The Washington herald., 1917-05-27
'OARSMEN ARE ANXIOUS
FOR SOUTHERN REGATTA
No Definite Date Has Been Set for
This Event.

lniS ENC0t.
War is lust what sherman said 1t was,
Is the unqualified opinion of the rowing
enthusiast OF this country just now.
Around Christmas things looked bright
Tor an excellent season for 1917, but Just
at the time when the oarsmen began to
feel the signs of spring and started
brushing up their old shell boats. getting
ready for an early workout, the great
American. Mr.. Wilson. decided the War
Mad Bin Kaiser had about gone far
enough with his game Of insult and muir
DER, as Congress did the rest
The declaration of war seems to have
upset every branch OF athletics, and
rowing has been hit especially hard. The
rowing game In this country was becom-
ing more popular each year and a banner
season was expected for 1917, but the mo-
ment the President signed the war bill
rowing associations all over the country
declared their intentions of giving up
the sport during the period Of the war.
When the territorial associations de-
ctded to call on their regattas. the ma
tlonal association had nothing else to do
but abandon its annual affair." as the
main object of its regatta is to decide the
national championships. The winners in
the various other regattas would attend
the Dig reSattas, so when the other asso-
Citations called of their regattas the ma
tlonal had no material from which to
draw.
That this state Of affairs has come
about Is deeply regretted by many think
ing men Of the country, as II is realized
that athletic training Is a great asset to
man learning to be a soldier and the
iaek Of physical training in the young
men OF the country Will require that the
oincers In charge of the various mobiliZa-
tions give additional attention TO cOndl-
tioning the men for service
the President and officials of the War
Department have expressed their regret
OF this condition Of affairs and have
urged against it. but without avail.
There is no reason why a man could not
continue to indulge In such healthy ex-
ercise one finds in the various American
sports, until he Is called into service,
when he could present himself physically
Mt for any emergency.
The cause Of abandoning the rowing
regattas cannot be wholly attributed to
the lack of interest on the part OF the
actiye oarsman himself. but seems to be
result of a sort of short-sightedness
Of the officials Of the various regatta
associations. Undoubtedly a great num-
Der of the young oarsmen have given up
the sport and Joined the colors. but there
are still plenty OF men who are anxious
to get a chance to compete in regattas,
and are willing to train: these men, how
ever. do not feel like training without q
chance of competing in a regatta.
The local rowing contingent have losl
number Of their men on account of
attending the training camps or holding
positions from which they cannot get the
time to row. but Washington oarsmen
have by no means given up the sport.
Coach Heeox has had his Junior eight
out on the river for some time pre-
ufF00
ISOLATION that is scheduled to be held at
Baltimore next month.
The Southern association is about the
only rowing association in this section
that has not called of its regatta.
although a definite date has not as yet
been set It is understood the associa-
ton oficials are undecided whether to
hold the regatta or not and for that rea-
son have not announced the date.
The Southern has only been organized
a little over a year, last seasons regatta
at Richmond being its first, but Its pros
poets of becoming strong permanent or
ganization are very bright. II the TO
gatta is held next month, as was orig
inally planned, il will undoubtedly be an
excellent success, for the calling on OF
all other regattas in this section has left
the oarsmen depended on the regatta at
Baltimore to be their only chance to COM
pete and they are anxiously pulling that
the association officials will realize this
and will not cancel their last incentive
to keep in training.
Mr.. Zappone, the local rowing author
ity and president of the Potomac Boat
Club, stated he was especially anxious
that the Southern Regatta will be held.
as the unnecessary action of the various
other rowing associations in calling on
their regattas is going to work a great
detriment to the game and 1t Is up to
the officials of the Southern to grasp this
opportunity to help the sport. Il feel
sure there IS no need to call off the re-
gatta, for there will surely be plenty
Of entries" said Zappone, "and the Po-
tomac Boat Club win lend its aid in
making the meet a success