The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-17
EVERS HERE, DENIES
LIBEL ON BASEBALL.
Rack From France, Johnny
Saws Soldiers Are Not In
censed Against Leagues.
n, GEORGE p. UNDERWOOD.

y
R.ek from battle SCARED France with
Jaws of Matty. Leon Galore, Hank
1ovdy. "chuck" Ward. Joe Jenkins, Jim
sro,t, Alexander. Sherrod Smith, Clar-
.nce Mitchell and other big leaguers
tror over There. Johnny Evers got
Mo port yesterday on board the Lor-
lane.
UDont think for one minute the Anic--
l..n soldier Is down. or ever was down.
~ rig league baseball" said Johnny,
!, the Knights OF Columbus headquar-
an, Yesterday. Don't take stock In any
such yarns, for know different.
now about what the American soldier
kinks Of professional baseball, for I've
b.,n living with them, sleeping with
nam. eating with them and exchanging
condolences with them.
The American soldier r. stronger for
5lr hsarue baseball than ever before. He
knows no profession responded more
,sronelv to the call to arms than did
hsssball Think OF the number OF big
,sgue hall players in service and then
~.m,nber that there aren't more than
-ve hundred players in the big leagues
there we're mighty few sectors OF the
,shtinE front visited in which 1 did
not stumble on some old baseball ac-
iuantance.
EDITORIAL Inspired Tales.
All the pine that was printed in
bone newspapers about the soldiers be-
M sore on baseball emsnated from GER
ain editorials that APPEARED In Stars
and stripes. In no way did they reflect
the opinion OF the doughboys. They
we're printed more for home quoting than
ANYTHING else with intended purpose Of
,ro,,,ing the country. II did not take
h.adquarters long to hush them UP and
stop the injustice.
no, sir" continued Johnny, "our boys
,yAr there haven't any enmity toward
sasebali. The old game is dearer TO
hem than ever before. They can't walt
II they can get home to II. They want
Transported right TO France.
And let me say right here that II
gasnt John McGraw's fault that he did
,,t take a team Of big leaguers over
mere 70 play exhibition games. John
vas ready and willing and did every
hing possible toward completing plans.
The trouble was that there was too
.ngcA red tape
Baseball il spreading like a prairie
0re in France, says Johnny. The French
ave much the same temperament as
ourselves he says. and the action and
re OF the game appeals strongly to
hem.
The French" says Johnny. haven't
any traditions to combat. as have the
British over cricket. The French Gen.
Aral staff ordered baseball to be an on
rial part OF the athletic curriculum at
all Of the military schools, and the sport
IL being introduced throughout the army.
As vet the Frenchmen haven't become
very proficient. but they are trying to be
ard that's the big thing"
Meets Gowdy and jenkins.
Johnny relates an interesting anecdote
about visit IN the front line trenches
outside Verdun with Joe Jenkins. the
White Sox catcher. IT found Lieut.
JeHklns-he may be a Captain now. for
rhen left Paris he was back at an Of
hc'rs school boning for higher posi-
ilon--in a section of tho trenches that
had been taken from the Germans less
han two hours previously Hell was
hreAking all 49,, .. a sudden a
big shell--lt sounded u ME like a whole
ammunition dump-exploded about $50
wards to one side of US
Right In front OF me a soldier, a
young lad. ducked like a scared rabbit
into dugout. followed just like that
rabbits brother, ! was picking myself
UP from the bottom OF the dugout when
Jenkins stuck his head in the doorway
snd laughed. 'Ha! Ha! Ha, Johnny!
Whlt're you afraid OF? Don't you
Know that shell is gone! You never see
t'e one that hits you"
Evers description of his meeting with
Hank Gowdy also is amusing. Gowdy
vas the first bail player Evers met in
France and the two ran into each other
tie day Johnny arrived in Paris.
When ! met Gowdy he just had conre
out of Chateau Thierry.'| said Evers.
HE had been sent along with the rest
o. lis OUTFIT to Paris TO recover from the
strain"
What Johnny Evers" was HAMS
erecting 10 me. You here? You dari. d
DOL Go back"
Yep says Johnny. Hank advised
ne 10 get right out OF there and go
Yet three weeks later" said Evers.
got letter from Hank In which he
'6d me about being right in the thick
~ TIE fighting and the whole tone OF
ne letter lowed how be enjoyed it
The strain OF battle can't long affect the
courage Of a fellow as nervy as Gowdy."
Matty Had the "FIu.~
E'ers was much surprised when he
vas 'old Ty Cobb was reported to have
o.rired on the Leviathan yesterday.
tommy said he scarcely believed IT, "a
i'' days before left Paris" said
.''nny u saw Ty along with Matty,
nEFoS Haughton. president OF the
Braves and Branch Hickey at the army
'"a9Garters at Chaumont None Of
EN- al that time had any idea OF leav-
Tor home. All OF them were well,
,lA the exception of Matty, who Just
!aa been down with a two weeks at
@ o' The influenza and still was con-
Yal'sclrg.
l9Anuy sad he hadn't met Grover
,@'ateH' but that lie heard plenty OF
. Aeck,' said Evers. rs with the
va Fed Artillery along with Chuck
arg and Clarence Mitchell OF the
o1eets and Lambert OF the Cleveland
NneF'Cans' They all play on the regl-
,'' nine, When left Paris Alexis
'-o, was headed toward Germany. He
member of one OF the divisions that
o"rpyng the neutral territory along
's ""T bank Of the Rhine"