New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Ku,uagae to Pzayfo1~
National Net Title
Tennis Association An
nounces That Japanese Star
VIII Be Competitor
Bv Fred Hawthorne

According to q statement issued yes
.srdav By the United States National
lawn Tennis Association, through Paul
Williams, the field secretary. Ichiya
vrnagae, of Japan. the mighty little
-, from cne Far East wno created a
,.t;on-wide sensation in 1915 by his
aueeoing victories over some Of Am
.1ca's greatest lawn tennis players.
ID Going to compete in the national
championship singles tournament that
hssins on the turf courts OF the West
Side Tennis Club, of Forest Hills. l.
l. on August 26-
There have been conflicting reports
=. to Kunagae's stand on the matter.
IN fact. Kunagae himself has been IN
decided as 70 whether he would play
ar not The Japanese star, when he
first reached these shores, early IN
Jnlv. announced that, owing TO the fact
that the great majority OF America >
adrst ten" men were IN the service
ND ' hence unable to compete for the
national title. be did not feel that it
would be right for him to enter.
Showed Commendab1e Spirit
This was a splendid testimonial to
the great Japanese players spirit of
craftsmanship and a direct refuta-
ton of the attitude taken by some
nersons unacquainted with the true
state of affairs, who assumed that
Xumagae was trying to take advantage
Of the absence Of this country's leading
players.
Those who know the little foreigner
from the Far East, however, labor
under no such apprehension. Ku-
maeae entered the national tourney
at Forest Hills in 1916, when men like
Richard Norris Williams, I'd, the pres
ent champion; William NJ. Johnston,
Maurice E. Mclaughlin, Robert Lind
ley Murray and George NJ. Church
were entered, and nothing would
please him more to-day than to com
pete against these same players on
the West Side courts this month.
The game Of lawn tennis in this
countrv is struggling against unusual
conditions this season because of the
great war. Any single feature that
will add 20 the interest of the follow
srs Of the game when the national
tourney begins, the last week IN Au-
gust. will be welcomed by those who
have the welfare of the sport at heart.
Kumagae, playing for our national
title, Will undoubtedly prove tremen-
dous drawing card. Primarily this is
true because the Japanese wizard Of the
racquet is one Of the most stalwart Of
sportsmen in al that the name implies,
and the quality of his game so high
that those who follow the sport are
certain to watch his progress through
the tournament with the greatest in
terest.
Representative Field Expected
While it is not yet definitely settled
as to Just how many of the ranking
PLAYERS Of this country will be able to
compete at Forest Hills, the chances
seem fairly good that several OF the
first ten" will be seen on the West
Side turf The national association is
putting forth every effort TO gather q
representative field together on this
occasion and with kumag2e entered,
an International flavor Will be added
that cannot fail to attract followers of
the game.
The Japanese did not finally make up
his mind 10 enter the lists at Forest
Hills until last week, when officers Of
the association explained to him that
the tournament VIII be held for the
benefit Of the War and Navy depar-
ments Commission on Training Camp
;
Of the championship was a secondary
consideration under the circum stances.
Kumagae has already won the New
York State and Metropolitan singles
titles, both within the space Of three
weeks, and the fear has been expressed
that the national crown would also
fall 70 him But this is a matter Of
doubt, especially # two or three Of ouI
greatest players return to the courts
In time TO compete IN the blue ribbon
syent Of the season.
Galaxy of Stars Here
True it is that Richard Norris VIII
Inns, I'd, the national champion, is now
% the battle line in France, as are
Clarence j. Griffin, OF California; Wat
son n. Weshburn, Of this city; Dean
Eathey and one or two others not 50
well known But a mighty galaxy Of
stars including men ike William NJ.
Johnston and the idolized "Maur1e
Mclaughlin, both from the Golden
West; George Myers Church, Of New
delphia; Harold Throckmorton, of New
Jersey; Frederick 3. Alexander, the old
intsrnationalist; Robert Lindley Mur-
ray, formerly Of California but now OF
the East John R. Strachan, Of Cali
fcrnia, and Craig Biddle, Of Philadel-
phia,, is still On this side Of the At
Iantic, even though in the service, and
It is TO be hoped that some, at least,
among these Will be able 20 take part
at Forest Hills.
Johnston, Mclaughlin, Church, Muir
ray and Tjlden, provided they could
polish Up their games to something
ike the same high standard that dis
anguished their work on the courts last
year or the year before, would stand
better than an even chance OF dethron-
ing Kumagae, and Alexander, Strachan,
Nathaniel W Niles and possibly the
veteran Biddle would also, under the
same conditions, be quite capable of
paying The little Japanese on an even
basis.
Question OF Furloughs
% resolve Itself into the question Of
"netper or not the players mentioned
aOove can secure the necessary fur
.ougas to allow them TO compete in these
gSo tournaments, for il is figured that
!. would require at least three weeks
" tournament play 70 put them on
cage Tor the national test.
4, Il is only in the event that none Of
sne lists az Forest Hills that the ma
sional championship appears in inmi-
nnsnt ns.n danger of going to the Far East.
Mica ia regarded as an almost certain
sANer, while Murray, the meteoric,
smashing, picturesque Murray, who
sISaquered Kumagae in 1918 by the
iaser saser power og his net attack, is also
es.AAey 70 take the courts at the West
olde fennis Club