The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
WAR PROBLEM
FOR SPORTDOM
Boxers Watch Players oi
Tennis and Golf Enlist
for Battle Over There.
m, sRANrLAND RICE.


Problems In psychology-Why Is II
that the players Of the gentler games'
! lawn tennis and golf. to be specific.
are ready to grab musket or hop
into a battie aeroplane and do their
u.rt IN stopping the onslaught Of the
-,eA Hun. while the prize fighter. the
tnan who Is trained to fighting. and
whose body Is Injured to hard knocks,
either stays right here at home or
selects some noncombatant branch OF
the service?
i wouldn't you imagine. looking At
the thing in a purely psychological
frame OF mind. that a regiment OF Bat
Nelson's, Benny Leonards and JACK
Dlllons would form q more formidable
bodv of warriors in q bayonet attack
than an equal number Of Dick Will
liamses, Billy Johnstons. George
churches, Phil Carriers and Francis
ouimets? So would we, but we're
both wrong.
The deadly statistics tell a different
story. Williams. Johnston, Church,
Carter, Ouimet and q hundred other
stars Of the courts and links are at
this moment fighting the good fight in
France or are training to take their
or the boom of the big guns Is most
incessant.
The picture presented by the bat
tiers Of the ring Is painted in more
subdued and pacific colors. The num-
ber Of pugilists who have entered the
Z service Is not so numerous that they
cannot be counted upon the fingers
! of two normal hands. The most patri-
otic and reckless OF the whole blessed
1T have entered the noncombatant
branches abroad or are acting as box
ing instructors in home cantonments
to armies Of novices who could not
| lay a glove on them In a week of
trying.
In the words OF one Of our modern
j philosophers: How'd they get that
way?"
Jess wTllard's patriotism seems to
be- Of the diluted brand, 80 4-10O per
cent me and 56-10o per cent my coun-
try" Which explains why the pros
pect Of seeing the heavyweight cham
pion, Jest" lumber through a ten
round, no decision, no title, exhibition
bout with Fred Fulton or some one
else Is not going to interfere with our
country's preparation to get into a
real fight.
Dinerentiating between the Stranger
Z Lewis deadlock and the Frank Gotch
toe hold sayors OF splitting hairs IN
the wrestling game. In other words,
you may gouge out your opponents
eye. but you would never be forgiven
for tearing OF his ear. These mat
artists are a fussy lot
~ 81 NFTn1 aTNfVi
pursuit races along the Flanders bat
Jones or Johnny Overton should hap
pen to meet up with some Of the Hun
einder path stars. or, again. II Albert
Soullet, winner OF the last six-day
face. should meet Walter Rutt awheel
or In the air.
Earl Caddock. one Of the claimants
i Of the wrestling title. but Just now an
unlisted man In the national army,
win probably return from the war
mEith Q new and more deadly hold
han any yet developed by Lewis,
Esotch or Stecher.
ITAe first time Earl claps the ''Kai-
Eer-buster" or the 'car-scissors" on
his rivals of the mat there will be a
tdoneful wall from the victims, and a
mass meeting of indignant wrestlers
4 viii convene to rule against such
Savagery.
The year 1913. which approaches
down the Hall of Time on tip-toe and
even now is knocking at the door, will
see new champions crowned in every
branch Of sport, as younger men rise
to pluck the laurel wreath Of victory.
Williams, Church, Mclaughlin. VIII
lis Davis and Peck Griffin will be miss
ing from the tennis courts; Ted Mere
dith, Jones and Overton from the Gin
der path; Yale, Harvard and Prince
ton football giants from the gridiron,
all engaged in their greatest battle
overseas. and we at home shall note
their absence.
Yet 1t requires no excruciatins
stretch Of the imagination to believe
that charging "over the top" behind
Ne business end Of a sixteen-incf
Ybayonet or winging a "Fokker'' after
a duel in the cloude above the red he'll
Of bomb and shrapnel will constitute
sweeter triumphs for these young gen.
tlemen than any they ever won on
court, or track or football field.