East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-13

Oo . .
London, July 13.-With the grea
stadium at Shepherds Bush crowded
almost to its full seating capacity, thu
flags OF all competing nations wav
ing, spectators cheering and Kinl
Edward looking down upon the anil
mated scene from. the royal box, tho
International Olympic games were in.
augurated today. Two thousand ant
five hundred athletes from 20 coun.
tries will share in the competitions
and took part and were Justify cheer.
ed, although marked the beginning oi
the games. Uncle Sans brawny band
Of red-blooded athletes played a
prominent part and were Justify cheer
ed, although 1t is the fondest hope Of
English sportsmen that their long
record OF victories may at last be
overthrown.
There is nothing to mar the success
except the poverty of the British
Olympic Council, which, headed by
Lord Desborough, has worked faith
fully but in vain to secure sufficient
funds for properly entertaining the
visiting athletes. Nearly all of the
proposed excursions and receptions
have been abandoned. The stingy
attitude OF the British people is de-
nounced by the press as "the shame
of England"
Never Such Galaxy OF Stars.
Never in the history OF sport has
there been gathered together such a
galaxy OF stars as that congregated
today in the huge stadium-a struc-
ture more than a thousand feet long
and 700 feet wide, built to accommo-
date crowd OF 10000 persons. There
is every indication, on form. that the
sturdy sons OF Uncle Sam will sweep
the board and many are Of the opin-
ion that they will not only sweep the
board. but take 1t back with them.
There is many slip 'twixt the cup
and the lip, however, and to those
who have been watching the tremen-
dous interest that has been shown in
athletics in Sweden, France and the
Of 1905. with the resulting improve
ment, 1t looks as 1t the meet would
not be so much of cake walk for
America as appears at first sight.
The English climate must be taken
into consideration. 1t has caused up
sets in calculations before and may
do so again.
On form, however, America should
take all the races on the flat up to
the mile, with that race in question.
both the hurdle races and all the field
events except the javelin throw.
America Against the World.
According to the rule adopted by
the Britishers, athletes from the colo
MES will represent the mother coun-
try and this will materially strength
en- England's chances. But even
with Canada, New Zealand, Austral-
ia, South Africa and India to fall
back on, in addition to Scotland,
Ireland and Wales, there is little fear
but that the result will prove a sweep
ing victory for the United States.
The men who wear the American
emblem form the greatest collection
of athletes ever brought together in
a series of competitions. Unlike the
American try-outs, the Brltishers did
not show their full strength and even
with this added. few II any Of the
Olympic events are likely to remain
in England. Nineteen events are on
the program for decision, and while
II Is expected that one or more of
them will be captured by some for /
eigner. 1t is probable that America y
will duplicate the performances made
at Athens in 1905, II not surpass
them.
In the sprints England can produce
very little to compare with Cartmell.
Robertson, and Rector j. w. Morton
is the most dangerous sprinter and
both Cartmell and Robertson. NJ G.
Chavasse of oxford, ]. p. George, H.
Watson and A. Longhurst of the
South London Harriers are all 10
second men, but with the exception
of Morton, none is really to be class
ed with the Americans.
Where England Is Strong.
In the 400-meter Lieutenant Halls
well will be England's main depend
ence. He ran second in this event at
Athens in 1905, and has record Of
0:4S AS and is reported to be in
splendid condition. At the recent It
games OF the Clydesdale Harriers he
won the a00-meter event In 0:50 2-5,
and then captured the 6OO-yard run
in 1912 1-5. He will be a dangerous
man In the 400 and 500 meter events.
Lieutenant Patterson, e. H. Mon
tague of the London Athletic club, c.
M. Chavasse, c. Stansfield, r. B.
Torsfield. and\J. P. George are the
best Of the other candidates for hon.
ors at this distance. England is par
ticularly strong in S00-meter men,
and a number have done better than
two minutes. Among the men that
Melvin w. Sheppard and other half
milers will have to meet are Mair-
BARN Crawford, G. N. Murphy and T.
B. Just. The latter recently ran
half mile in 1855 S-5. and Halswell b
has repeatedly beaten 1853.
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