The Washington times., 1917-03-28
Union Soldiers Attracted Atten-
ton to Game, and Now It's
Vice Versa.
COLONEL SMITH EXPLAINS 1T
Tells Old Fox How Drilling Play
ers Help U. S. in Inter-
esting Fans.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 2S.-
That Clark Griffith and his players
are doing a wonderful good for the
United States is the unqualified COM
ment of Col Ernest V. Smith, U. S.
A, acting inspector general for the
Department of the Southeast, now at
tending to the mastering out Of the
First Tennessee Regiment Of the
guards.
."As I told the New York Yankees
over at Macon" said Colonel Smith to
Manager Griffith, at was the North
ern army in '65 that carried base
ball to all parts of the country, and
now 1t Is baseball that is swinging
the attention of the country back to
the army. 1t is fair return, too.
Fans of Military Age.
while many very young and very
old men attend baseball games, 1t is
a fact, nevertheless, that the major
ity Of the fans everywhere are of
military age. Even though they may
not have given preparedness much
thought in the past, they cannot help
the diamond are drilling as an ex-
ample TO the rest of the country.
'1It is right there that the big
league players are leading the way by
attracting the attention of the aver ]
age of military age. I am sorry that
the National League has not seen Mt
to emulate the example of the Ameri-
can League clubs. 1t would be q
great help"
Smith Lauds Grin.
Colonel Smith lauded Manager Grif-
fifth for his faithfulness in the daily
drills at Augusta, Ga, saying that
such spirit was bound to bring sue
cess to the movement.
In the course of their conversation,
Colonel Smith and Manager Griffith
discovered that they were both Mis-
sourians by birth and that their home
towns are close together. Colonel
Smiths first army detail was to Fort
Aissoula, Mon, not far from Griff's
ranch at Craig, and they are acquaint-
ed with mutual friends in Montana.
The occasion deserved appropriate
ceremonies, but Tennessee is a bone |
dry State and 1t had to go over until |
they meet again. 4
the Philippines, Hawaii, and Mexico, |
being in command of the Sixth In
fantry under General PeEshing, dur
ing the past summer and winter.
Open Date Today.
Instead of going to Louisville last
night, the Griffmen hung around until
tonight Today was an open date,
anyway, and the Old Fox saw a
chance to get in at least one game
here before leaving town. Walter
Johnson kept watch of his famous
hurting wing all day and should be
ready to send in a few shoots up on
the hill at Vanderbilt University.
Twenty-four hours of heavy show
ers came to a close yesterday morn
ing, but frigid blast swooped along
behind it, chilling the athletes to
the bone. However, so cheered was
he by the honeyed phrases OF Colonel
Smith, the Old Fox ordered out his
players to get a workout at Dudley
Field And IL was done, as the
prophet had said.
Il don't want my players sitting
around in hotels. eating their heads
on" growled the Old Fox "Give
them some work and they'll sleep
better"
They gat the workout, all right, all
right, and most of them were ready
for the hay early in the evening.
Thomas Is Suffering.
Claude Thomas was suffering so
much with his tonsilitis that a physI-
clan was called in to administer to
the wounded southpaw. Thomas is
now compelled to inhale his dinner,
there being no room whatever in his
throat. This may set him back con-
in his development.
Manager Griffith is worrying about
the poor condition of Harry Harper.
The Hackensack southpaw cannot
raise his arm above his head without
great pain. He is carrying
out the orders OF DR.. Davis. of Aug.
usta, Ga, faithfully, but little i'm
provement is being shown. He took
4 short workout yesterday.
VIII BE Hit Hard.
I'll be hit hard IL Harper doesn't
get into shape for the opening of the
season." admits Manager Griffith.
Il was counting on him, but now I'll
have to develop another southpaw
from Humphreys. Thomas and jamie
son. lot one of them is in Harper's
class. When we get home TIL send I
Harper to Brooklyn to have that Chi
ropractor get busy on him, for i need
Harper more than / do any right
handler, outside of Johnson"
The Griffmen depart at $50 tonight
for Lout willie to tackle the Reds in
the first of five. straight battles.