The Washington times., 1917-03-10
Old Fox Waits for Instructor to
Take Charge of Work
in Camp.
AYERS WOULD GO TO WAR
HiIIsyiIIe Physician Says He Is
Willing to Join Hospital
Corps.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

though It is Ban Johnson's desire that
all American League clubs take part
in military drills as a part of the
1917 spring training, the Grirrmen
may depart from this city for their
hikes homeward without seeing any
instructor.
Not a word has come from the At
lanta headquarters to Manager Grtf-
nth regarding the appointment Of q
drill sergeant for the players here and
today the Old Fox Is considering wir-
ing Ban johnson for information
I'm with this drill plan adopted by
the American League" said the Old
Fox today. "And cannot understand
why our instructor has not put in an
appearance. 1 was led to believe that
he would arrive here Wednesday, the
day I got here, but he hasn't come
yet"
Players Would Enlist.
Manager Griffith believes that II q
call to arms comes baseball players
will be first to answer. He thinks that
fully 80 per cent of the professional
players Of the country will volunteer.
That's what we want, too" explain
ed Griff.
carry on our business and not disrupt
the organization entirely and we1l
gladly see our young players enter
. ing the service of their country
That's why I want my players to get
some of this promised drilling. It'll
do them good"
Harry Harper today appeared in q
heavy red shirt He wears this un-
der advice of Manager Griffith as a
protection for his lame pitching wing.
Ayers Would Fight
Doc Ayres, just now seeking to i'm
press upon Manager Griffith his abili-
ties as q big league twirler, is greatly
interested In the proposition to have
the eAmericanLeAgue clubs drill,not be
cause he will shoulder a rifle in case
of war, but because he believes in
preparedness. II there is call to
arms, Ayres will Immediately volun-
teer hospital service.
81 hope we don't nave war, natural
1y," says Doc, but IL the call comes,
{ III have tc enlist in the hospital
service. 1 am more than willing to
Join in the daily military drills here,
but when the time comes. for action,
I'll be with the Red Cross end of
the army, not the trench brigade"
Studies Medicine.
Ayres has been studying medicine
for three years. Next winter he
hopes to take a course in the Univer-
sity of Chicago Medical School, fitting
him to tax the examinations for
the State Of Virginia Then he will
be able to practice medicine In the
off-season.
Only two of the Griffmen remain
unaccounted for, Walter johnson,
kept at home by the illness OF his
child, and Merito Acosta, whose father
has been identified with the Cuban
rebels. Carl Sawyer, the tumbling in
fielder, arrived yesterday afternoon
riding for five days and four nights
from Los Angeles where he has been
acting with three movies all the
winter.
Harry Harper, the big southpaw. Is
the first pitcher to complain OF a sore
arm. Yesterday, though he toiled In
both sessions, he did not climb the hill
for a workout against the batters.
Manager Griffith made him hustle In
every other branch Of the game, ex-
cept pitching, but he kept him on the
rubber.
Harper Has Loa1eos
During the first week here Harper
loafed. The Old Fox was quick to no
tice his lack of condition the moment
he saw him here. Now Harper has
been given double the work of the
other pitchers and he viii have to get
into the best of shape before being
allowed to face the batsmen.
Ray Morgan was another who had
TO slave through both sessions yes
terday, and the hot sun took of sew
eral pounds from the young Baltimor-
can In the morning he played second
base with the second team, aud in the
afternoon he played in the outfield
with the first team. Morgan Is over
weight, but hard work under the
Georgia sun will sool put MIN in
condition for his best work. Manager
Griffith was greatly pleased with the
appearance of Sam Crane ct short
stop for the second team, which start
ed out in the morning. The new In
fielder showed himself wonderfully
fast on his feet, an adept at starting
a double play at second base, and q
possessor OF a strong arm.
Working with Bill Kopf, who is
nothing much, Crane made a record
for starting double plays in the Inter
national League" explains the Old
Fox Hes a fielding demon. II he
can hit, he ought to stay in the big
league. IN give him all the chance
he wants to show his hitting ability.
He won't ever be able TO say he didn't
get a fair trial"
Hammers Garden Wall.
Elmer Smith is the first Of the
bunch to hammer the garden wall
with a hot liner. In the afternoon
practice he caught hold OF a fast one
and sent II on a line up against the
right-feld wall about three feet from
the top. He will be driving the ball
over the fence as soon as the daily
practice games begin.
w. r. Larry. a hotel keeper in st.
Adams, VT, a friend of Joe Judge, Is
in camp and donned a uniform. He
wants to take OF about thirty pounds,
and Nick Altrock is doing hts best to
assist him. Nick had the VermonteT
covering right, center and left fields
~~SteEdaY. chasing wild flies.