eo. ,

the combined navies of all other nations. We are to heve chousanée
of planes flown by our aviators over the seven seas. Many more
airplane carriers are being built and will be built. Each of the
above enumerated trends indicates the increasing importance that
ability to swim may play in the lives of our young men who are
and who will be in the service.

We have been impressed; in reading daily news reports describing
the action in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, by the
number of our young men, sailors, and aviators, who had to swim

varying distances in order to save their lives. In such situ-

vations as leaving a sinking ship or getting into a rubber boat

from a fallen plane, ability to swim may determine whether or not
the sailor or aviator will survive to fight another battle.

If youngsters can be taught to swim in civilian life more time
can be devoted to other areas of their training when they are in-
ducted into service. Many Missouri communities have excellent
pools where our young men might be taught to swim; Special
classes could be organized and taught by volunteer personnel with-
out charge. Directors and managers of pools might organize
swimming classes in which instruction and admission to the pool
would be free to those individuals who expect to be inducted into
the service within a year.

Many school, colleges, and universities which are operating
during the summer months could establish classes for beginners
and novices in swimming, in order that they meet certain minimum
standards in swimming. There are’ more than a hundred school,

municipal, and private pools in Missouri all of which could be