San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-07
Say Men Batter and Bruise
Each Other Up-Putting
Government Service On
Level With Underworld.
Register Thinks Differ
ent-So Does Army.

| Local army officers appear to be
III hearty accord with a recent editor.
ial published in the Army and Navy
| Register, an authorized service pub
LEGATION, condempisg the effort on the
part OF modern day reformers to ex-
Guide boxing from the army and navy.
OfficerS here believe that boxing IS
one of the principal sports of the SER
vice, and has much to do with MAIN
tanning enthusiasm and morale among
the enlisted personnel. In the opin-
ION of local army officers, little at
tention will be paid to recent pro-
tests addressed to the War and Navy
departments by the Board of Tenn
perance, Prohibition and Public Nor
ais of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, " the headquarters of which
are in Washington.
With regard to the recent protest
voiced by this board against boxing
IN the army and navy, the Army and
Navy Register said III its editorial col
umns:
Another movement has been start
ed for prohibiting something. This
time it has to do with the brutal
perversion of boxing described as
being on the increase in this coun-
try, as TO call for drastic measures
by Congress, especially with refer
ence TO the sport among enlisted men
OF the miltary-naval service. Pro-
tests have been addressed to the War
and Navy Departments in order to Sc
cure official attention to a state Of af-
fairs that is pictured in the follow
ing language:
Like a Camel's Nose.
Under the guise of boxing conduct
cd for the amusement of the 'partici-
pants and the free entertainment of
their friends, prize fighting, like the
camels nose, pushed its way into the
tents of the government services our
ing the war. The first matches were
limited to Il few rounds; rounds were
of short duration; the bouts were be-
tween amateurs with no prizes no adj
mission fees were charged. ana the
decisions were on points. Today, at
various army posts, men who are on
the level Of professional pugilists. bat
ter and bruisc each other at prize.
fights for which admission fees are
charged. In these fights the boxer
may win on points. but knockouts
are prefer:ed. Gambling, always an
evil in the army and navy, is the chief
interest.
: Boldly these brutal exhibitions are
advertised in the face of Christian
taxpayers who are urged to support
the fighting services and send their
sons l:to the ranks.
Legitimate boxing interest has
been used to Oncn the army and navy
to the brutalities and degradation OF
prize fighting. The vast majority Of
war veterans are opposed to putting
the government services on ipyel
with the underworld. Note the fact
that tickets were on sale ut rost ex.
changes and naval stations. Note
that this was not for Tie entertain
ment of the participants or the spec
tators. but was for a financial profit.
Note the size of the Gloves"
Secretary Is Criticized.
The last statements were made with
reference to an advertisement of a
bout between navy and army boxer.
In further voicing their disapnroval
of boxing in the service. the secretary
of the navy was criticized for hav-
ing commended the naval contestant
FOR maintaining the traditions of the
navy for clean fighting and hard nit
ting"
1t is not likely" the Army ana
Navy Register asserts, "that the mill