Evening star., 1924-04-06
Uncle Sans Military Leaders Keeping Physically Fit Fig

including the Fort Myer reservation.
Boiling Field aviation camp. quarter
masters intermediate department, the
War College, the Army Medical
School and the national War De
partment. Their officers indulge III
conservative athletic sports During
the last two years these outfits have
organized and developed a popular
polo league, most of the matches be
ing played in West Potomac Park
Usually, the national Army Apollo
championships are also played at
Washington. Last fall a tourney
which ELECTED great interest in Army
and society circles in Washington was
held and attracted fours from Vir-
ginia, Philadelphia, South Carolina
and Illinois, in addition to the local
contingents.
The champion fencing team of Cuba
invaded Washington on one occasion
and was defeated decisively in d.
round of matches by the leading Army
team, composed of Majs Harold Ray
nor, Robert Sears and l. w. Honey
cutt and Sergt. l. w. Diamond. These
experts of the foil and mask sport
rank among the best of the worlds
skillful fencers. In fact, there are
many Washington officers who gain
t. cir regular exercise by fencing con-
tests. the most of which are fought
at the Racquet Club
x =
IF all the ex-foot ball stars of An
napolis and West Point Yho now
receive their mail regularly through
the Washington post office could
again train for the gridiron game
Walter Camp could find enough ma
terial right here in the Capital city
to fill all the positions on his myth
ical all-American eleven. There are
between fifty and seventy-five erst-
while pigskin stars stationed in the
Washington zone who once were idols
of the eastern foot ball world. Alum
nj stars of our two national service
schools in track sports, base ball and
basket ball are almost as numerous
as the graduate knights of the grid
iron.
The admirable facilities provided by
the Potomac river and the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal for boating. bathing.
canoeing, camping and hiking have
been lures which have attracted many
of Uncle Sans combatant officers
back to nature. Both the canal and
! river for a stretch of fifteen miles
above Georgetown are bordered by
permanent camps, clubs, cabins,
| shacks and cottages, many of which
are owned by military and naval of
| ficers. The towpath provides ideal
i conditions for hiking
During the summer season hun
! dreds Of canoes. roWboats and even
| sailboats ply the quiet waters. The
Washington Canoe Club of $50 mem
bers and the Potomac Boat Club OF
/ about the same size maintain com
| modiouS quarters where national
| fighters again have the opportunity
| to feather an oar or WELD paddle
Poten tally. Washington is bound
! to have one of the best athletic clubs
! in the country as result of the re-
vived interest of Army and Navy
! leaders. as well as local civilians, in
| conservative athletics. Latterly there
! has been n pronounced interest ex-
| pressed in all quarters of the city
| over such a project. Just before
Americas entrance into the world
war a tentative organization for such
! a club was consummated and approx
| imately $50 members were signed up.
J
! scheme to smithereens. The time is
now propitious for the establishment
| of such an athletic club. 1t will have
| the support of several thousand ma
tional officers if it is again ex-
| plotted.
| Another enterprise which deserves
| the support of all Washingtonians is
! a. plan to build a huge stadium in the
I National Capital. where the Olympic
| games may one day be held and
| where the Army Navy foot ball game
and other intersectional athletic con-
tests may be played. Such stadium
! could also be used for great national
pageants, dramatics. conventions and
| other outdoor entertainments.
Every American purposes at one
| time or another to visit his beautiful
| Capital City, and the added stimulus
| of Washington as an important ath-
letic center will effect much in adding.
to the annual pilgrimages made here
from all parts of America A sta
| dunn would also provide an ideal
place for Army maneuvers and naval
land drills.