The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-24
Plans For Winter Being
Mapped Out By Star
Athletes
BASKETBALL WILL
BE VERY POPULAR
Boxing, Too, Is Thriving,
And Wrestling Is In
Solid
IRv Associated Press.l

Great Lakes, Ill, Nov. 24.-Health
and muscle building sports of all
sorts promise to make the winter at
the Great Lakes Naval Training
station a period Of recreation, which
will be conducive to the physical per-
lection and fitness of approximately
1900 youngsters, averaging ~
years, who are being trained to hght
sea battles.
In the athletic office, some Of the
countrys star athletes are mapping
plans, that will provide for competi-
ton in indoor track, basketball, In
door baseball, swimming, boxing
and wrestling. According to. the
plans of DR.. ]. b. Kaufman, who is
in charge of athletics, every jackie
will be extended the use Of the gym
nasium and other health developing
channels. In fact it is probable that
athletics will be compulsory IN the
daily routine of the enlisted man.
Back in the days when the en-
listed personnel Of the station was
being increased daily by hundreds
from all over the middle west, Capt.
w. A. Moffett, consistent with his
policy to place every man where re
would be of the most beneht, detail
ed every prominent athlete, who en-
listed to the athletic office. the
wisdom of this policy was shown IN
the summer months in baseball, box
ing. wrestling and track, and this
autumn in football.
The last week in November will see
the final match in the station foot
ball league, after series Of competi-
tions which commenced October Is.
The organization brought into play
eight teams which represented
various regiments on the station. 1t
is estimated that 5000 boys prof
tied physically as a result OF their
football training. which can be
traced directly to the interest in the
game worked up through the station
league and the camps representative
eleven.
Tossing To Be Popular.
Basketball activities promise to
bring more boys into the gymnasium.
than any two of the other sports
combined. Speculation as to the
strength of the FIRST. team Of the
station, which probably will be COM
posed Of the star college tossers, al
ready is being INDUCED in by the
boys. but the station basketball
league seems to attract more gossip
than the representative five, which
will be confined to a squad OF ten
or fifteen men.
It was estimated by a prominent
collegfan in the athletic office some
time ago that the station houses o.
600 men who have played basketosll.
From this one could conclude tnat
there will be all Of one hundred
duintets in uniform. 1t is probable,
however, that the station league Will
he limited to twenty-five teams, or
a representative aggregation for cv-
cry branch Of the naval service.
Boxing Is Thriving.
Boxing. which was introduced to
Great Lakes long before the war, by
Gunner Jack Kennedy, continues to
thrive. During the summer bouts
were held weekly in 1.-The ravine,'
the stations natural amphitheater
but at the first call for steam heat,
the drill hall was adopted as the
scene Of glove matches. Some com
manding officers have suggested
boxing to their boys, others have re-
quested it, but none has made IL
compulsory.
Boxers who fought professionally
in civil life are instructing the
tackles on the fine points Of the mitt
game. Among them are Maurice
Flynn, Morris Bloom, Billy Walters
Cal Delaney and Eddie Nearing.
Ben Reuben, claimant of the mid
dleweight wrestling championship OF
the world, has done his share to pop
ularize the mat pastime. He has held
classes, assisted by proficient en-
listed Chicago grapplers, and as
result more than 500 men viii know
how to conquer German should hand
to hand fighting ever occur In their
sea careers. Wrestling shows also
are put on weekly and bring an aver
age of rs new faces a week to the
mat. and a consistent attendance OF
5000 enthusiasts. Reuben's co-work-
ers are Jack Gruppel, Sam Narron,
and Herb Singer. They hold forth
in the various camps and are free at
all times for consultation with the
bluejackets.
Andy Ward, National A. A. Y. 100
and 200 yard dash champion; Eddie
Fall, Western conference two mile
record holder, and Frank HILL
former distance star, all chief yeo-
men, have charge Of the indoor track
work. Weekly track meets prob
ably win be held, with inter-regi-
ment competition as monthly feat
ures.
Bowling, billiards, indoor baseball
and skating also viii play big parts
this winter in making the sailors
capable and efficient members or
Uncle Sans fighting forces.