New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-28
Johnston Faces Hard Task
to Retain Title Won
Last Year.
FOUR CALIFORNIANS
IN DOUBLES BATTLE
Feature Match of Day in
Singles Brings Together
Davis and Armstrong.
BY FRED HAWTHORNE.

This marks the day that will begin
the long and gruelling struggle Tor the
national lawn tennis championship on
the courts at Forest Hills, Long Island
a struggle that William NJ. Johnston
present holder of the title, will hnd
the sturdiest he has ever faced II ne
still wears the victor's laurels when
the last point in the final round matcn
has been lost and won.
Getting a field of 1913 players away
on schedule time, and keeping the
courts so occupied that there Will be
no lost motion as the contenders lot
the crown move out toward the cruclal
test in the final round, is herculeah
task, particularly when one takes into
account the thousand and one things
that might interrupt the system. But
those who witnessed the manner IN
which the tournament was conducted
by the West Side Tennis Club last
year know that the same perfection OF
detail and frictionless management VIII
prevail this week, and that means tnat
the national tourney will stand as a
monument to Julian S. Myrick, presi-
dent of the club, and his fellow ofn-
GERS.
What will probably prove the feature
match of the day in the singles TINS
morning will bring together Wills T.;
Davis, the sensational Californian ana
holder of the national clay court title,
and Joseph J. Armstrong, or Pnlia-
delphia, runner-up at Longwood Inc
men will take the championship court
at 10 o'clock sharp.
All Courts in Action.
All the courts will be in action from
this hour on, but the next most enter
tanning battle should result IN the
meeting of Karl Behr, fourth on tn,
ranking list, and Conrad B. Doyle, oil
Washington. 1t is only necessary 70
see the fiery Behr in action once TO
know the spectacular features OF MS
nlay. Doyle, master of the chop
stroke, defeated George NJ. Church IN
the CLAW court championship this sea-
son and was a fnalist in addition.
Using the chop stroke as he does
DOYLE will make it absolutely impera,,
tive for Behr to rush the net on all
occasions. and this is where Behr shows
AT his best. Doyle is not accustomed
10 the turf courts, which takes away
some of his speed, but he seems llkeiy
TO give his opponent hard match.
Those who like a dash OF information
alism in their athletic events WEI
gather closely about the court where
Harhishiro Mikami, of Japan, races
William ]. Clothicr, of Philadelphia,
former national champion. Mikami is
not the same ripping, tearing terror OH
the courts that lchiya kumagae' ms
doubles partner, is, but his back court
game should prove a gooo test LOT
Clothier, who is also addicted 70 ms
base line when seeking his points. ms
match will begin at 2 O'CLOCK IN inc
afternoon. o,,o
Set apart for the afternoon, at 1913"
o'clock, so that the business man from
Narhattan NAV make the short trip TO
Forest Hills in time 10 see tn
strrcole the committee has scheduled
tbe Challenge round for the national
SoubIes title. William NJ. Johnston, ma
tional singles and doubles champion
and Clarence J. Griffin, his partner IN
the holding of the pair championship
will defend their laurels against tne at
tack of Maurice Z. Mclaughlin anu
Ward Dawson, the challengers.
West Has Monopoly.
Each man of the four is Cali
fornian, but that will not lessen inc
bitterness OF the battle, and those FOR,
tunate enough % see the meeting VIII
probably leave with the feeling tnat
thew have witnessed one of the tastest
doubles matches in the history OF the
game. .bo +;tle
l. CT wear from Mclaughlin and Bundy'
but Red Mac is on the warpath again.
and. assisted by Dawson, Will try MS
mightiest to regain the crown. Their
defeat OF Willis E. Davis and George
MYERS Church at Chicago in the t ma
round of the national elimination dou-
HES two weeks ago stamps McLougniin
and Dawson as the most dangerous OPP
moments Johnston and his partner have
faced since they won the title. mere
are many who expect to see the chamI
mons dethroned this afternoon ana