San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-23

1910, during Iue ADMINISTRATOR % ~
tain Alden Partridge as supcrintend
ent. 1t was purely an outdoor affair
consisting simply of the exercise oh
tanned at military drills, especial.
at artillery drill, where the cadet
had to pull by hand, the heavy. old
| fashioned guns of those days lthert
wers no horses for riding, exercise o.
artillery drill until 1S40.) There wa:
no physical training at all during tn,
winter months. As a matter Of fact
there was no physical training dur
| ing the winter until 1916, when {
sort of gymnasium was rugged up II
the old academy building.
In 1917, with the advent of Col
onel Thayer (The Father of the
Academy as superintendent, sys
TEN of physical training was intro
duced and has been stressed ever since
Upon the recommendation Of the boar I'd
of visitors in 1926, a building to be
used for riding. fencing and militar ~
drill hall, was finally erected in 1889.
And although it took thirteen years
for Congress to see the wisdom of such
a building, yet even by this date
(1S39), no provision was made fol-
purely gymnastic training. 1t was
not until the pseudo gymnasium was
prepared in 1876. that instruction in
gymnastics was actually started. This
gymnastic instruction was given chief
ly during the winter months.
COLONEL KOEHLER PRAISED.
1t is noteworthy that in 1S4T, the
then superintendent of the academy
endeavored TO have the various classes
organize cricket teams, so that they
would receive athletic training dur
ing their spare hours of the spring,
summer and fall. Although it failed,
this effort actually marks the first
attempt TO introduce athletics in con-
distinction to physical training,
both military and gymnastic.
From 1916, then, there has been a
regular system of physical training
both outdoor and indoor. This train
ing. however. was practically suspend
ed between 1S61-1SS2. The straight
military physical training continued
of course.
The next five years saw the first
big attempt to put gymnasium work
on an organized basis. With the COM
ing, in 1885, Of Colonel Koehler as
master of the sword, the present sys-
TEN of gymnaStic training was start
ed. Colonel Koehler retired in 1923,
after 30 years Of indefatigable ser
vice in the cause of physical and ath-
letic betterment both in the Corps of
Cadets and in the army at large.
WAR TAUGHT NEED.
In connection with this final AMI
lasting attempt (nOT a world-proved
success) TO establish physical training
on a firm and organized basis, came
in 1890 the entrance of West Point
into competitive intercollegiate at1.
letics. Athletic reports were practical
~ unknown at this time, but when a
group Of midshipmen from Annapolis
came to West Poin in the fall OF
1890 and administered 4 severe whip
ping to the first army football team
things began to happen. Two years
later the Army Athletic Association
was founded and has endured, with
some changes in the governing BODY,
to the present. Under its guidance
and control. athletics at West Point
soon embraced most Of the major and
some of the minor sports. But until
the World war. and practically
through il. athletics at the military
academy-the same as at all other col
leges and universities-were for the
few. the specialists, the certain
skilled or fortunate few
But the World war showed every.
one the vast importance Of physical
training for the individual. And no
one was quicker TO see, realize and
act upon this self-eyident truth than
the authorities at est Point. There
could be no better place to commence
physical training along broad lines
then right here at the academy, since
all the cadets are future officers, who
will have in their care some day tn.
physical training Of thousands OF
young Americans.
COMPULSORY TRAINING.
Prior to the World war, all sth-
letics at the military academy were
purely voluntary on the part OF cadets,
But the war showed that athletic
training whether in mass or as IN
dividuals. was one Of the best aids
and assets TO physical fitness. So, IN
the fall Of 1920, compulsory athletics
instruction was Incorporated into the
regular gymnastic training of the ca
diets. And, as hss been said Of this
system Of compulsory athletic tram
ing, il is probably the most preten'
tious and comprehensive in the world
and certainly, so far as results are
concerned. the most successful course
of physical trainint obtainablc."
The complete present system oi
physical training at the military acad'
ernv consists Of thr, phases:
Disciplinary Physical Training
Recruit instruction ,or for new ca
dets). including setting-up exercises
marching and mass commanding
given both indoors and OutdOOrs).
PHYSICAL Training Indoors
Which includes gymnastics, fencing
boxing, wrestling, swimming and
dancing.
Compulsory Intra-mural Athletics
rOr that which means participated
| in only bv or among cadets. in con
tradistiuction 10 athlete contests WIZ
other schools or colleges. This attn
| Iptic training is outdoors. Of COURSE,
During his four vars while at N.
academy. every cadet IS required o
parrfcinate in everyone Of the IRON.
nent athletic activities. Such athletic
/ instruction is on par with the mill
tarv instruction. there being two mill
tarv drills and two intra-mural atb
Ictic periods each week. Officers
| themselves generally eX-playcrs Of m
gnortg. are assigned as coaches. on
10 about - cadets thus lnslrng 10
dividuaI instruction so that the cadra
Ilater. when officers, may be fully com
neicrt 10 tench tie Fundamentally Q