The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-06
FRENCH ATHLETES
WERE MORE 1.-THE
But in the Heavier Events They Were
No Match for the Americans in
Track Meet in France.

New York, Nov 6.--Au interesting ae.
count of Franco American track meet,
held recently in an American army base
town in France, has reached this eoun-
try In part it is as follows:
Before the war, the park where the
events were held had been undoubtedly
well cared for, but the scarcity of man
power for non-essential pursuits ac-
counted for the grass grown walks and
lettering fences. The grandstand, in
deed, held vivid reminder Of the strug-
gle in progress many miles to the north
OF us, for II was packed from floor to
ceiling with war supplies.
Most of the events at an army track
meet are run off in military form. No
spike shoes or running suits are allowed,
the contestants being put on their marks
in ordinary army brogans, the regulation
puttees and army brooches, This meet,
however, was more pretentious and the
contestants began to make their appear
ance in long-forgotten running suits. Al
though billed as a Franco-American
meet, there was sprinkling of other
nationalities, drawn from the armies of
the allies Before the interested crowd
they limbered up their muscles and test
ed the boards at the jumps.
"The French athlete is not as sturdy
specimen OF humanity, as his Ameri-
can friend, but his litheness and quick.
ness supply the seeming deficiency In
the sprints and the jumps 1t stands him
in good stead, but the weight generally
find him in the ruek. The contestants
this afternoon were we'll matched, some
Of the heats were bitterly fought out,
and honors seemed in fair way TO be
even.
TO the stranger, the enjoyment Of
the bystanders furnished quite as much
entertainment as the prowess of the
athletes. They discussed the form of
the contestants voluhly, and there were
many arguments concerning the rec
ords of the various performers appear.
ing before us, as well MS the records
set by those of other cities and coun-
tries, Surprisingly well informed they
seemed, too, with the times and dis
tances of the sporting guides When the
men took their marks not q sound could
be heard from the audience, but with
the pop OF the gun bedlam broke loose.
II continued till the race was run and
eliminated in nothing more or less than
shrek as the victor broke the tape.
Then came more discussions in which
one considered himself an authority and
his neighbor an ignoramus, so far as
sport was concerned
The Americans were not quite famil-
lar with some Of the minor French rules.
but these were explained by the Y NJ C.
A. and K of c. athletic directors and
they managed to win their share OF vic
tories on the track, and when the jumps,
hurdles and final weight events were
posted it was seen that the men from
across the seas had cleaned up as one
Of the elated doughboys expressed it.
The affair came to a close with the
presentation Of ribbons, each accompa.
MED by neat little speech from the
president of the French athletic club. In
closing, he voiced the hope that these in
ternational meets would become the or.
der of the day, and his sentiment found
approval with the crowd, which cheered
vociferously Then the spectators
streamed back to town; the question Of
present performances and past records
evidently being argued TO a finish.