Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-11-07
We'll Organized
 Are Germans in
 Country Mexico
Soap Box Orators Harrangue Poulation About the
 Allies Blacklist.

Allies Blacklist.
 New York. Nov. 6.-An interesting account of Franco-American track. meet, held recently in an American Army base town in France, has reach ed this country. In part it is as fol lows: "W~0
 "Before the war, the park where the events were held had been un- doubtedly well cared for, but the scar city of man power for non-essential pursuits accounted fol. the grass grown walks and tottering fences. The grandstand, indeed, held vivid re- hinder of-,the struggle in progress many miles to the north of us, for it was packed from floor to ceiling with war supplies.
 Most of the events at an army track meet are run off in military form. No spike shoes or running suits are allowed, the contestants being put on their marks in ordinary army bro gans, the regulation puttees and army brooches. This meet, however, was more pretentious and the contestants began to make their appearance in running suits. AL though billed as a Franco-American meet, there was sprinkIlng of other nationalities, drawn from the armies of the allies. Before the interested crowd they limbered up their muscles and tested the boards at the jumps.
 "The French athlete is not as strdy speciment of humanity. as his Am nrican friend, but his 1itheness
 quickness supplies the seeming defi ciency. In the sprints and the jumps it stands him in good stead, b.: the. weight event generally find him in the ruck. The contestants this afternoon were we'll matched, some of the, heats were bitterly fought out, and honors seemed in fair way to be even.
 "To the stronger, the enjoyment of the bystanders furnished quite as much entertainment as the prowess of the athletes. They discussed the form of the contestants volubly, and there were many argument concerning the records of the various performers appearing before us, as we'll as the records set by those of other cities and countries. Surprising we'll inform ed they seemed, too, with the times and distances of the sporting guides. When the men took their marks not a sound could be heard from the aud fence, but with the pop of the gun be- diam broke loose. It continued till the race was run and eliminated in nothing more or less than a shriek as the victor broke the tape. Then came more discussions in which one consid- cred himself an authority and his neighbor an ignoramus, so far as sport was concerned"
 The Americans were note quite fa- miliar with some of the minor French rules but these were explained by the Y. M. c. A. and K. of c. athletic dir ectors and they managed to win their share of victories on the track, and when the jumps, hurdles and final weight events were posted it was seen that the men from across the seas had cleaned up as one of elated dodghboys expressed it.
 The affair came to a close with the presentation of ribbons, each accom- panied by neat little speech from the President of French athletic club. In closing, he voiced the hope that these international meets would be- come the order of the day, and his sentiment found approval With the crowd which cheered vociferously. Then the spectators streamed back to town; the question of present per formances and past records evidently being argued to a finish.
 From another source comes view of the passion for sport. inherent in the American, be he soldier or stud ent. An athletic director with the A.. E. F. close to the front line trenches writes.
 "'The boys are simply crazy over sports although they are kept busy all day long with their regular army routine they seize every opportunity to participate in any form of athletic recreation. It may seem very strange thing to you, as it was to me, but you would be surprised to see how comparatively few men can really play baseball. do not mean crack players by any means, I meap the men who handle themselves natur- ally, bat in a natural manner and throw ball with a easy arm motion. In spite of. this they are all more than willing to join in at every opportunity.