Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-15
MILITARY DRILL IN
ALL HUSKER SQUADS
Drillmaster May Be Assigned
So Athletes Will Be Ready
for the Field.
BASE BALL SEASON is ON
By JAMES E. LAWRENCE,

Military drill may become large part
CT the training OF Cornhusker athletes
as part of the preparedness pro-
gram OF University Of Nebraska au-
thorities to carry on all activities
without Gripping the nationwide
movement to prepare young men for
service for their country.
Head Coach Stewart OF the Huskers
and Commandant Parker of the Uni
versity Of Nebraska cadet battalion
talked matters over informally during
the week, but arrived at no definite
conclusion. II is a part Of the policy
of the University of Nebraska au-
thorities to assist the nations in every
way possible.
The suggestion was made by DR..
Stewart that a special officer be de-
tailed to drill the track, foot bali and
base ball men until the end of the
school year. Under this plan the uni
versity athletes would be prepared to
take up the military training, should
summer indicate the need OF their
services, at the same point other units
were being drilled.
Want Special Officer.
Captain Parker thought that some
such plan could be worked out for
drilling the Husker athletes and IL the
situation develops, will make formal
application to the War department on
behalf OF the university authorities
for a special officer to drill the ath-
letic squads.
No further steps viii be taken until
the situation develops more fully.
The Huskers have already lost three
men through enlistment with the Ne
braska National Guard, They are
Becker and Smith, both Lincoln High
school boys and track athletes, and
Ferguson, candidate for the base
ball team.
With two weeks Of favorable
weather, the Husker track squad is
looking better, DR.. Stewart said to-
day.
Young Towle, a brother Of Max
Towle, a former Husker gridiron star,
joined the squad during the week and
has apparently strengthened II in the
spot where it was wcakest--at pole
vaulting. Towlc is clearing the bar
over ten feet with very little previous
practice.
Squirt" Owens and Werner have
been doing some remarkably fast
time on the cinder path the past week.
Owen, who is quarter-miler and
220-yard dash man, stepped 100 yards
last night in 10 Is seconds, which is
nearly a ten-second clip for the dis
lance. Werner reeled off l40 yards in
"a rs seconds, which is practically the
same speed.
Pinney, who is. hailed as the best
prospect in the hurdles which Ne
braska has had in years, stepped $50
yards in Is 3-5, putting him in class
with Owens and Werner. The three
are doing the best sprinting seen on
he Husker track since 1911.
Herb Reese, coach OF Lincoln high,
and former Husker track and foot
ball man. is training his squad with
the Huskers.
Riddell has the bulge in the javelin
throw; Reese, a brother OF the Lin
coin High school coach, in the shot
put, and Captain Overman in the mile
and half-mile. Graf is doing we'll in
the two-mile, while Grau, Jackson and
organs have been showing some
fancy time in the mile event.
First Meet Saturday.
Nebraska's first collegiate event
comes with the Drake relay games on
April III. The Huskers staged their
annual inter-class meet this afternoon
while the inter-fraternity meet to.
night also attracted attention.
DR.. Stewart has received word that
Nebraska may not be able to enter
the half mile relay at Drake, four
man event. Seven other western
schools had their entries ahead Of Ne
braska. There is some chance that
Chicago's quartet will drop out, in
which event Nebraska is next on the
list. The Huskers will have men in
the two-mile relay, Finney will enter
the hurdles and Werner will be taken
along for the sprints.
Base Ball Activities.
The base ball situation is also de-
veloping much to DR.. Stewards iik-
ing. The squad, under the direct care
Of Assistant Coach Dick Rutherford,
is rapidly whipping into shape. Ted
Riddell, Ed Shaw, captain of the foot
ball team, and Doc Shaw are doing
the backstopping and the Huskers
will be well fortified there. Pickett
appears to be a pitching find" In a
practice game against the Lincoln
Cleaners, national amateur cham
pions, he fairly stood the batsmen on
their heads and whitfield twelve. John
Riddell. Mackcy and Smith, a sophie
more foot bali player, are working
out with the statesmen. Smith is said
TO be nearly as good as Pickett.
The Huskers inaugurate the Mis-
souri, Valley base ball season with .