New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-10
Mclaughlin and Bundy
May Be Chosen for
Doubles After All.
UNEXPECTED WOULD
MEAN MUCH IN MATCH
Arstralasians, CIeverest Of
Court Generals, Must Be
Taken by Surprise.
b. FRED HAWTHORNE.

Putting on the finishing touches TO
their Davis Cup form occupied the at
tentjon of Maurice Mclaughlin, Ihomas
& gurdv and r. Norris Williams "a,
of the defending team, yesterday or tne
turf courts Of the West Side Tennis
Climb. at Forest Hills, Long Island:
Karl II. Behr, the fourth member OF
Tho team. was a notable absentee, ana
This fact was remarked upon by those
,ho sat in the towering STANDS 70
watch the practice. The Californians
took ono set at Sc and stopped AT
all in the second. .,
Does it mean that Behr. after all
is not to be selected as Mclaughlin
mariner when the Americans face the
oroat Austvalasian players in the
doubles next Friday - was the question
tbat was uppermost in the minds OF
those who look forward with something
akin TO fear as to the safety Of the
precious Davis bowl from the attack
Of the foreigners.
Behr's absence from the courts only
few days before the playing OF the
international matches certainly seemed
20 portend something of the sort, yet
the committee of arrangements, which
has the naming Of the team to face the
challenging nation, gave out no word
Yesterday as to who VIII be CHOSEN lot
the honor, Bchr or Bundy, and II Is not
likely that definite announcement VIII
be made before Wednesday, when the
United States must make known to the
Australasians the lineup.
Behr Only Hope in Doubles.
After watching the practice of Nc
Loughlin and Bundy against Theodore
Roosevelt Pell and Williams yesterday
the writer. who saw Brookes and Wild
ing annihilate the British Isles team
at Longwood on Friday, cannot help
thinking that in Brhr's brilliant, I'M
usual style of play lies the only hope
of winning the doubles battle from the
Australasians.
Behr's sudden bursts of meteoric
speed, his doing of the unexpected and
his fighting spirit when in full swing
seem the only possible features that
might upset the carefully planned cam
,oaign of Brookes and his partner. Ger
tainly no pair in this country can ap;
proach the foreigners in perfection OF
court covering and in the anticipation
Of the next move of their opponents.
Bundy plays the accepted. method
cal game that is the rule, rather than
the exception, in doubles. Lobbing Is
the outstanding feature of his work
OH the court, but there is nothing OF
/ the sensational or the bizarre about
his actions on the court. 1t should
not take the Australasians long tc
, fathom the strong and weak points Of
1 his attack and defence, and then woe
| betide the Californian, for he will b'
subjected to a ceaseless bombardmen
from all parts of the opposing court
and his Wanted steadiness under iir'
will be pitted against even more un
varying steadiness, coupled with won
derfu skill in placement and Devil
dering change of pace.
Behr is distinctly different No
even he himself knows just what he l.
going to do the next minute. IL ma!
be a terrific smash, a lightning fas
passing stroke through the side courts
or a series of 'cross-court plays Close
to the net. 1t is just such errati'
playing that may puzzle the wonderful
players from the antipodes and breal
up the perfection of that smooth
running piece of machinery. In sheer
speed of stroke, Behr can hold his owl
with any player on the courts.
Mclaughlin at His Best.
No fears may be felt as regard!
Mclaughlin. The faring comet" from
the Coast is going at his best righ
now, and his game is probably halt-l,
stronger than il was when ne faced
Parke and Wilding in England last
year. Added to that, he is liable e
attune his speed several notches high
| er on the date of the matches, wher
/ the stress of battle gets into his blood
Against Pell and Williams yesterday
Mac served with all his customary Wig
or. his second ball with almost a:
much speed as his first, and his grounC
strokes were brought off to the &C
compartment of full follow through
and decided top-spin. At taking the
, ball overhead, from any angle or posi-
ton the Californian's work was well
nigh iswless.
Bundy was fast on his feet. and USED
hiy twist strokes throughout tn,
match. He was very quick at ferret
ing out the openings, but did not al
ways succeed in sending the bal
through. netting many shots thai
should have been easy for him.
Pell was his old brilliant self, eX-
cept in the later stages of the match
and was always forcing the fight. Not
even Mclaughlin could gauge the speed
of his beautifully played bsckhsnd
and if at times he showed tendency
to weakness overhead, ne usually madl
amends by his handling of the ball OF
tic half-voHey and his clevefness n
working the opposing pair out Of posi-
ton.
While essentially not an idea