Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-05-04


 are going int3> te. c game on fair scale, and 1t seems likely that maybe few years hence it will be regarded as on a par with the chief sports 1n those lands. The latest place to take pg the game extensively is the Phil iLpine Islands, where a league has been developed that ranks about on par with our class c. or D. organiza tions. The champion team of the cir. cult. which won the pennant with a percentage of GAO for e games i'll the winter season, is to pay us visit the coming summer. when we will get all opportunity to see just what has been accomplished by the soldier boys who introduced the sport to the is- landers The F'ilipinos will make a tour of the country, upon their arriva! about June 9, and will play college, semi-professio and minor league teams in all sections. The F'ilipinos are reported to have made wonderful strides in the progress of the game since the American ossupation, and are said to be remarkable baserun- ners and fielders.
 Other countries that have taken to the game with avidity are, France, Sweden, Japan, China, Cuba and Australia. The French Lycees. which wield a powerful influence in their country, have undertaken the foster ing of the sport in the lands of the lily. With number of American stu dents the visitors in the fore, the game has been brought along to such a point that the bullient Alphonses and Gastons are much wrought up over it. The Frenchman rapidly is be- coming conyersant with the ins and outs of the game and enjoys the eX- citing situations that arise in it.
 aBseball had been played by half a dozen regularly formed teams in Sweden ever since the members of the American Olympic team gave the Scandinayians look at contest last summer. Ernie Hiertberg, the trainer of the Swedish national track and field athletes, has done much toward populariZing the game there. In Ja- pan the game has progressed to a point where all the large college teams make it their most important athletic activity. Cuba for several years has had teams that rank uD with the best of our minor league, and as everybody knows several first rate players have come to our majors from the island
 In China the game has been intro duced by members of the American diplomatic corps and other Yankees there on business of various kinds, and in the neighborhood of Shanghai there are half a dozen fast teams. The Chinese of the upper class like the action and have formed their own mines, which arc picking up rapidly. Americans tWho have introduced the game in Australia have found that the track cricket players also prove adept at the game, and they are even boast ing that their star team will give the Giants and White SoX a good battle if they meet them while the mention ed outfits take their world tour next fall and winter.
 After eVerbyody else takes up the game in a really big way, perhaps We shall hear of John Bull following suit.
 However, Johns natural slowness, combines with his dislike for any thing started by Uncle Sam, makes it seem likely that he will bring up the rear ot the procession. The fact that baseball has been attempted sey- eral times in England without sue cess, however, is not knock on the game. If anything, it is a knock by John on his own nose, thereby split ing fat and perfectly good-natured looking face that belongs to him.