Evening star., 1917-03-17
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
AUGUSTA, Ga, March 17.-Manager
Griffith has reached the conclusion, al
ready formed by many of his players.
that he has been working them a little
too hard. An hour of military drill
ing and two games every day, with
fielding practice before and after each
contest, is right strenuous program
for so early in the season, and the
pilot has decided to slow up to some
extent.
The pitchers particularly are feeling
the effects of the work they have had
to do, most of them recently having
been required to pitch four full In
nings and in one instance five.
Dumont's arm was so sore yesterday
that he could not pitch at all. Hum
phries' wing also hurt. but he made
no mention of it, and pitched four in
nings against the first team in the
morning game. The little southpaw
said the ball felt as heavy as chunk
of lead, but he is not the complaining
kind and it was not until after lunch
that he made any mention OF IT, Leon
ards thumb is getting better rapid!y,
although it still is bandaged. ana ne
avoids using it in tossing the ball. the
only work he is doing. Clyde Milan Is
eyneriencins considerable trouble with
the index finger of the left hand II
was struck by fly ball more than
week ago. and he says 1t has grown
more painful every day since
| HARPER is the dean of the hospital
| SQUAD with his lame shoulder, ana the
latest addition to the list is sam Crane,
the rookie shortstop, having an ugly
spike wound the top OF the lnstep
| of his right foot. The wound was self
| inflicted. occurring when Crane backed
| into center field to get Gharrity's short
fy in the fifth inning. Horace Milan
also started for the ball. Crane called
| for it, but when some one yelled
| Milan" Crane twisted to get out OF the
| way and stepped on his own loot.
| Charity got hit. the ban 1alilng De,
| tween the two. Mike Martin injected
| iodine into the cash in Cranes loot
and Eddie Ainsmith was sent in to play
/ third the remainder of the game, Nor
| gan shifting over to short in Cranes S
place.
Manager Griffith carried out his an
nounced intention of making formal
| application to Capt. Gulilmus V. HEIDI
| for the services of Corporal John Dean
| to drill his players at Washington
when the team returns nome, ana yes.
| terday received a telegram from that
officer advising him. that his request
| has been transmitted to the war De-
| partment. The manager thinks his
| players will make better progress uf =
| der instruction from one man than II
different drill masters have them in
| charge. President Ban Johnson OF the
| American League has been asked by
| Manager Griffith for advice about what
course the Washington pilot shall pur-
sue in regard to the threatened rail-
road strike. Griffith telesraphed john
son yesterday evening. Whether he will
remain here in the hope of carrying out
his exhibition schedules or take his
players back to Washington to finish
the training there will depend upon
what word he receives from the league
executive.
Owing to the uncertainty regarding
Harpers future in base ball. Manager
Griffith is in the field for a good southx
paw pitcher He is willing to part
with some valuable playing material
and a generous wad of cash for the
right man, but says he sees no pros
pect of getting one, as there is none
availa BILE.
A report yesterday from Macon. Ga,
where the New York Americans are
training, is to the effect that Manager
Griffith had offered to give Shanks and
Milan-presumably Horace Milan-to
Manager Bill Donovan in exchange for
some player whose name could not be