The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-26
KING TO ATTEND
GIANTS-WHITE SOx
CONTEST TO-DAY

| LONDON, Feb. 25.--The definite an
nouncement made today that King
George will attend the baseball game
Chelsea tomorrow. has tremendously
stimulated interest in the exhibition.
Every reserved seat for the game was
sold out this afternoon, and it was with
difficulty that members OF a special
baseball party. consisting Of American
officials and distinguished guests.
were able to secure proper reserva-
| tons.
Manager McGraw, of the Giants,
ridicules the story printed in New
York. and cabled back here, that he
was to be boycotted, because of some
remarks he is alleged to have made In
| an interview in comparing the British
and American soldiers from an athletic
/ standpoint, much to the detriment OF
the former. McGraw told the CORES
| pondent that he had given no such in
1 terview. He knew nothing about the
British army, he said, and. therefore.
/ could not criticise the soldiers Nc
Graw added:
| The only boycott / know of is the
weather. which has given me a severe
cold. and prevented my attendance at
1.-the luncheon at the Hotel Savoy To-
! day"
Present McGraw.
The fact that McGraw is TO be pre-
sented to the king tomorrow is SUI
| ficieut answer TO the story about the
boycott 1t also disposes of the yarn
printed in New York today that the
Giants manager was suffering from a
severe attack of pneumonia
! The Chelsea football grounds, where
the game Is 10 be played, can hold
eighty thousand people when crowd
ed, 1t is prophesied that with fair
weather fully fifty thousand persons
will be present
The game will begin at O'Clock.
The king will drive to the grounds
where he will be met by Mr.. Page. the
American ambassador, who viii pre-
sent Charles A. Comiskey. owner OF
the White Sox; John j. McCfraw, man
lager of the Giants. and probably jim
| Callahan, the manager of the White
Sox, who, with Tip" ONeilf. Jim
Mullen. and a few others made short
! trip to Ireland yesterday.
| Special Precautions.
A special wire net, which has been
put UP in the grandstand to prevent
| fouls from invading the royal box. may
prevent the king from throwing the
| first ball, but it Is hoped that this may
| be circulmvented, as il Is likely to be
when King George learns thas 1t is
customary at the opening game of the
season in Washington for the president
to pitch the first ball.
1t was amusing tonight to witness
the establishment OF the officials OF
the Chelsea club, when. In answer TO
their Suggestion that ninety yards
would be plenty of room from the
home plate to the boundary of the out
field McGraw said In serious fashion:
Il am afraid the boys will have to
bat easy"
why" asked the official. ''can they
hit farther than that?"
Well said McGraw, Speaker has
hit a ball .460 feet"
The members of both teams are all
in excellent condition. and regret that
they cannot remain longer in London,
but they are booked to sail for home
next Saturday on the Lusttania.
Big sportsmen here are just awak-
ening to the fact that baseball Is big
institution in America.
Teams Are Lunched.
At the luncheon to the teams to-
day at the hotel Savoy given by Harry
G.. Selfridge. the proprietor of the big
American department store here, Lord
Desborough made a speech in which
ne expressed regret at the short no.
tice given OF the game and the brevity
Of the visit of such admirable sports
men. There were three hundred per-
sons at the luncheon.
John l.. Griffiths, the American
consul general. shared the honors in
the speechmaking line with Jim"
Callahan of the White Sox, who
modestly described the purpose OF the
vlsdt, az not for the purpose OF telling
the English to abandon cricket. but
simply to show the national American
pastime. He added:
III you like the game try it," These
remarks OF the manager OF the White
Sox removed in great measure any
feeling that the teams were on =
superior than thou mission.