New-York tribune., 1908-07-12
WORLD SPORT CENTRE
4THLETES IN LONDON.
americans Training Regularity
Military Erperts Talk of dir
shin InUasion.
rspecial by French Cable 10 The Trioune-l
rr-o,vrIsht 1905 by The Tribune Association

ho ,roir;np regularly since their arrival IN
E,ne,and Matthew Halpin has made every ar
rangement for their comfort, ana Mike M"i
phv. a martinez in all the details or tralhlhs'
insists upon a good deal more than hght "orA-
u &c a motley group with Ralph Rose the tall
est giant among them; with three s'aiWal' New
York policemen on their mettle for carrying OH
.ho ,a;,b+,> rrtzes with a full blooded American
Indian and a 1.-THE negro among the runners
and q mixed lot of college athletes and town
sports.
II will be we'll In the front of the main body
of $500 athletes which will march around tne
stadium Monday with flags huttering ana salute
King Edward he stands beside the hlns OIL
Greece and the King of Norway Flanagan ana
Lee Talbot have made marvellous hammer
throws in their preliminary practice and are
likely to be rivals for record breaking throw
Ralph Rose is also in excellent form for cham
pion shot putting. And Sheridan, Dearborn
McGrath and the other weights men are work
ing arduously. while not showing signs of over
training. Ewry and BiIler practising stead
ily in the standing high and broad jumps, while
Moffatt Porter and Cook are working in the
running Jumps. There are four expert pole
vaulters. The American sprinters are more
hopeful of success than the long distance
runners, but they will have some OF the
feetest men in England, and on the Con-
tnent to beat. Sheppard, Halstead, Htllman
and Taylor, the middle distance runners. are
showing remarkable speed. The Canadian run
in hard practice for the exhausting
twenty-five mile Marathon race from Windsor.
There will be a unique spectacle when the
athletes of many nations are mustered before
the King and lower their flags when the
tional anthem is sung. The interesting contests
will later in the week before vast con-
course of spectators "The Daily Mail" with
characteristic energy, has supplied an ample
fund for the entertainment of the foreign ath-
letes. The managers are indeed embarrassed
with surplus wealth and hardly know what to
do with ii. With the marksmen of all nations
shooting at Bisley. Olympic tennis at Wimble
don, thirteen balloons competing in a long dis
tance race from birmingham and an army Of
athletes massed around the stadium, London
has become the centre of the worlds sport.
Yet England is warned that there is a prom
ising realm for conquest in the air and that the
German Emperor. who pays surprise visits to
British fleets, is taking the lead in forecasting
future rtumphs. He already has fleet of six
d1rigible airships, and the military experts are
broodins over the dangers Of an invasion of
England from the air. Certainly. unless all
signs fail. an airshp like Zeppelin's is an inven
n more important than the submarine, and
new epoch IN warfare may be opening.
L n. +.
London. July 1.-THE American athletes who
have come to London to compete against the world
at the Olympic meeting which Will open on Mon
day, are full OF confidence as TO their ability +o
do more than hold their own against the repre-
sentatfves of other nations. Finding that the Sta
dunn, where the games are to be held and which
was placed at the disposal of the visitors for
practice. was overcrowded the greater part Of the
Americans went to Brighton early in the week. and
they have been working steadily and conscen-
t1ously there, under the direction Of Mike Murphy
who has absolute control Of the men so far a,
their movements and training concerned
Mr. Murphy said to-day: One thing to be thank
full for is that there have been no accidents such
as attended the team its way TO Athens None
of the men is overtrained, but, on the other hand
some Of them have not had enough work and the
climate of England will not permit the forcing of
work upon them.
Ordinarily the weather is bad enough in this
country, but since coming to Brighton there has
been very little sunshine; in there have been
almost continuous clouds, cold and rain The men
will remain here until the conclusion OF the games
going to London only when called upon 20 take
part in the various events. They can see London.
if they so desire, after the work has been COM
pleted."
Rector. the sprtnter. has shown wonderful bursts
of speed in practice while Gilbert, the worlds
champion. has broken another poIe-vaultng record
He cleared thirteen feet in practice recently and
there seems no likelihood of his defeat unless the
present plans of conducting the vaulting and high
jumping contests are persisted in. The Americans
contend that vaulters must be allowed to dig a
hole for the pole and that the ground on the fur
ther side of the bars must be dug up to lessen the
shock of alighting The Canadians and some 9TH
objecting to these conditions asserting that
there should be no hole for the pole and that the
jumpers should aght on turf.
The drawing for heats also has been the cause OF
objection. The committee in charge of this detail
decided ha
selection of slips bearing the names Of the various
contestants from a hat, but the Americans have
pointed out that this might lead to all the men of
one country being drawn for the same heat
A greater difficulty faces the manaseuent on +bs
question of whether Longhoat. the Canadian Ind
ian. shall be allowed to compete in the long dis
tance events The Americans hold that he IL a
professional, but have not yet entered a formal
protest against him meeting of the American
committee has heen held 10 decide upon what ac-
ton shall be taken in this matter The membsrx
of the committee strongly opposed to doing sny
thing that is likely to interfere with the success Of
the games. but they contend that they cannot al
low their to jeopardize their amateur standing
by competing against professional
The most elaborate arrangements have been made
for the formal opening of the games by the King
Before his arrival. there will be grand parade of
the competitors. although all the Americans will
not be present as Mr.. Murphy says that some OF
them must have every moment for practice The
American contingent, however. will he a rspresen-
tative one. and will have prominent position at
the ceremonies. Garreis. the big man OF the team
will carry the Stars and Stripes
After the formal opening there will be swimming
and cycling races and gymnastics. and the ayst
heat of the 1.50ometre will be run off This
event is the only the first day In which the
American competitors Interested although il Ia
not known yet which of the will compete in
the heat
Baron Desboreush and the other members Of tbs
ntt-pln npn hat6