Douglas Island news., 1918-01-25
FAN" SUPPORT
 WILL WIN WAR
European Situation Is Likened to Big League Baseball by
 Prominent Writer

The following article by Grant Hand Rice is issued by tho Committee lon Public Information:
 Every one knows about what the fighting man has ahead, His busi- mess, m the main, is to fight.
 But how about Che work of those back of Che lines?
 ! have in mind, as a prelude, two maiorlcaguc ball clubs. The first team had Che leadership and Che ma tcrial Co win with There was no question Of this. But thc fan sup port at home was lacking both in ,hc way of attendance and direct encouragement The home fans ap- parcuuy took it for granted their club would win the ponnant and for this. or other reasons. were luke warm in their support and overcrit- icol of any managerial or playing mistakes
 Plain, Human Nature
 The result was a purely human turn. The club finally became dis couragcd. began to sag In morale, began to wonder just what the use was in playing for that type Of sup port Needless to say it lost the flag The second team had good, average material. but nothing bor- dcring upon thc invincible. But it carried thc ull and complete sup port of its home fans who paid their money at Che box oTlcc and who stood back of their club on tho field. as loyal in defeat as in vic- . tory Back iu thc Handstand and !. thc hlcachcrs they helped Co fight l. for thc'r club. This team. with It's morale finely nodded by such sup- port. fought its way Co the front, and held che peak against better looking clubs.
 These are not hypothetical cases. They arc not what might have hap peucd They arc what actually took Iplace.
 War is only a game upon a mighty scale Like any other game it re- guircs leadership, material, team play, training, sacri1cc-and sup |port back Of the lines
 Nerve Behind the Lines
 "What are Che concrete, definite ways of giving this support back of Che lincs?"
 "This war" remarked Ian Hay ! Mai Bcith recently, "will be won by Che Allies Co a certainty, 1T the Iucryo and nerves of tho people back of Che lines only hold out"
 Nerve and thc control Of nerves is needed back of the lines fully as much as in Che field
 What other ways arc there? There is am old golf maxim which advises "Kocp your eye on the ball."
 There are too many men who keep their eye on certain ujunctions to IHclp Hooycr;" Cut down down the meat supply" "Economize;" Buy Liberty bonds;" Help tho Red Cross" etc., etc.
 Their Eve is focused properly, but their Mind is not yet rightly ad- . iustcd.
 Those back of the lines, who are not in position Co serve at tho front, can help immcosurably to win this war and end it with greater speed ! If they will only keep their Minds upon the iniunctions of the day ! il they will keep their Minds upon economiling, upon sacrificing, upon swinging into line with the most effective Team Play the world has ever known
 The entry who docs his bit" on the ball field never wins a pcnnant Inc is the one who "docs his all."
 There isn't an American who doesn't wish down through the depths of his soul for a swift and proper ending of this war. This goal can only be reached by united team play back of the lines, by united sacrifice, united economy. united aid. united loyalty. united concentration upon the main object ahead, thc winning and tho ending of thc war. The longer citizens put lon their day of complete sacrifice. of needed economy, of complete team play, thc longer this war goes on