The Daily Missoulian., 1914-08-31

New York, Aug. so. Fort Mack and
Its valiant defenders. the Athletics,
are still holding out against the com
bined attack of the seven other regn
1arly organized and handsomely uni
formed American league teams. Gen
seral McGillicuddy, commander OF the
fort, opines that his boys will be able
to hold the works until October Z, ON
which date the hostilities will cease
and the allies will lay aside their
heavy siege bats until another war is
declared in 1916
/ Asis usually the case IN campaigns
of this sort the other American league
generals do not agree with General
McGillicuddy. The leaders OF the allied
forces call attention to what they con-
slider the weakness Of the defenders
Of Fort Mack--their lack. OF proficient
sharpshooters. or in other words q
capable pitching staff. This line OF
talk has been handed out by the al
He'd forces since the beginning of the
campaign last spring. "The Athletics
have no pitchers could be heard sew
eral times d day all along the circuit
of activities. IT was repeated So often
that the Macknen themselves began
to wonder what sort Of pitching
staff they had.
Spirit Not Affected
But the talk OF their not !. having
any real Fingers has not affected the
fighting spirit Of the Athletics. Pitch
ers or no pitchers. the defenders OF
Fort Mack nave kept right onMighting,
defeating the enemy III almost every
daily sISirniisf and piling mp enough
victories to give them a commanding
fS,nt7 zita t,s r.fs d T
While il cannot be said that the
Athletics have a copper-riveted cinch
on the flag at the present time, it is
| hard to see where any other American
league team can iaiSa IL AWAY from
them. A few weeks ago General Car
rigan and his Red Sox battalion were
picked as the parties most likely to
| make a successful attack on Fort
Mack. The SnN brigade made consld-
| cradle noise in It's mad rush to the
front, but since their efforts were
checked at tho second trench their
| naneuyerss have been somewhat of the
| back up variety.
| Nationals Figured
| Some Of the war correspondents
figured that Field Marshal Griffith
| and his Washington troops were heavy
enough to put the Athletics to roilt
1 and capture the Mackmens strong
4 hold, M there. With the great gun
ner johnson Oh the firing line. ably
! backed by a. corps Of we'll trained
| athletes, it certainly looked like the
| foxy Field Marshal had the goods.
Still, looking like the goods does not
| suffice in the. matter of winning PEN
/ nants. You have to deliver.
: At other times during the present
campaign the fans have watched the
| forced marches and resultant victories
| Of Major Jennings and his fighting
| his White Hosed warriors. Also have
| the fans lamped the broadsides fired
at Fort Mack by the gallant crew o1
| st. Louis collegians under the COM
/ mand of Rear Admiral Hickey, chief
Of the Mississippi clam division.
4 Rare Ability
| Tn fact, all Of the contenderss in the
| American league pennant war, with
the exception of the Nap Zouaves and
the Seventh Highlanders, have at
/ different times displayed rare fight
/ ing ability.
The Maps and the TIighlanders,
forming the rear guard have been Of
| little help to the allied forces in the
assaults on Fork Mack Since early
in the campaign the rear guard has
1 been so far in the rear that 7communi-
cation has been cut off Deep regret
is felt in New York and Cleveland
over the sad plight Of the gallant
Zouayes and brave Kilties 1t has
| been rumored that some one in sym
/ pathy with the Mack cause turned the
hose on the rear guards ammunition
| before hostilities opened last spring.
| Allies to Lose
In summing up the situation, ex-
perts on pennant warfare are of the
I opinion that the allied, forces of the
| American league are Goomeu TO de-
4 feat. The exporters declare that old
| Fort Mack can Withstand any kind of
an old shot the allies can deliver and
| that the Athletics will carry the day,
and also carry a hunk of worlds Sc
] ries money The chatter of the ex-
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