The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-13
MANY ATHLETES
IN ARMY SERVICE
War Spirit Strong In American Col
ieses-Hundreds Of Unlser-
sity Men Have
Enlisted.

cans. Those who thought it had
died out because Of the mingling OF
foreign elements were entirely mis-
taken. The amazing response OF
college men all over the country 10
the war call has broken the records
even OF civil war times, declares
Robert Edgren in the Des Moines
Register Our big colleges and many
of the smaller ones have been nearly
emptied by the rush TO arms
Athletic sports have developed
hardy lot Of men in the high schools
and the colleges A strong indica-
ton of the war value o. athletics Is
the way in which our most cele-
brared college athletes have yolun-
reered for the most dangerous
branches of the service
AT Yale, Harvard. Dartmouth,
Princeton, Cornell, Syracuse, Ford
ham, Amherst. Pennsylvania, Pitts
burgh Michigan, Wisconsin Chicago,
Nebraska, Oregon, California and
Stanford universities the football
teams have volunteered practically 10
the last man. Football Is a fighting
spo-t-a sport that develops courage
and aggressiyeneSs. The football
men have tried 10 get into line for
real fighting. The spirit OF adven-
ture is strong
The same can be said for the
crew men in all the colleges. Trained
for endurance in sport that takes
the last ounce Of strength and the
most uniinching determination, these
boys have rushed TO get the positions
OF honor anywhere on the firing line
With the Yale aviation unit that
trained all winter in Florida and is
now training at Huntington is Cord
Meyer, former Yale crew captain.
Seth Low, II. captain elect this year
al Yale, is in the same flying squad
Both can qualify as experts when
sent into active service.
Training for over three months in
the same Yale unit Is a Princeton
man, George NJ Church. the great
tennis player. Church was Princeton
captain and intercollegiate champion
in 1914 Very tail, slim and why, he
stands close 10 the net. and at the
net game has no superior. He should
be equally effective with a Lewis gun.
Ted Meredith, the famous Penn
sylvania middle distance runner and
Olympic champion, holder OF several
worlds records, Is also in the avia-
ton squad.
Early in the war 1t was supposed
that the drivers of submarine chasers
would have a great deal of danger
Gus work TO do. This caused heavy
enlistment OF college athletes in the
coast defense and naval reserve.
Some of them have been sent across
the sea, and are now busy chasing
the subs in English waters.
Phil Carter. the famous golfer, Is
in the aviation service. Carter won
the north and south cham pionship
twice, and the Junior championship
three times before be reached the
! age limit IN that classic.
Homer Baker, the n. Y. A. G. run
ner, is working to become an aviator
Willie Richie, former lightweight
champion Of the world, is a volunteer
flyer on the Pacific coast, training to
go to France.
Among the famous tennis players
who have volunteered is r. Norris
Williams, who is now at Plattsburg
and has been recommended for a
captains commission. He is likely
to see service soon.
! Jim Duncan, the discus thrower
and holder Of two worlds discus
records, Is a volunteer in the engi-
neers. He enlisted early.
| Hundreds of college men have
enlisted for the ambulance service
| College en- have been going to
( France to drive ambulances ever
since the big war started in Europe.
One bunch Of sixty-many from Cor
! ne1l-went over before we entered
! the war and volunteered as ambu-
lance drivers a French general told
! them that the ambulance service
wasn't in great need Of men Just
then, but that competent drivers were
needed for an even more dangerous
| task-driving ammunition trucks.
! The sixty men enlisted in q body.
! They found excitement enough in
driving ammunition trucks up within
range OF the German guns.
kilbane to Fioht ECdere