New Britain herald., 1919-04-14
! kENCH AMAZED
 AT YD ATHLETES
$500 Soldiers Take Part in
 Games Before Departure for U. s.

All account or the 26th divisions fare--ell athletic meet at Hccomoy s1fance' IS Siven by Frank P. Sibley, speclal correspondent of the Boston Ilope' which, he says, aroused the adLnlratlon of the American expedi- tionary forces and the wonder of the hrench inhabitants of the province
 of Serth. Though $500 men took part III the meet, which extended over three days, details were arranged be-
 Iofehand so well that there was not
 hitch. The achievement was dis
 tinctly a. military one, the Young
 Mems Christian association supplying peAly the boxing rings and equipment
 The tournament was so arranged as
 to test thoroughly the mems military
 and physical f1tness as well as to give
 absorblng interest to them. While
 the fighting was going on the men
 realized they must keep fit but after
 the armlsttce home was the only goal, and delay made it hard to keep them
 up to the mark. The athletic pro-
 gram was designed to overcome the
 tendency to let things slide, and this
 tournament gave the Yankee division
 the honor of giving the finest dem
 onstration of what can be done with
 that program. For 8 month the men
 kept themselves keyed up to the high
 
 marked with gameness, intelligence
 and fine spirit of sportsm anship,
 which continually brought cheers from
 the 10000 doughboys who looked on
 Co. D, 104th infantry, of FIolyolke
 won the high honors of the meet, taking the prizes for the best com pany and best platoon. The 104th also won the heavyweight boxing cham pionship and first in mental alertness and the tUg-of-war. oC. D is com manded by Lieut.. Edwin D. Martin of Springfield and is made up mainly of Holyoke, Fitchburg and Concord men. The 104th received the division cup, presented by Major Harry c. Hale, and each individual winner or member of winning team A received medal presented by E. A. F'ilene of Boston. In presenting the cup and medals to the commanding officers of the winning teams, Gen. Hale said:
 "In congratulating you on the fine showing made during the past three days, I wish to thank you also for the clean way you have played these games You have been wonderfully successful. You have done your work, 2 one and all. You have played like # sportsmen. At the front, so in games. < you have shown the spirit of real # fighters. wish at this time also 10 thank the Young Mems Christian association men and women; the # mem bers of the divisional staff, the military police and all the men and officers who have helped to make X these days memorable. It gives me X peculiar pleasure and honor to pin these medals upon you."
 The summary of events follows, & c,4 TA I01st infantry. and Co. c. 103d ma chine gun battalion; Co. F. 1o2d in- fantry 3dj Co. B, 1o1st artillery train, 4tn Co. ID is from Medford and K Boston. Co. c from Vermont and Rhode Island. Co. F from New Haven
 and Hartford. Co. B from Vermont
 and Massachusetts.
 Best platoon--Co. D, 104th infan- K Cry. from Holyoke, Fttchhurg and A Concord.
 Best company-Co. D, 1o4th lnfanr AA trys Ed, Co, H, 103d infantry (Maine S3 and New Ham pghire national Ruard) ; s8 sd, Battery D. 103d field artillery # Gold Rhode Island and Connecticut 88 arttllery)' 4th, Co. F, 1o2d infantry and Go, D, 10tst infantry (New Ha-
 ven, Hartford, Boston and Charles
 town).
 Football passing---Co. D, 103d ma chine gun battalion (Vermont and HH Conneeticut). 1st 1o1st engineers N (Maasahcugatts), 2d; Co. K, 104th in &@ \ fantry (Springheld and LowelD, Sd:
 moist infantry (Boston and Fttch- N lburg), 4th.
 A@ Equipment race-The teams from SA fhe 102d and 104th infantry tied for x dirst.
 H8 Tug-of-war - Headquarters com- 3 pany, 1O4th infantry Springfield S8 fG1oucester and Somerville), 1st; Co., 3 fH, 1o3d infantry (salem). 2d; Co. B H8 n o3d machine gun (Rhode Island and Bs Vermont), Sd; supply company, 101st #H anfantry (Boston), 4th #8 Tent p1tching-~H eadquarters com neany, 102d infantry (Connecticut) &# list; Co. IT, 1o4th infantry (Worces, Her and Saleml, 2d; Go. E. 101st in, 6antry (Boston), Sd; battery D, 1o1s aeld artillery (Salem), 4tF. Soccer football -1O2d infantrs $ (AIaine. New Hampshire and Yer H# Hnont) beat 102d field artillery (Mass achusetts and Rhode 1sland) Gas mask race-1 01st infantry, 1st NA 5st provisional regiment 2d; 104tl < infantry 3d. 1o1st field artillery, 4th
 Rugby football-103d machine gu1 and 101st infantry. tied. to O.
 Boxing lightweight, Private Doc Hey, 101st engineers; middleweight M Forporal Morris, 101st engineers, wo1 x M from Corporal Horton, 101st field ar &# aillery; bantamweight, Corporal Leon Prd, f01st infantry, won from Ser fscant King. 101st sanitary train; ban ## salnwCight champ pion8hip, Private An areWs lO4th infantry, won by default ## lis opponent falling to make weight # Heavyweight Private Bernard F Flynn of Pittsfe1d. l04th infantry 1cfa