, and the organization of track meets was
begun as soon as the men of the navy reached the camps. In October,
1917, before some 15,000 people, the track men of the Boston Station
took part in games on Boston Common, a track carnival was held in the
Harvard Stadium a month later, and in every station of the country track
tournaments were held during the season of 1918.

For April 19, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, a patriotic
team relay race was ordered for every station in the country by
Commissioner Camp. In the First District the route lay over the historic
Marathon course from Ashland into Boston, and most of the teams
represented either the army cantonment at Camp Devens or the First Naval
District. In most instances the races were run from an army to a navy
camp, messages being carried from the commanding officer in one to the
similar officer in the other. Secretary Daniels of the navy witnessed
the First District event.

In most cases the races were conducted as a feature and auxiliary in the
Third Liberty Loan campaign, which was nearing its height, and proved a
valuable factor in promoting the success of the drive. It is believed
that this is the first national race which was ever held in every
section of the United States at the request of one individual, and it
was appropriate that the first of a series of such athletic events
should be of a purely patriotic scope and a part of the national
military service.

Closely related to the work of Commissioner Camp in the naval stations
was his successful attempt to secure for the aviators the use of skilful
flight surgeons and college trainers to safeguard the physical condition
of the airmen. At the annual conference of the National Collegiate
Association, which was held in New York City in December, 1917, Mr. Camp
called attention to the fact that the conditioning of the aviators was
similar to that of college athletes, and was just as vital; and,
inasmuch as the physical safety of football-players and other college
athletic contestants was successfully guaranteed by experienced
trainers, he recommended that several of the best be selected from
leading American universities to go to the aviation-fields and take
charge of the conditioning of the fliers. Two months later,
recommendation was made by the aviation department that from ten to
fifteen such trainers be named by Mr. Camp to go at once to the
aviation-stations and pass judgment on the conditi