Evening star., 1942-11-17
Tunney Opens Gym
For Desk Officers al
Western High School
Navy Physical Fitness
Chief Decries Lack of
Facilities in Capital
BY MARION WADE DOYLE.

Criticizing the lack of gymnastic
facilities in Washington, Comdr.
Gene Tunney of the Navy physical
fitness section yesterday opened a
voluntary exercise class for naval
officers at Western High School,
There is little chance for exer-
else in the District. There are no
facilities here" he told about so
shorts-clad lientenants and en-
signs as the class met for the first
time at $50 pm. yet we know
you are as anxious to get exercise
as we are to give it to you"
1--WE don't expect to put you in
Guadalcanal with the marines to
win the war;" the former heavy
weight boxing champion declared.
But if you stick by spring you
will be able to resist disease and
your heart will be strengthened so
that when called upon for strenuous
activity you won't faint or drop
down dead"
Man Naturally Lazy.
About 100 officers will be meeting
every Monday, Wednesday and Fri
day at Western High School, ac-
cording to 1t. r. j. Francis, as
sistant to Comdr. Tunney. About
200 officers have registered for a
similar class beginning tonight, to
be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays, at the Young Mems
Christian Association The classes
are voluntary.
Man is naturally lazy" Comdr.
Tunney commented as he started
the class on quick jog from the
gymnasium to the Western Stadium
two blocks away. "Only the dog
really likes to get out and take
walk" At the stadium the Of.
ficers went around the track for
what the commander called a
"warmup" and then trotted back
to the gymnasium for few more
Eight exercises"
The classes have been opened,
Comdr. Tunney said, to permit Of
ficers stationed in Washington to
get some regular exercise and a
chance to improve their muscle
tone" Officers at other established
bases often have facilities provided
for them, but there is no official
gym for Navy officers in the Dis
trict. The Navy has been using
the Western gym for some time for
games and matches between teams
of officers. This is the first regular
program for most of them, however,
since they took conditioning classes
in the formal induction training
programs.
Have to Work for it.
"You can't wish good condition" )"
Comdr. Tunney told them. "You
have to get out and work for it.
But you are all organically sound
or you wouldn't be in the Navy"
From the commander himself
down to the newest ensign in the
crowd the officers appeared to be
in fairly good physical shape al
ready. Two of them arrived Is
minutes before the class and peeled
off coats Immediately to toss ball
after ball into the basket on the
court. The exercise outfits they
donned in the locker room ranged
from set of Eleanor knee
length pants to the most abbreviated
shorts and one old uniform from
the Treasury Central Accounts,
B. & r." team. Comdr. Tunney wore
matching khahki shirt and belted
shorts.
Stiff Exercise Later.
1t. Francis and Ensign James
Leibertz will actually conduct the
class now that 1t has been per-
sonally opened by the commander.
They intend, said the lieutenant, to
stress logging, calisthenics and
power-building" exercises.
'It's to harden the men and de-
velop their endurance" explained
1t. Francis. Yesterdays run to the
stadium was only q warming up"
he added, with stiff exercises to
come later as the class demonstrates
its ability to take it."
you win get out Of It Just what
you want to get out Of It," Comdr.
Tunney stressed. The program has
been suggested to the officers by
the physical fitness section OF the
training division Of the Bureau Of
Naval Personnel.