The Washington times., 1925-03-16

As q rule q sharp line Sepd1d eoS
che soldier and civilian. The army
= wont to keep to itself. What
faw advantages 1t may have 1t
holds generally for its exclusive
welfare. But in the case of Wash
ington barracks under General
Eay. 4 notable, and Washington
win agree. . commendable excep-
ton is noted.
.fter every possible advantage
mad been afforded the Barracks
soldiers in an athletic way. Gen
eral Ely viewed the spacious
peninsula over which his word e
law and found that Its physical
advantage were lar more aDuna-
ant than the soldiers could make
use 81.
At the same time he noted the
rauidIy growing congestion on
civilian sports fields and in civilian
wvmnasiurns! The Barracks had
gvmnasfura, but It was not taxed
~ the soldiers. The Barracks had
: baseball field that was not used
every day; nor was It's football Held
working at full capacity.
General Ely adopted q liberal
policy. The gates OF Washington
barracks were opened to the public.
They had been more or less open
before General Ely's advent but
the civilians were never encouraged
% make use OF the Barracks
facilities.
Now they are. In the last year
thousands Of civilians, athletes and
kans. have nocked to washington
barracks Baseball, football, basket
haII and last but greatly important,
boxing contests by the scores have
furnished the fans of Washington
with thrills.
General Ely's assistant executive
akficer, Captain r. y. Cleland,
whose war record. by the way, Ike
hts chiefs, smacks Of gunpowder
and steel. also IL the barracks
athletic officer and glories IN his
JOB
rantain CleIand Is. ON the hop
from morning until might hls
noefffon as assistant executive o.
kicer n anything bus slnecur0
Judging By the way he sclnflllases
shout the reservaf1OnD. let tne
captain Il fading time - presen.
70 dig up odds and ENDS 20 Du1a0
s playground for kids. 1t may De
fhe only playground in the cOun-
try under military supervision.
ON. the barracks reservation at
this time are: One gymnasium,
which serves also as an indoor
boxing arena: one outdoor boxing
arena. two baseball diamonds 0est
n washington excepting American
League p1: one football field, q
nlne-hoIe golf course, which Is q
r,ip. and a three-hole course build
ille: four tennis couts, three horse
shoe pitching links, q croquet
course. two bowling alleys and q.
l1andbaIi court, not to mention q
driving net rugged up in the base
nnent Of the War College building
itself for the winter use OF golfers.
The golf course and the tennis
courts are about the only facilities
the barracks reserves for the ex-
elusive use of its own. The golf
green's are joy to behold. They
are like velvet carpets ande 1t is
noteworthy that the crepeing bent
grass OF which they are made.
valued at thousands Of dollars was
grown on the reservation. The
original seed cost about 10 cents.
The barracks is doing fairly well
An .. sports way, Ell? Yes, and
there's more to come, heaps. The
thing nearest the heart Of Cap
tain CleIand, when functiO1ing as
athletic officer, 10 an immense
mfrpIane hangar soon to be ship
ned to Washington Barracks.
This airplane palace will be con-
Werted into a structure that prom
aDes to become the Madison Square
Garden Of Washington. As q box
a. "A