Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-03-29
PRESSING
Necessities Faced by Knights of
Columbus i'm Their Over
seas Activities.
Athletic and Theatrical Entertain
ment and Recreation For
Our Troops.
Eighty Thousand Soldiers Near lie
Mans Beg for Athletic
Equipment.
WHAT EDGAR A. MARTIN SAYS.

| Tine most pressing necessity
faced by Knights of Columbus in
their overseas activity at this mo-
ment is the demand and need for
athletic and theatrical entertain
ment and recreation for our troops
said Edgar A. Martin, Just returned
from Paris, where at the Knights of
Columbus headquarters he directs
the orders overseas legal work.
Next to the paramount question,
When do we go homer our soldiers
are most concerned about entertain
ment and recreation" he continued.
"and they want, above all, plenty OF
baseball, lots of sparring exhibitions
and then entertainment such as is
provided by theatricals, preferably
vaudeville. So urgent is the call for
these that l was sent to the United
States to cooperate with William
p. Larkin, Director of X. of c.
overseas activity, in providing addi-
tional athletic paraphernalia and
considering the best means of pro
viding additional theatrical enter
tainment for the boys. Director
Larkin has already placed additional
orders for 1000 baseball outfits,
each consisting of twelve balls, six
bats, four gloves, a mask and
chest protector. The order calls for
immediate delivery, and these sup
plies will be at the disposal of
American soldiers abroad within
few weeks.
'The Government limits the
Knights shipments abroad to $50
tons each month, but during the
next few weeks supplies of an ath
letic character will be given prece-
dence, and If we can't get enough
of our supplies over by heretofore
used methods we will try to per-
suade the Government to permit us
to do it by other means. More
than million of our boys over
there have many hours to them
selves every day now, and time
hangs heavy on their hands. They
crave excitement, they need recrea-
ton and entertainment. They
know the season for outdoor sports
has arrived in this country and they
read all about the preparations OF
the big league baseball teams; they
read about the coming championship
fight between Willard and Dempsey;
they got the results of the recent
indoor games at Madison Square
Garden; they are familiar with the
startling revival of all outdoor
games and they long to enjoy some
of the games and contests scheduled.
This of course is denied them, but
they are not to be denied the pleas
ure of participating in similar
games and contests if it is within
the power of the Knights Of Column
huq m nrOvidq fhq ma0ng.
mot a day passes at our Paris
headquarters that half dozen
camp commanders do not urge the
immediate need of more sporting
goods for the men. For instance.
at or near LeMans there are per-
haps $4,000 soldiers. They are
begging for athletic equipment Of
all sorts. Give them enough base
BAN outfits, enough theatrical enter
tainments bulwarked with worth
while photoplays, and they will be
happy and contented. Leave them
to their own resources and a spirit
of unrest will permeate their ranks
and discomfort will follow. They
are willing to endure their exile
from home if only they have means
of entertaining themselves. And
are going to be provided with it by
knights of Columbus if we have to
build factories in Europe ourselves
to manufacture needed equipment
Cooperating with the American
military authorities, the knights Of
Columbus are fitting up a gym
nasium in their new club building at
High Holborn, London, for enter
tainment of American soldiers and
sailors while they are visiting in
London. Bob Warner, of Boston.
a former holder of the New England
State skating championship. now
serving as a Knights of Columbus
in the British Isles, will
be in full charge as athletic trainer
He is planning some boxing con-
tests between men of the United
States army and navy. Training
will begin as soon as the gymnasium
is complete. Meanwhile Warner
has in hand three well known
American boxers, who will compete
for the championship of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces, which IL
To be decided In Paris