The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-26
AMERICAN ATHLETICS
GAIN REMARKABLE
HOLD ON FRENCH
(By Associated Press)

NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-The remark
able hold which the American athlet-
les and sport gained in France with
the entry Of the United States Army Is
being illustrated in many ways and
there are Indications that the return
to peaceful conditions will only avg
ment this popularity. Competent OBJ
servers hold firmly to the opinion that
the coming years will witness Won
derful growth in international sport
competition, the seeds of which have
been sown by the soldier in khaki and
those who entered Europe, with him In
advisory or other helpful capacity.
That the French army authorities
realized the value Of athletics as eX-
amplified by the American soldier and
sailor is shown by the appointment of
special instructors from the Y. M. C.
A. Foyer du Soddat ranks. These
American coaches are faced by most
unusual and complicated task, but
have tackled the work with vim so
characteristic in sport in this country
and are already able to report encour-
aging progress. They found them
selves confronted from the start by
conditions that have no parallel in the
United States. At home, the coach
practically never has to teach the fun
damentals of any game. his pupils ac-
quire those in childhood. But in
France, athletics must be built from
the ground up" Instead of organic
ing and continuing sports that are al
ready known, the Foyer du Soldat men
must be literally pioneers.
AS the first problem is to teach new
games, the work is necessarily ele-
mentary. Instead of taking material
that is well-grounded in the things de-
sired and putting a fine edge on the
individual skill and teamwork, the
American working with the French
must treat his task entirely from the
standpoint of amusement and distrac-
ton
The Frenchman is by nature and
temperament sportsman, and is able
to learn American games very quick
ly Unfortunately for the rapid
growth of sports that require throwing
and catching there have been no games
generally played in France that de-
velop muscular coordination OF the
hands, arms and shoulders. For this
reason baseball basketball and volley
ball will prove especially valuable in
giving the French a well balanced de-
velOpment
Within the past few months the
French military authorities have found
this work of so much benefit, where
conducted upon an informal and volun-
tary basis, that they have officially ap-
pointed Foyer men in charge of ath-
letics in several training camps and
schools. In view of the fact that de-
mobilization is expected to extend
over a considerable period. these APP
pointees and others are likely to re-
tain their billets for long time.
Among those now serving in this ca
pacity are included:
Lawrence OConner, athletic direc-
tor for the aviation school at Pau,
where the ccmmandant has ordered
all men on duty there to devote three
quarters of an hour each day to sports.
Mr. O'Connor comes from New York
city. At Camp de Ger. r. l.. Wiggin
has assumed GRACE of the athletic pro-
gram He comes from Limerick, Me,
is a Bowdoin college graduate, and
taking up Y. NJ. c. A. work in France.
Raymond l.. Carnes, Of Omaha, is di-
recting sports at Agen, another train
ing center in the southern part OF
France He is a Dartmouth man and
was supervisor of physical education
in Omaha The experience gained in
his work at home has enabled him to
achieve signal success among the
French students placed under his
charge.