Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-24

Of activities. 1t was repeated so often
that the Mackmen themselves began
TO wonder what sort of a pitching
staff they had.
But the talk of their not having
any real Fingers has not affected
= = fighting spirit of the Athletics.
'itohers or no pitchers, the defenders
os Fort Mack have kept right on fight
ing, defeating the enemy in almost
daily skirmish aad piling up enough
victories to give them a command.
ing lead in the pennant struggle.
While it cannot be said that the
Athletics have a copper-riveted cinch
On the flag at the present time, 1t is
hard to see where any other American
league team can take it away from
them. A few weeks ago General Car
iigan and his Red Sox battalion were
picked as the parties most likely to
make a successful attack on Fort
Mack The Sox brigade made con-
siderable noise in it's mad rush to
the front, but since their efforts were
checked at the second trench their
naneuvers have been somewhat of
the "back-up" variety.
Some of the war correspondents fig
ured that Field Marshal Griffith and
his Washington troops were heavy
enough to put the Athletics to rout
and capture the Mackmen's strong
hold, up there. With the great gun
ner Johnson on the firing line, ably
backed by corps of well trained
athletes, it certainly looked like the
foxy field marshal had the goods. Still,
leaking like the goods does not suffice
in the matter of winning pennants. You
have to deliver.
At other times during the present
campaign the fans have watched the
forced marches and resultant victor
ries of Major Jennings and his fight
ing Tigers and of Colonel Callahan
ard his White Hosed warriors. Also
have the fans lamped the broadsides
fired at Fort Mack by the gallant
crew of st. Louis collegians under the
command of Rear Adimadl, chief of
the Mississippi clam division.
In fact, all of the contenders in
the American league pennant war,
with the exception of the Nap
Zouaves and the Seventh Highland
ers, have at different times displayed
rare fighting ability.
The Maps and the Highlanders,
forming the rear guard, have been OF
little help to the allied forces in the
assaults on Fort Mack. Since early
in the campaign the rear guard has
been so far in the rear that commune
cation has been cut off Deep regret
| is felt in New York and Cleveland
over the sad plight of the gallani
Zouaves and brave Kilties. 1t has
been rumored that some one in sym
pathy with the Mack cause turned the
hose on the reagsguards ammunition
before hostilities opahed last spring
| In summing up the situation, ex
perts on pennant warfare are of tn,
opinion that the allied forces of tn,
American league are doomed to defeat
The exporters declare that old For
Mack can withstanding any kind o
an old shot the allies can deliver an,
that the Athletics will carry the day
and also carry a hunk of worlds sc
, 1ies money. The chatter of the e1
| perts certainly listens good at tn
present time.
General McGillicuddy has under hi
command what is technically known i
pennant warfare as some ball tear
I Among the generals classy fighter
are: E. Collins, chief of the board G
strategy, Home Rum Baker, "Ho
Stuff McIinnis and j. Barry, of tn
| heavy artillery division; Murphy
| OlGring and Strunk, patroling the ou
pests; Lapp and Schang, supervisor
Of sharpshooting, and first class gur
Eers Plank, Bender, Shawkey, Bress
les, Pennock, Wyckoff and Bush.