Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-06-08
AS THE FRENCH
SEE BASEBALL
Distinguished Writer'S Account
Ut Game Played in France

In recent issue of lie Mauvais
Parisienne. appears an account of a
baseball game played between teams
from the American Expeditionary
Forces somewhere in France" the
account being written by NJ. Adolph
Max, distinguished war correspond
ent.
After paying a flattering tribute to
our soldiers over there Max plunges
ahead thusly:
This game, of which our beloved
comrades in arms speak in terms
grand, is q puzzle to the uninitiated
and 1t is OF this reason that /, who
have come at once from one of the
combats, should make all clear. Brief.
ly, this game Is performed without
the houses and a long Instrument
she is of wood and is peculiarly de-
nominated 'bat'-with which the play
ers, OF which there are eighteen d.
vided in half, make collision with the
ball thereby escaping injuries SER
ious. Stationed where they cannot
interfere with the viewpoint OF the
spectators are the players.
Now, my dear friends, that you a
clear comprehension of this game
have gained, shall proceed as the
sportsman writers American do and
apportion the battle into nine phases:
Inning No. ALERT, Nine of these
players have the field traversed Each
of them have with caution protected
their hands right and one has the
wisdom superb to safeguard his anato-
mique with a cushion pneumatique.
Again, alert! gentleman in uniform
blue speaks with feeling of the artil-
lery lin the technique OF the game
1t Is announcing the batteries), a play
er takes a posture facing him and
waves the bat
at Is possible he conspires to kill
his Opponent No. 9-he OF the cushion
| pneumatique who stands directly to
the rear. All, yes! that II is-for see
Opponent No. 1, with thought of mag
nificent quickness hurls the ball mad
ly at this would-be Apache. Sacre!
He has missed! But fast does he of
the cushion pneumatique return the
ball grenade to his savior. And the
player with the great club?
Palermo, he is hardened and plays
with his victim. saying, I'll get him
on the one next
Once more, my friend-alert! See
the ball grenade is again the air in!
What rapidity! What certainty OF
aim-ah, quake thou Apache rascal of
the club! But no! How Is this? The
villain degraded has cunningly hit the
grenade with his club, the spectators
by half are wildly indignant (shout-
in 'toabaggere, tobaggere," mean
ing, one of them informed me, re-
yenge)
Their clubber, his dark heart, II
is no doubt to me, palpitating, takes
to his heels. He runs with splendid
quickness direct at player who Is
standing on a mat. 1t is quite appar.
ent this player is a confederate, for
the vile Apache converses with him
amicably and stays there, 1t 10 no
doubt to me, to form a league for evil
further"
II is clear that here Mr.. Max's at.
tention was diverted TO something be-
sides the Apache" and, incidentally,
the game. because he closes Timing
No. l. by saying the players revers.
ed their positions and a sign signifi.
cant of zero was hung up to an ac-
compartment of cheers"
Discussing the spectators, Max
noted their strained expressions and
attributed them to practice OF drink.
ing favored water carbonlque from
bottles" He states that he was sur.
prised TO find spectators throwing
these bottles at the gentleman in the
uniform blue" and that he finally in.
auired about II, A very polite soldier
who had just hurled his bottle told
Max that the gentleman was suspect
ed of being a Boche.
Concluding his account the French
journalist assures his readers that the
hint about the gentleman being a
Bocho didn't get past him and that
he had Immediately placed the gentle.
man as suspect" with the nearest of.