Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-08-06
BOXING IN GERMANY.
Is Practically a Forbidden Sport in
That Country.

Boxing is practically forbidden
sport in Germany. 1t is looked upon
as brutal and repulsive. and all ef-
forts to introduce a systematic study
OF the noble art of Self-defense'' in
this country have, owing to the un-
favorable attitude of the press and
the police, ended in failure. One of
the reasons for the strenuous oppo-
sition of the police is because in Ger
many it is serious offense to strike
a man with ones fist, no matter what
the, grievance may be.
Hence the citizens of the great
towns. though prone to indulge in
wordy contests accompanied by tre-
mendous exhibition of excitement and
Indignation. rarely come to blows, and
the police believe that if knowledge
of boxing became general throughout
the Fatherland there would be a great
many more arrests for braWling, and
incidentally it might lead the men,
bers of Socialist street demonstrations
to adopt a more aggressive attitude to-
ward the police, instead of their pres
ent attitude of almost lamb-like sub
mission to the stalwart. spike-helmet-
ed and sword begirded officers of the
law.
Recently the first meeting took
place to box for the amateur cham
pionship OF Berlin in featherweight
middleweight and heavyweight. 1t
was decided on a Sunday evening, and
presented many features of distinct
interest.
In the first place, owing to police
instructions, the rules issued to all the
cOmbatants contained notice that
they were not to hit too hard, and
that anyone who did SO would be dis
quilted. Representatives of the law
were present to see that these in
structions were carried out.
A stage had been erected at one
end of large hall, and the spectators
| below sat around drinking beer and
other liquors. During the first round
of the lightwcights two competitors
| mixed it up, with the result that a
small quantity of blood appeared.
The women, of whom there were
| many among the spectators. seemed
rather moved. and when the bout was
over the promoter came forward on
| the stage and, addressing the specta-
| tors, said that they must not mind II
a small amount of blood were seen.
as it meant nothing. did not hurt.
and, in fact, the competitors, far from
disliking it, rather enjoyed the novel
sensation.
Below the platform and in front of
| the spectators was band. During
| the intervals the band was always
| silent. but Immediately a round com
menced the band began to play some
| martial or playful piece. and many of
| the combatantS. who probably were
| more at home in ballroom than in
the ring, introduced into their leg
work dancing movement which.
though slightly comical to the eye of
a sportman, filled the spectators with
glee, and one boxer in particular, who
| not only took his leg work. but also
| his hitting cues from the band.
| brought the house down with ap-
plauSe.
One lightweight who hit his oppo-
nent in the nose with such force that
| the latter sat on the floor was prompt
| ly warned that the next time such a
| thing happened he would be ruled
out The man who sat on the floor
| retired. Another boxer. apparently a
! favorite. stopped in the middle of a
round to wave his gloves at the
spectators. who We're distracting him
by cheering too much.
A local paper. commenting on the
match. said it ought never to take
place: that boxing was sport fit only
for hooigans. and that Englishmen
could fight and box among themselves
| to their hearts content. but that Ger
mans did not with to indulge in such
brutal pastimes.
incidentally. the heavyweight cham
| pionship of Berlin was won by Tom
AIasson. an EngIishman. whose broth
er. Captain Alasson is the holder OF
| the plunging championship of Eng
| land.-Pall Mall Gazette.