New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
| 2~Game Soccer
Series Plan for
Belgians' Visit
BY c. A. Lovett

The champion soccer team of the
Belgian army is assured of warm
reception when it pays its visit to this
the War Department Commission on
Training Camp Activities and tho
United States Football Association
Chai rman Raymond B. Fosdick of the
War Departm athletic promotion
body recently consulted with Belgian
army authorities at Havre, and it is
expected that plans for the invasion of
the footbalers of King Albert's bat
tered nation will be announced from
Washington in the very near future.
A coastto coast tour by the Bel
gians is contemplated. Probably open
ing with a game at the national cap
ital. the visiting kickers will face a
schedule OF about dozen games, it is
expected. Philadelphia, New York,
Pawtucket or Fall River, Boston, Cleve-
land. Detroit, Chicago. St. Louis, Salt
Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles and
San Francisco are virtually assured Of
contests involving the soldier team.
Those in charge of arrangements for
the visit from the eleven from Belgium
hesitate to schedule matches at any Of
y,
ful lest charges of favoritism emanate
from training camps not awarded
matches in which the Belgians par
ticipate And, Of course. it is consid-
cred out of the question to attempt to
schedule visits by the Belgians to all
of the army and navy training stations
IN this country. or even to the larger
cantonments, such as Camp Upton,
Camp Sheridan, Carry Funston and the
oH 20 hut
nous Tank Corps training place, Camp
Colt, at Gettysburg, Penn, and the
Pelham, Boston and Great Lakes naval
training stations
Inter-Army Games Planned
Doubtless Che Belgian fighters will
meet several United States army teams
while over here. An attempt will be
made to make the game at Washington
a truly international army event. Camp
Funston's claim to the army soccer
championship of this country has been
undisputcd, but it. so happens that the
entire Funston team which cleaned up
Middle Western cities last winter only
few weeks ago sailed for France, and
the eleven taking its place at the Kan
sas cantonment lacks the calibre of the
team which was made up from the very
pick of the mule-hide hooters Of the
CenCTal Western states.
It is estimated that $4,000 of the
United States in the l916-'17 season
now are ir khaki or blue. Certainly
the cream Of the country's footballers
are lost to the professional fields, and
the only powerful kicking machines re-
naming intact are those representing
PLANTS engaged in war work such as
the Bethlehem Steel F. c.. which re-
Gently reclaimed the national cham
pionship from the Fall River Rovers.
But If it is made possible by army
chiefs on this side a strong representa-
tive team can be gathered from half
q dozen environments Of the East and
South, which have been little affected
by embarkations to date = q team
capable of giving good account of
itself against the Be'eians and worthy
Of representing the whole of the United
States army. If such a combination is
gotten together it will, in all lkeli-
hood, oppose the Belgian outfit at
Washington.
Big Match for Gotham
Probably second In interest will be
match between the Bclgians and the
national champion Bcthlehems, and it
1t counted probable this event will be
staged at the Polo Grounds, New York
''N'AN0 e1iC clItiIS pTOCeeuS from all OF
the matches in which the Belgian SOL
dlers compete will go to Belgian re-
lief funds, it might be possible to
stage the New York game on q Sun
day afternoon.
Cuba has extended, through the U
5. r; A., an invitation to the Belgians
to play three game series in Havana
in connection with their visit to the
United States. William A. Camnbell
who is the leading figure in soccer on
the sugar and tobacco producing island
gives assurance that tt re will be no
deductions from the gross receipts even
for the expense of staging the games.
If the CubanBelgian series can be ar.
ranged.
Plans for sixteen-club Shipbu;ld-
ers' and Steelmakers' Soccer Leaeue
embracing clubs from many Atlantic
coast states, are reaching tho noint
where direct atfiliation with the T. s
r. A. is about to be asked. No doubt the
National Commission of the U. s 2
Will grant a provisional affiliation
under which the new strongly baclted
organization can operate next season
and until the U. S. F. A. Council ;n
annual meeting. can vote full affilia.
tion. wa GA 'i"-
Ma(Ieu Erl1uk. - N