New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-01
GERMAN TRIBUTE
TO CLEANLINESS OF
AMERICAN SPORTS
Won Reichenau, Through Daily
Mail" Tells of Athletic Condi-
lions in United States.
A FACTOR IN EDUCATION
Member of Commission Recently
Here Says That Organization
Develops Champions.
From The Tribune Correspondent. !

LOndOn, NOV. american sport dhu
! American victories have a solid basis N
the general soundness and athletic ac-
| tivitles of American youth among all
| classes of the nation" says Walter Won
| Reichenau, representative Of the German
army OH the German Olympic games
committee.
With all the thoroughness Of his ma
! ton, all the desire for detail so charac'
teristic Of his race, Won Reichenau made
the closest possible study of the athletic
conditions in the United States. and now
has written for THE Daily Mali very
! interesting article on American athleuc
| training. lie says:
I'm the ave Olympic games which have
| been held up TO the present Unlt"d
States athletes were the winners in near
| w all athletic events. This well known
fact called forth all sorts of explanations
among the defeated competitors, and not
, infrequently were expressions heard Ike
| 'unwholesome specialsm.' ambition foi
records professionalism etc.
But German athletes who took part IN
| the last Olympic games. held at Stock
holm. reported that the spectacular per-
formances' OF the Americans must De
ascrlbed TO a superiority of method and
training.
THE moral was plain and the hrst au-
| thority i'm German sport. the 'Deutsche
Relchsausschuss fur Olympische Spiele'
resolved TO send over a commission IN
The United States in order TO find out
the secret OF these so often repealed sue
cesses. I had the honor 10 be member
of this commission.
I'VE went for a five weeks trip through
the eastern part OF the United States as
far as Chicago We visited the great
cities. studied the athletic equipment OF
the great universities, such as Pennsyl-
vania, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard ana
Yale. and We were given very thorough
n sight into the social and sporting He oil
the most prominent American alhleu'
clubs
III / tried 20 put our observations into
a nutshell I should say: All the re-
proaches We have so often heard nave
vanished into thin air. and we have come
IN the conclusion that they were preju-
dlc.s due 10 the common mislnformaton
about the United States and It's people
which is not seldom circulated throughout
Europe.
From the very beginning OF our studies
we were met IN the frankest way. IL was
plain enough that there could not be any
secrets or special tricks, for the commlS-
sion had the heartiest welcome at It's ar
rival ia New York. and all doors were
thrown open 10 us. At the reception am
r.r given TO us by the New York Athletic
club we heard remarkable speeches
American sport We were plainly to'd
| s 10 be an open book for you. In TINS
book you may read and study as much as
YOU like Moreover. We are anxious 10
give YOU any information you want ana
10 help you in every respect We VIII
prove 10 YOU that there are no secrets ana
tricks we do not want you 10 kno" oil as
well as we do We do not wish TO win a
| victory that is due to some special kro"!'
edge. the object We aim at Is that every
nation should have the same knowledge III
,hipgs of sport and the same chance.
This may be the basis for fair com
petltlon for the sake OF sport You may
work out a standard programme FOR the
| Olympic games, containing standard com
p,titions that do not give special adVah-
| tage TO any nation. All We can do Is al
your service. for We want 10 help you 10
bring about a worlds contest under falr
propositions our sole aim is TO find out
the best man
"Tbe Americans are men OF action. They
have made good their words The United
States is an old country so far as ihteI-
lgently organized track and field sports
are concerned. The whole American ma
| ton is deeply Interested In sport. sport
has become q very important factor In the
education of the nation, and this not only
for its physical advantages, but also Tor
| it's moral benefits.
Men OF foresight have created wei