New-York tribune., 1913-05-18
Mclaughlin and Williams viii
Be Here This Week, Com
pIeting American Team.
AUSTRALIANS TUNING UP
Jones Considered Most Formi-
dable of Visitors Who Will
Contest for Honors in
Davis Cup Series.

and the Americans assembling at the
West Side Tennis Club the latter part of
this week. the preparatory play leading
TO the first Of the matches of the Davis
international cup series will soon be
under way.
II had been planned to have the four
men who will represent this nation begin
the tuning up OF their strokes by the
time that the teams had TO be nominated
officially TO the English Lawn Tennis As
ISOLATION. Maurice Z. Mclaughlin, the
national champion. however. has been de-
layed in leaving California, while X. Nor
ris Williams has been compelled tempo
rarilv TO withdraw because of an attack
of tonsilitis.
In a telegram received by Robert ID.
Wrenn. chairman Of the international
committee. from DR.. Sumner Hardy the
departure Of Mclaughlin for this city was
announced for to-day The famous Cali
fornia Comet" therefore, will arrive here
either next Thursday evening or Friday
morning.
According TO George Wright, the father
Of Beals Wright. who was IN the city
yesterday, Williams Is rapidly recover
ing from his illness He said that the
Harvard player should be about this
week, and that he expects 10 join the
other members of the team not later than
next Saturday TO go under the training OF
Charles Z. Haggett, the English profess
sional, who is TO act as coach ana
mentor for the Americans. The appoint
ment of the professional TO this place
marks a new departure in the game in
this country. and it is the first time that
training of this character has been un-
dertaken for the Davis cup competitors.
Harold II. Hackett and Raymond ID.
Little. who have also been nominated for
the American team. have fulfilled the
usual conditions of providing the storm
centre for criticism which the selection
Of every team always brings about.
Their performances will surely be close
lv watched by those friendly TO other
PLAYERS. II Hackett and Little. both or
whom formerly held the national cham
pionship. fail to make good there VIII
surely be angry rumblings throughout
the length and breadth of American
courts.
With the realization that they have
serious mission to fulfil and that Stanley
y. Doust and a. y. Jones, the Austria
lian pair. are likely to give them stin
battle. Hackett and Little have been dill
gently practising every day upon the
turf where they will meet the men from
the antipodes according 10 schedule on
Saturday, June I. The singles matches
will open the competitions on the pre-
vious day
y. A. Vale, the famous English critic
and player, who has come TO this coun-
try with a view to writing a critical
history Of American lawn tennis. dropped
I'm at the West Side Club on Thursday
and took a look at Hackett and Little in
action. He was considerably impressed
with Hacketts soft and deceptive service
and with Littes backhand strokes. both
on the volley and drive. At the conclu-
sion Of couple Of sets against Haggett
and Joe Condor the English critic re-
marked that the two Americans would
take lot of beating.
In the estimation OF Vale. few lawn
tennis players ever eQualled Billy Larned
in his opinion, the American who won
the championship Of this nation no less
than seven times stands superior TO all
his compeers. Closing his remarks on
larned's skill. Vale said: Hes the one
player In America who, 80 far as have
been able 10 observe, always plays his
strokes in perfect form"
Vale has played considerably in New
Zealand along with Horace Rice and the
others of the Australian team. ana he
believes, IS did captain Doust week
ago. that the ColonialS have fair chance
20 win. He acknowledges that they must
depend chiefly upon their back court
game. and the main question is whether
or not the Americans Will be successful
in blocking them off at the net so that
IL IS impossible for the ball TO go by for
passing shots. Vale IS regarded as con-
siderable of a radical In England, where
he has won fame as a critic and has pub
nshed a look on the science Of the game,
dedicated TO the Right Hon. Lord Alyer-
stone, G. c. NJ c.. =. c.. Lord Chief JUS
uce Of England.
Several Of the leading players OF this
country have closely watched the Aus
tralians on the courts Of the Huntington
Valley Country Club. To quote one of
them who came over 70 the West Side
club yesterday:
ITO me Jones looks by far the best OF
the trio. lie was the first alternate in
the matches against the British Isles last
year. when that team lifted the cup. He
II a right handed player and uses sharp
service with slight twist His strongest
point seems TO be IN placing. and he uses
this TO deadly advantage. AS / watched
them he was the steadiest of the lot
"The service Of Doust apparently is the
weakest Of any, although he places well.
Ue seems to have been affected more by
the ocean voyage and the change Of cli-
mate than the rest OF the players. I'm
like the majority of expert players. Doust
throws the ball but little higher than the
shoulder. and he strikes It with short
close chop as he serves.
"This stroke ne places well and gives
81 either the regular or the reverse twist
by the final turn Of the wrist. The ball
hangs low TO the turf on the bound, but
It has none Of the deadly speed that
marks the service OF most of the Amer
icans. The bah appears 10 be something
in the order Of the fadeaway in baseball.
and TO the receiving player standing too
far back IL might be disastrous. | had
understood that the Australian captain
was strong overhead. but he did not
show II while / watched the practice.
Rice is left handed and has Il service
that Is lightning fast He favors play
ing in lunickeTbockers. which, by the
way, / understand is advocated by Vale,