The Cordova daily times., 1918-06-27
AMERICAN DAY
 CELEBRATED AT ITALIAN FRONT

American Young Mems Christian Association is developing in Italy. Major General de Gorgio and many officers of high rank were present, and some 10000 troops were assembled from the nearby fighting front. From the vast plain where the exer- cises were held one could see the mountain defenses of Mount Grappa and Mount Tomba, and further back the distant lines of the enemy posi- tions.
 General de Gorgio had designated the day American Day" in recogni- tion of the American cooperation in the affair; the American consul at Venice, MT. Carroll, and his wife were present; American flags waved at every hand; the official program showed the American and Italian colors entwined; the Italian military bands played "The Star-Spangled Ban ner' and there were many evidences of cordial good will toward the American allies.
 The military games carried out the | plan of the Y. M. c. A. of applying athletics to large groups, even up to regiments and battalions, instead of to individuals. One set of contestants were 40 men from each of number of regiments. These parties of 40 ran over five mile course, with suc- cessive lines of of obstruction of trenches, barbed-wire entanglements, ditches and barricades. One of the barricades was a three-stOry house, which had to be scaled by climbing up the window cornices on one side and down the other
 Another contest was between the machine-gun sections aided by engi- neers, who forded streams and set up pontoon bridges, while the gun ners crossed with their guns and ammunition, set up hastily construct ed lines of works and opened up a fusillade with blank cartridges. | At the same time another fusillade was coming from the hand-grenade lsaanteat zSlaich sxanps man represented all the infantry and assault battalions.
 In pulling the rope the artillery regiments were pitted against each other, sixteen men from each regi- ment, and in the football the engi- neers were matched against the artillery
 The appearance of the Bohemian unit, recently organized from natives of Austria's big province, was the sig nal for tremendous enthusiasm. They wore the red and white athletic cos tune of the Bohemian gymnasiums, and in open order stretched across the plain and went through the Bohemian manual of arms with it's slow and graceful physical exercises. Keeping time with their movements they in toned the Bohemian national hymn, and as they closed great banner was raised from their ranks bearing the inscription, Long Live Bohemia. Long live Italy,.
 Many handsome prizes were given to the successful regimental teams, the American Y. M. c. A. taking a leading part in this branch of the exercises. General de Gorgio also paid special tribute of appreciation to the officers of the Bohemian troops by presenting watches to them. Mrs. Carroll, wife of the American consul, conferred the gifts on the several officers. And in order that none of the 10000 soldiers should be disap. pointed, the American Red Cross brought camions loaded with ten thousand packages, each containing some useful articles of soldiers wear and food.
 One of the most notable features of this affair was that these splendid athletes, full of enthusiasm and vigor linen who could run five miles and scale three-story house-were part of the Second army, it was the Sec ond army, it will be recalled, that bore the brunt of the tremendous Austrian rush last fall, when the re- treat was made back to the present Piave mountain lines. There was some murmuring at the time when the Second army gave way before the terrific onrush. But all this mur- muring is past now, and the splendid vigor of the reconstructed Second army was reflected today in the steadiness, enthusiasm and pride dis