Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-01

w 800 900 fighting Americans, struch
the st. Mihiel salient last September,
and twenty four hours later their ad-
| vance patrols met their Nigneulles, there
were only twenty correspondents TO send
back less than 30. 900 words in chron-
irling the downfall of Mont Sec, a four
| wear barrier of gore and death.
4 few weeks later, when the First
Army, raised to over Too.ooo men,
struck forward through the black ana
rainy dawn from the Arsonne to the
| MeuSe. over sector where human blood
gushed and bubblcd from 10000 human
fountains. only twenty-five correspond
ents were there to chronicle at close
range one of the battle epics of all
time.
When Jess Willard and Jack Demp-
spy far from the bloody sod that ran
from Flanders to Lorraine, meet three
DAYS away, over 400 correspondents
will send back over 600. 900 words to
tell the story of contest that can
last but forty minutes at most.
It's a queer. quaint and amazing ex-
iStence. Both Willard and Dempsey,
on July T. will leave the ring
about as they entered it. there being
a vast and widespread existence be-
tween a six ounce glove and six
inch shell between a left jab and a
machine gun. Over 400 trained writer's
will furnish you the answer as to how
each leaves.
But there are 10000 ghosts who will
never leave the Argonne woods, and
the only chronicler that most of these
have known is, the "killed in action"
written on a wooden cross.
No Alibi for Loser
Oh. well. maybe it is better. for those
who can. to forget st. Mihiel and the
Argonne They belong to the past.
while Mr.. Willard and Mr.. Dempsey
still have three more days to hold
the noisy adulatiOn of the crowd SO.
on with the dance where ribald JOY
may ramble uncontined.
AS the day of contest approaches il
is a noticeable fact that supporters OF
both men grow more and more con
fident There is no trimming on either
side.
, Roth men have crossed the training
) line in top condition to give the best
they have. The loser will have nc
alibi to offer, which doesn't mean that
he will not offer one just the ,same
} And very likely in long, loud ant
t QuerulOus terms.
Dempsey finished his last importan
; workout with only a few preliminaries
\ left. inch for inch and pound fol
pound the finest specimen of a boxer
the game has known for twenty years
If he isn't fit the word might as wei
be thrown out of the dictionary.
Wizards Condition
c Willard might not be in quite as tol
condition as he was against Jack John
. son, but he looks better than he di,
n when he fought Moran. He will be a
least twelve pounds lighter, and tn
Q three Years that have scampered b.
d haven't added a wrinkle to his fore
head or a gray hair to his head.
), Both now face the brief gap betwee
o today and the moment they stand fac
, to face at last. in shape to give 10,
d per cent of what they have to offer.
= AS the situation stands today we cal
figure out no reason for the apparen
each camp. Neither side has sufficien
IL margin to cheer about in advance c
y the first blow.
}, The situation. as it strikes us.
n this:
There are two men to whom fate ha
allotted fairly equal portions One ha
the advantage in weight, height, reac
and physical power. The other has tn
advantage in youth and speed and
," fair margin in condition and stamina
y Neither is great boxer. Neithe
2, has any such defense as Jeffries's ia
ID nous crouch of Fitzsimmons's powe
in Neither has anything approaching I'll
IN defensive cleverness of johnson. Y,
both have murderous, punishin
lg punch to shoot against man who ism
IL hard to hit.
le This combination ,means. kf eours
y that II boti fight 'jhd refs to sta
one o. the Sthes y gcips In befol
II, u. !, a.. &d1& -. II.