The Washington times., 1918-01-12
BLEACHER|TESARE
NEEDED TO ASSIST
SOLDIERS IN GAME
by GRANTLAND RICE.

BY GHANTLAND XII h.
Every one knows about what the
fighting man has ahead. His bust
ness, in the main. is to fight.
But how about the work of those
back OF the lines?
/ have in mind. as a prelude. two
major league ball clubs. The first
team had the leadership and the ma
terial to win with. There was no
question of this. But the fan support
at home was lacking-both in the,
way of attendance and direct encour-
agement. The home fans apparently
took II for granted their club would
wind the pennant and for this, or
other reasons. were LUX ewarm in their
support. and over-critical of any man
agerial OF playing mistakes.
The result was a purely human
turn. The club finally became dis
couraged, began to sag in morale.
began 20 wonder just what the use
was in playing for that type Of sup
port. Needless TO cay il lost the
flag. The second team had good,
average material, but nothing Dor
dering upon the invincible. But it
carried the full and complete sup
port of its home fans who paid their
money at the box office and who
stood back of their club on the field
as loyal i'm defeat as in victory. Bark
in the grandstand and the bIeachers
they helped 10 fight for their club. '
This team. with its morale finely /
nodded by such support. fought its
way to the front. and held the peak |
against better looking clubs.
These are not hypothetical cases.
They are not what might have hap
pened. They are what actually took
place.
War L. Only q Game.
War is only a game upon a mighty
scale. Like any other game, il re-
quires leadership. material, team play,
training. sacrifce-and support back
of the lines.
What are the concrete, definite ways
OF giving this support back OF the
line?
This war" remarked Ian Hay
Major Beith) recently, will be won
by the allies TO a certainty. IL the
nerve and nerves of the people back
Of the lines only hold out
Nerve and the control OF nerves Is
needed back of the lines fully as
much as in the field.
What other ways are there?
There is an old golf maxim which
advises, Keep your eye on the ball.,
This maxim il Incorrectly arranged.
Il should read, Keep your mind on
The ball"
There are too many who keep their
Eye on certain injunctions to Help
Hoover. cut down the meat sup
ply "Economize." BUY Liberty
1nndG - a.Ia1n I
Their eye is focused properly. but
heir mind is not yet rightly adjusted.
Those back OF the lines who are
not in position TO serve a. the front,
IAN help immeasurably II win this
var and end IL with greater speed IL
hey Will only keep their minds upon
The injunctions of the day-if they
viii keep their minds upor. economic
ng, upon sacrificing. upon swinging
INTO line with the mos; efTel tive team
play the world has ever known.
Must "DO His All"
The entry who does his bit" .on the
ball field never wins pennant. 1t is
The one who docs his all"
There isn't an American who doesn't
wish down through the de- tbs OF his
soul for a swift and proper ending
u. NniS war. ! us goal can only be {
reached by united team pay back OF 5
The lines. by united sacrImce, united
economy. united aid, united. loyalty. :
united concentration upon the main
object ahead. the winniL:: and the ,
ending Of the Wat. The longer citi- .
zens pu' or their day Of complete ,
sacrifice. Of needed economy, % COM ,
plete team play, the longer this war )
goes on apd the greater the, sacrifice !
that waits ahead
Many pennant has been Iost-manv !
1 football game has gone HronC-be- :
'alse each man thought the other fel /
ow would make the play or do The :
york. Team play is built Of 10 such
h"ught. IL II made up Of opposite in +
;redicnts-t - made up u eacl, nan
aking upon himself ;hc job Of doing his
ull and complete share. leaving nothing
o fate. luck. or destiny. taking nothing
or granted but the accomplishment OF
he job at hand.
United for team play back OF the lines
Is IL will be at the front, the United /
states will have the impetus 10 carry {
t to the greatest goal the world has I
ver dreamed ola swift and proper
eace '