Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-17
boxers DODCINC
ACTUAL FIGHTING
While Others Are Shouldering a Gun,
Professionals Hunt Places as
Instructors.

Washington, Nov. lis the pro
fesionaI prize fighter a coward?
This interesting question has been
raised by statistical gentleman who
has asked the war department for a
list of all bOXers-if any--who have
proffered their services for actual duty
IN the trenches as compared to the
number who nave scrambled for safe
and sane appointments as boxing in
suuctors' in the various training
camps.
And an examination Of the data
shows that not single holder of a
worlds boxing championship. from the
I heavyweight to the smallest Of all the
divisions has shown the slightest in
clinat0n to shoulder a gun and do his
Bit for Uncle SAM But all of them
with the exception OF Jess Willard, the
heavyweight champion, who has
shown absolutely no interest in the
! war except to lease his circus to the
! government at a fat profit TO himself
are anxious 20 teach other boys how to
fight the kaiser
/ For a long time the United States
government called for volunteers for
actual service against the Germans
+ So far as available statistics go, few
professional boxers answered the call
Here and there a professional fighting
man got into the naval training sta
lions, particularly after it became evil
dent that they were to be caught in the
draft But as a general proposition the
boxers stood alOof, showing little in
( terest in the finished bout with the
Teutons.
Then the government let it be known
that boxing would be taken up in tht
training camps and called for in,
. structors. The response on the par
Of the boxing fraternity was instan
I taneous and enthusiastic. Would they
teach the boys how to fight? They sure
would. II was a stampede
Benny Leonard, lightweight cham
pion Of the world, was in the van. HI
was the first to have his picture taker
? in the uniform OF the United State:
army Is Benny going abroad to fgh
. for his country? He is not He is go
ing to stay around Camp Upton anC
= tell the others how to do it,
! Is Johnny Kilbane, featherweigh
! champion of the world, enroute t,
France TO help Pershing hound til,
Huns? Well. not exactly. Johnny il
safe at Camp Sherman. If boys Wit
really want to meet the Germans fac
to face are in need of any expert in
struction as to how TO conduct them
selves when they get the introduction
. Johnny is going TO stick around her
/, and tell them. He is paid for it, too.
Is Mike Gibbons, claimant to TIL
middleweight championship Of tn
, world, in France or anywhere near it
Nope; Mike is at Camp Dodge. Their,
is no especial significance in the nam
, Of the camp. Mike is just there. He i
boxing instructor, OF course.
Is Pete Herman, bantamweigh
champion of the world, expectet
over there" soon? Well, il Pete ar
/ rives in Europe, il will not be his fault
! Drafted. he has asked exemption. Fl
is needed in the United States to teacl
other boys how to 20 over the ton.
As for Jess Willard, heavyweight
champion of the universe. that dis
tinguished husky hasn't even offere
MS services as an instructor. Whe
war was first declared Willard sent
telegram to President Wilson saving
I am ready" Evidently Jess expecte
! me president TO take the first train 70
. Chicago and personally conduct Jes
to the war.