rope was dropped qualified" The
idea was to get as many men into nc
ticn At once as possible. Those who
"qualined" had the satisfaction OF
knowing that In any pursu,t ~ tna
Hun thsv would be In the vanguard. no
thought was given to the doubtful SAT
isfaction that In case Of a retreat thev
would have the best chance OF getting
away.
rour .o~c.r -
ut the ..ms t,rns soo 10, .a,,t 80. ass
in each match Eour .nnnsr p
wsrs m..n ~ a.,, - $500 pans
scorei wheneyer h.u ~ $3.50
over the hack Iins ~ ary nnt,.
o. "as b"'is'
,n.s s's.eH Oh mass OF recrea-
80 "nlcn VIII ne the foun-
UT 'ne rsnIhs program Out
y. vvn coMpetH'on IN oasketoail.
~ - XMAS on running ana jump
IN a,, p.senasi, IootoaiI ana the
tarv oiymnics ,n ws,ch ,hs h MI.
American performers Will, meet IRE
champions OF the other armies ~ fNn