The Washington times., 1918-02-07
Joe MUCH HUSTLES
TO MAKE SOLDIERS
CRACK ATHLETES

East Potomac Park, down where
the icy waters are now all damned
up. will most likely become the sport
ing center OF the District of Columbia
a. soon as Lieut. Joseph Much's plans
bear fruit. And the Lieutenant says
he wants that to happen as soon as
possible.
It's now Lieut. Joseph Much. /. (.
A., but Il used to be just plain Joe
Much, detective in the Police Depart
mSnt here. And he's proving quite a.
much OF q live wire in the army AMI
he used to be around the District
building.
K Company. Ffsdeth Regular !nfan-
try, L. s. A. vas hit hard yesterday
when 100 men were ordered on guard
duty at II O'Clock in thg morning. for
Lieutenant Much had an athletic
show csrded for the COmpeny's rccre-
alton room. The boys guarding the
camp missed the sport, but a lot OF
coast artillery lads were invited and
replaced them.
Nelson the Attraction.
Battling Nelson, former worlds
lightweight champion, was the main
attraction. When Nelson got down
to business as referee of the prelim-
mary bouts the recreation room was
packed and damned. the khakiclad
lads climbing up everything available
that would give them a good view OF
the former ring star. When all the
room was gone dozens of soldiers
went outside and viewed the show
through the windows.
K Company IS Just fresh IN Wash
inEton, coming from Charlotte. Y. G.
but the boys are strong for the new
camp already. Lieutenant Much has
promised to provide boxing shows
every week as soon as things are run
ming smoothly. And they'll provide
the boxers from their own members,
TOO, which makes it all the better.
Jack Cunningham and Kid McCau-
ley. both Washington featherweights,
gave three fast rounds to open yeS-
terday's show, Bat Nelson acting as
iimekeeper and referee.
Mike CraIne in Form.
Nike Uraine. Washington's Fight
ing Cop" was in fine form. and his
sizzling set-to with Shankey Gardner
set the soldiers TO applaUding.
Joe Turner and Frank ZareGa wres-
tied for ten minutes. greatly to the .
delight of the soldiers. Both athletes ,
were in shape, and showed some fast /
work on a mat that insisted on slid I
SnE around.
Battling Nelson closed the exhibit 1
Gon with his newest boxing dummy, /
illustrating his various blows and |
showing the value OF such a dummy
in building up the body. Then came /
an impromptu swatfest, when four
soldiers put on gloves and went at
che dummy. They slammed IL all
around the room.
Much IL EnthuSiRstIc.
lieutenant Much is an enthusiast
Or the subject Of providing amuse-
naent for his boys 4 large number
Of the men are rockies, with veterans
among thc~l 10 provide
balance. They are all strangers IN
and are only too glad to .
have the lieutenant's plans succeed.
"As soon as we get things running
SAID Lieutenant Much.
''we'Te going TO have cNh Buttons for
the boys every week. II Is easy 70
work from that, with company rivalry
growing TO help along
81 am in hopes OF having a suitable
building erected here to permit OF
basketball games The boys are all
snHiOus 10 get into basketball, but
right now their chances are nil Il Is
2 new camp. you see. without all the
barracks finished yet.
But keep your eyes on the F'iftieth
Infantry. We're going TO have some
great bouts here"