New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
Speed Needed
For Football
1919 Tourists
Only by Beating Scandi-
navians to Ball Can u.
S. Team Hope to Win
By c. A. Lovett

By {. A. Lovett
Whatever soccer football aggregation
is sent against the hooters of the Scan
dinavian countries this summer
whether d picked team representative
in an international sense of the United
States Football Association or the Ma
tona Champion Bethlehems-it will
not catch the Norsemen mapping as in
1916, whom the American team under
the guidunce of Thomas W Cahill. hon
orary secretary of the L. s. +. A., prac-
tically romped through its ponderous
opponents and by virtue Of its speed
scored ttiumphs in both Sweden and
Norway
The 1916 tourists were hastily
picked aggregation. far from being
truly representative Of American roc.
eef footbnj only 10 men went, much
too small SOUND for the best feeulla
Considering The hnste nooesHHry in
choosing the players IT was splendid
crew, but only the New York, Now
Jersey and Philadelphia districts we're
properly combed for talent for tho
tour. II is true Tommy Swords. then
in his prime as n forward, was hooked
from Fail River, and Matt B. DiedeIich-
sen came on from ST. Louis, and in
spite of injuries received in the first
game, made fine impression as n
member Of the forward limo
But Captain Swords and Diedofieh-
SEN who now is n eunners mate on
tho g. =, S. Nebthatn. doing transport
serVer, were the only scattering selae=
lions. Chicago, Detroit. Cleveland
Western Pennsylvania, California, thp
Northwest and the greater part Of New
England went uneonsiaofed, The nom
mating md selecting committees had
no time to CANVASS the entire country,
Such will not be the case this time,
If an official international team goes
there will be plenty OF time Tor the
picking of the most capable eleven TINS
country can put in the field and OF
the ablest substitutes. All sections
Of the country wherein organized foot
ball is played will be given considera-
tion in the selections and representa-
ton if possible
Champions Too Slow
If the four-time champion Bethle-
hens go, the team will have to be over
hauled A number of the Bethlehem
regulars would not do against the great
Swedish, Danish and Norwegian Fed
GRAFTON teams. There is no getting
away from that fact. Any American
team, to have chance against the
Scandinavians, must be built on speed
lines and none other. Those in charge
Of the Bethlehem Steel club realize
that, if some few Of the veteran play
ers do not
1t was only the speed of the 1916
international team that saved it from
string CT disastrous defeats. Pay
ing less attention to football finesse, a
deal of which serves the Bethlehems
well in their cup conquestss here, the
1916 tourists gave a remarkable dem
onstraton of pep and dash and what
it will accomplish stacked up against
powerful "old country" combination
play. 1t was almost sure death, so to
speak, for the Americans to let the
burly sons of the vikings get hold of
the ball. Cahill and Swords and their
men recognized that before ever the
international matches got under way.
The Americans managed to win three
games. tie two and lose one-subse-
quently defeating by an odd goal the
team which handed them the one set
back-by the easersaid-tha done
process of beating the Swedes and
Norsemen to the ball. They ran them
selves into an exhausted state, and col
lapses at half-time and at the final
whistle came to be the rule, but this
style Of play produced victories, and
that was all any of the fagged-out
players cared about.
The Lesson Learned
But this time the Scandinavians will
be prepared to cope with American
speed; doubtless will model their teams
for the big matches on speed lines
And it Will be up to whatever Amer
lean team goes to Guido the opposi-
tion in nectncss, for it cannot be hoped
to surpass in combination play and
the finer points of handling the ball
the players Of those countries whore
football has been as generally played
and for MS long as has baseball here
1t must be borne in mind that soccer.
as general sport, country widc ia
only five or six years old in the United
Sthtcs.
If Bethlehem makes tho journey
abroad replnccmcnts for the sake Of
Rpocd Will be necessary. Contracts Of |
practically all Of the American speed |
merchants Of the kicking game expire
with the current ecnaon, on May 81, |
and reinforcing the champions should |
not be difficult Of accomplishment,
For mn international team in tho
strict sense of the term, if private
club does not accept tho Swedish Foot
ball Associations invitation various
Of the brightest stars Of the 1916 tour
lists will be available. Neal Clarke is
near at hand though not at his best;
Jimmy Robertson and Heminsley arc
to be had; Swords seems to be going
back; Bow Ford and Jimmy Tintle
have been starring on the 29th Di-
visions champion soccer team and
will be homo about June 10. and ac-
cording to present plans the squad
will not sail for overseas before the
middle of July Some Of the details
will no doubt come out at the u. s.
f. A. annual meeting in Chicago Nav
1917.