Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10
|LyMP|C GAMES
DF 1915 PROBABLY
WILL NOT Be HELD
hited States Might BE the
Place if They Are Played
Question Hinges on Con-
dition of Athletes.


lllty have to be abandoned as a result
the war period Of eighteen months
etches between the present and day
for the opening of the international
ct and much may yet he accomplished
the olympic committee in a year and
T. There Is already evidence of
htiment in favor OF transferring the
mes to this country or some European
ton not i.volved in the war. It is
the site OF the contests as much as
condition and number of contestants
it causes those best informed on the
uation to doubt the possibility OF a
tcessful meet in 1916
n the olympic games of 1912 there
re twenty-seven nations represented
Stockholm The complete entry list
bwed 4,2S1 athletes enrolled and the
al entry 1857. OF this number S.2S2
hletes competed for an aggregate entry
4,742 To-day fifteen of the twenty
ven nations and colonies. whose
lletcs assembled at Stockholm, are at
r and still others may Join the con-
{. These nations contributed 11H
hletes to games In the following order:
eat Britain and colonies, S7s: Germany,
Russia, IFS; France. 1o2: Hungary,
Austria, as; Belgium 80; Japan,
rkey and Servia, two each
hat these nations, even though peace
declared In the meantime, cannot ap-
bach In number or athletic calibre
Sc entr es In 1916 is generally accepted
those who have witnessed the physi-
result Of the war to date Albert r.
pland, Austria's Olympic trainer, and
yin Kraenzlein, chief OF the German
IF OF athletic instruction, have both
urned TO this country on an indefinite
We of absence. COPELAND In discussing
outlook said:
Personally 7 DO not think the Olympic
mes scheduled to he held in Berlin
1916 will take place, even II the war
IS not last longer than this winter
her nations as we'll as Austria and
rmany have suffered from the loss of
ir best men in the track and field
rk
There is not much interest in the
mes IN Berlin. The great stadium has
IN closed since the declaration OF war
grounds and grandstand Of the sur
Anding race track are being used as a
tpital for convalescent soldiers"
onceding that the meet Is held either
America or some neutral European
pntry, the result can be forecasted as
decisive victory for the United States
PvIding that the entries Of this coun-
are made upon the same scale as in
mer games Although eighth in total
nber of starters in 1912. the United
ties was second in number Of diplomas
n, scoring 90 to swedens e1. This IN
ded all forms Of Olympic sport com
sing program Of Is comparative fea-
es. The United States was not repre-
ted in rowing. football, gymnastics
yachting, yet finished second on
mt basis with 124 points TO Swedens
Great Britain was third with rs.
bland fourth with SO. and Germany
h with A. Even as optimistic an
herican athletic enthusiast as James f.
Ivan was, he conceded Just before
death, that under normal conditions
United States could not hope to win
decisively In 1916. with Sweden and
Ions not handicapped by the strain and
in Of the war, there could be, how
Fr but one victor II the Olympic games
held in 1916
Back in the early nlneties, when James
Corbett first stepped into ring
bminence, California began to make
gilistic history and ever since that
be the Golden State" has been looked
pn ms a great center for the main
anee and encouragement OF fstic
brit Many championship battles have
Fn fought there and followers of the
tunes OF pugiliste In every class, from
hvies to bantams, evinced unusual
crest when bouts were scheduled at
n Francisco, Los Angeles or any
Ter OF the many places where glove
counters were decided and titles pass
Two generations Of fstic champions
We enjoyed the privileges afforded by
state Of California and thousands
followers Of the sport have been we'll
ished with the results. But all this
to be changed and the knights OF
glove and squared circle" will have
seek fresh fields outside OF Cali
MIA,
t the recent State election the ma
ity Of CALIFORNIA; voters decided that
gilism should not be accredited al
al sport, thus making II mandatory
the boxers to settle their differences
to relative merits elsewhere. At mid
hit on Tuesday. December IL. Taps
be sounded for other than amateur
ITS of four rounds duration In the
ncipal Pacific coast State and after a
her prosperous quarter Of century
gilism will be taboo, In recent years
California promoters OF this class
sport have given excellent induce
nts to the leading lighters OF the
rid and as a result the best men in
Pry class have at one time or another
peared there and several champion.
p titles have been lost and won
|everal notable heavyweight contest.
We taken place In San Francisco since
memorable sixty-one round draw be,
cen James j. Corbett and Peter Jack.
b was fought in 1891. This served Il
Ing Corbett into the limelight and
Thin eighteen months afterwards tn,
bn young bank clerk lad annexed tn,
hvywight honors by defeating John J.
Ivan somewhat uneXpectedly at New
cans In September 1892. The younl
lifornian vas not considered serious
as a possible contender by Sullivan
ton of admirers and the Pacific coas
q -iated when Corbett brought bacl
championship to his native State,
Among the many bouts between BIZ
n decided In San Francisco In the las
elve years the following may be men
ned Jim Jeffres Knocked out Bo
zsimmons in eight rounds This va
1902 just four years after Fitzsimmsn
n lost the championship to the hi
lermaker at Coney Island In clever
,nda Jack Munroe lasted only tw