The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-13
AMERICAN ARMY PLANS MILITARY
 OL LYMPIC MEET
Gen. Pershing One of Spon sors for Biggest Fixture in History of Athletics
 to be Held in Paris.

Paris. Saturday, Jan. 11-A mann moth military Olympic meet to be held in Paris in May or June, under the direction Of the American army, for athletes from all the Allied fight irg forces, IS projected in plans an nouneed here tonight.
 Gen. PersHing, the American com lnander in chief, who is taking a keen interest in the plans. is sending q personal letter to the commanders ir chief of the armies Of all nations with whom the United States has been associated during the war in- Viting the officers and men to partici- 1pate.
 Twenty-one Allied countries will be asked to take part. and 1t is plan ned that the games will surpass any other athletic competition ever con- ducted in the history cf sports, The games will be financed entirely by the American army ia cooperation with the welfare agencies nov oper- ati1g with lt
 The French Government and the French Army have Given their 3D. lTrova1 of the plan and have promised their hearty cooperation.
 Gen. Persfing's letter of invitation lto the French Army which is a du- lpilcate of those sent 10 the command ttTs of other armies, follows;
 ''Tbe officers and men of the Afnert- can expeditionary forces. being keenly GDpyeoiative of the splendid relations 1Vhlet exist anous thoss who have Horne arms in the great common cause c sr1 1 frssy lave so happily developed into such ;EAeep feelings of mutual respect and lfAmaratton, arc most anxious to pre- Serve and stFeRgt.le this relationship ia every way possible,
 "&9w that active military operations lave ceased they believe that nothing could be more conducive to this ef'I tfhan to gather in friendly competi= lion on the field of sport representa- lives of the armies Of each of the na- Hons whieh have sO long been asso= cisted together in the stern struggle ttoF the right.
 Accordingly, they have decided to orgaBibe an inter-AIiied athletic l5neetiHg to be held in the Colonies lsjtadiam, Paris, during the month Of fsaay or June, 1919, in which officers flld men of all these armies shaH be eligible to take part.
 "As Communicate Chief ef the i American expeditieaary forces, I faavs the honor, therefore, te invite &tlT9agh you, their C0mmander-ia= Chlef, the officers and men of the ar mics of France to participate in the contests and to express the earnest l hope that many may do so and that the ties of the much cherished spirit f of >comradeship which have sprung up from the gallant joint efforts of our forces on the battlefield may thHs be even. more closely eemeated.
 ''Respeetft%y,
 JOHN A. JFETE, SLING G $ Tine plan involves large questions Of organization, finance and operation and the American Army as host will ] assume responsibility in all matters of this kind. The actual operating unit probably will be 8, Games Com mittee whose personnel will be se- lected by the chief athletic officer ei of the American exPeditieRary forces and the committee will be the re. spons.bIa agency and the final au. ] thority on all matters pertaining te the games.
 This committee will ask the var. ious armies each to name two dele ] gates to sit as members of an Aavis ory Council.
 The only sest ta the Aified Ar
 mics participating will be that iH velved in training. transporting equipping and ratiening their ewl competing athletes, These expenses 1t is understood, each army prefer to carry.
 Individual prizes already hay, been provided for and will be Of ar tistie merit with symbolicaI designs It is probable that team trophies aIst ! will be presented.
 Chilean government cancelled moor