The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-30
GERMAN ATHLETES
LACK HEAD WORK
war IL Demonstrating suP~riorttr Of
RnEio-Saxon Methods In
sports.

4 British contemporary makes some
comparisons regarding English and
German sport incitnations and draws
military conclusions. What Is said
about the English in this connection
VIII go. OF course. for Americana.
Whether the conclusions are altogether
Warranted is hard TO say AT any rate
the ideas are Interesting. Here Ia the
yarn:
IF powder aud bullets and Internal
devices were taken away from the con-
tending armies in Europe the British
soldiers would be at the Rhine within
a few weeks" writes war observer
from Europe. This statement was made
ro show that the English and their CO.
lonfals. and of course. their new Amer
lean allies are vastly better in hand
io-hand fghting khan their German
foes. The reason given for this CON
dltton js the Brtton's traditional love
Of game For hundreds Of years
ENGLAND has been a nation of sports
work hard as he may. the Br4tou Will
find time each week for a bit Of eve
ling. cricket. football. and what not.
and this condition has developed a raee
Of men that are capable OF taking care
of themselves in personal combat, The
German, on the other hand, follows in
hts sport the same bent that he shows
IN military work Gymnastics are the
leading sport in Germany while these
class exercises develop fine muscles.
they do not train the mind along with
the body. as do sports in which the
participant is called upon to make de-
cisions for himself, and that in the
fash Of a fraction OF a second. Glass
eymnasticS are suitable TO the German
mind. IN which discipline Is foremost.
As long as Germany sticks to class
work in athletics, she will never be
various forms Of athletic effort,
Lack Individuality.
Glasses OF German gymnasts. num-
berlng hundreds, can go through evo-
buttons IN absolutely fauttless style,
but in events in which individual eff
fort and decision count the German ss
generally beaten. Germany had but
two men who were serious contenders
in the track and fei-. events al Stock
holm In I3i2--Braun. in the middle dis
lance runs, and Lische, in the high
jump. Both were beaten by Americans.
The Germans had equal ability. but did
not measure up to the task of compel
ing with Yankee brain power. Braun
was beaten by the American half-milers
after he had the race almost won. and
Lische was outgamed by Alva Rich
ards In the high jump.
The sports that are helping British
soldiers greatly In this war are foot
ball. baseball, boxing and running.
These are being featured in every
training camp in Great Britain. Foot
hall Is. of course. closest to the Brit
on's heart. Baseball he disliked at
first. but he is playing 1t now. Box
ing Is being taught to the British sol
diers on the theory that the art of 5sh-
hing and defending makes them better
men with the bayonet Running Is COM
pulsory in every British training
camp. and perhaps this is why King
Georges soldiers are displaying such
pep when they 60 over the top
British officer is quoted as saying that
soccer football Is the soldiers ideal
sport. This game can be played well
without the terrific hardening process
necessary for tho American games. 1t
can be played oftener and with more
men on . side. 1t 10 considered superior
to baseball because the players get
more leg and lung exercises than they
do in playing Americas national game.
The German tennis team that COM
peted in the Davis cup matches OF 1914
was composed of Otto Froitsheim and
Oscar Kreuxer. Froitsheim was the
singles star. Both Of these fellows
atm are playing tennis when opportne
nity presents itself. Their court 10 .
military prison in England. Tho mill
tary prison happens to be their pres
ent address.