Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31
Selection Due in Part to Re-
suits of Olympic Games
at Stockholm.
MANY TROPHY WINNERS
FROM UNITED STATES
Imperial Commission Here Studying
Methods-Inspection of Washing
ton Fairgrounds.

The German imperial Olympic games
commission, several members of which
are now visiting in Washington, an
nounced last night that 1t has appointed
an American to train the German teams
which will compete in the next Olympic
contests, to be held in Berlin in 1916 I'm
the great new stadium just built there.
The man selected is A. E. kraenzlein,
recently trainer of the University of
Michigan. Mr.. Kraenzlein, although born
in Germany, came to the United States
when he was nine years old Having
been educated here. and having been
constant resident of the United States
since that time, he is regarded by the
Germans as in every sense an American.
He won four contests in the Paris, 1900,
Olympic games, and before connecting
himself with the University of Michigan
he served as trainer for the Harvard
Grammar School
Carl Diem, secretary of the German
imperial Olympic games commission, who
is in charge of the party of members of
the commission now studying athletics in
Washington, said last night at the Ra-
leigh Hotel that he and his party regard
Mr.. KraenZlein as an Out-and-Out Amer
ican.
OF Interest to Many.
eve think the announcement Of Mr..
Kraenzlein being retained to train the
German teams will have interest for
wide field in America" Mr.. Diem said.
land l suppose 1t will attract attention
in circles beyond those limited to interest
in athletics.
1.-THE fact is that 1 and my colleagues
have been sent to the United States to
investigate. on behalf of the imperial
German government. the system of physi-
cal education and training In the schools
Fairgrounds, colleges and universities
here.
Our mission was prompted by the
fact that Americans won so many con-
tests in the Olympic games last year at
Stockholm and in other competitions with
youths and men of foreign countries.
I'VE desired in Germany to know what
there Is in the system Of physical train
ing and education in this country which
has produced such splendid results when
Americans have competed with the men
OF other countries.
i've -haxe- seen enough to believe that
some of these American methods will
benefit the German teams which are to
compete in the next Olympic games in
1916, and for that reason we have select
ed Mr. Kraenzlein as the trainer for the
German teams. We have tonight re-
cefved from Berlin a cablegram saying
tnat ms appointment Is approved or there.
Comparison Of Methods.
I'm Germany, for instance, we have a
belief that because q system is German
1T Is good. perhaps best, but after all,
tat does not necessarily follow. We
have. for example. this afternoon visited
the United States Naval Academy. and
we found it much more elaborate than
the German naval academy at home,
particularly in it's treatment Of and train
ing for athletics. At home We have only
the German method of training 70 athle-
tics. At the Annapolis Naval Academy
you have better system, for you not
only have the German method, with Ger
man teachers. but you also have the
Swedish method and Swedish teachers
and American methods. too. You have at
Annapolis all of the best
The members of the commission now
in Washington. in addition to the sec
retary. Mr.. Diem, are Lieut. Walter
man secretary of military affairs, DR..
Martin Berner. and Joseph Walter.
They were accompanied to Washing
ton by Joseph Cassidy of New York.
| Union of the United States. They were
received at the White House by Presi-
dent Wilson Friday. Mr.. Cassidy re-
| turned to New York last night.
Will Visit Other Cities.
Tomorrow the commissioners will go
to Pittsburgh, and from there to Chi
cago, Buffalo. Boston. New Haven,
Conn.,. and thence to New York. The
schools and colleges Of the latter city
have already been inspected by the
commissioners. as we'll as West Point
Mr.. Diem said that he and his col
leagues had made automobile trip
among the Washington school play
grounds, and thought them well equipped
and situated. He was astonished, he
said, at the elaborateness of such play
grounds in this country, and said he had
no doubt that by the time he and his
party finished Investigating the causes of
American success at previous interna-
tional athletic contests they will have
acquired some ideas worth taking home
to Germany.