The Washington times., 1919-05-01
FRENCH FIREMEN
PLAY BASKETBALL

PARIS May The. tiny Venus
seems to shrink against her marble
background. at the little fountain in
the inner court of Gabrille
d'Estrange's palace In the Rue de
Sevffno. For the garden where this
lovely lady Of old France walked with
Henri Of Navarro more than three
centuries ago is filled with the ex-
cited shouts Of Paris flremen playing
q strange game with a ball.
The palace OF Gabrille d'Estrange
has long been the Caserne de Pom
pier, headquarters Of the fire depart
ment OF Paris. The garden has be-
jeux." And here, gnmindful OF the
shades OF Gabrille and Henri, unmind
ful even of the little Venus that has
been there through the centuries, the
hremen are learning the American
game OF basketball
Ordered to Play Ban.
They are learning it by order Of the
French ministry OF war. For of all
the American sports brought to
France by the A. e. F., the ministry
of war has chosen basketball as best
suited to develop the physical strength
and endurance of the pompiers OF
Paris. By request OF the ministry,
, instruction in the game is being
given by American physical instruc-
tors sent to France by the National
War Work Council Of the Y NJ. c. A,
tor service with the Foyers du Soldat.
And so the firemen of Paris play
basketball in Gabrille's garden, wear
ing shining brass helmets while they
play; calling 'le ballon" when they
want the ball passed to them, "panier"
when they make a shot for the bas-
ket, and confessing interference with
/ an opponent with an admission Of
| having "retepu un adversaire."
The work begun by Prof. Percy r.
| Carpenter, of Worcester Polytechnic
| Institute, Massachusetts,, when the
Y. NJ. c. A. sent him over here to
become director OF athletics for the
Foyers du Soldat. won immediate rec
ognition from the French govern
| ment. Mr.. Carpenter increased his
staff by bringing from America the
most competent instructors available
| among them Charles Jones, Of Wor-
! cester Academy, who took charge OF
the Centre d. instruction Physique al
| JoinYille-le-Pont.
1t was to Mr.. zones that Major
Cauchois, veteran commandant of the
1 al 10 AlAC NGpdA anu ulEcCAOE VI
| its athletics. went, after witnessing
demonstration OF American sports
to request that basketball be taught
| the firemen. Mr.. Jones consented
| Thrice a week he comes to Paris, and
teaches representatives from all the
/ engine houses in the court OF the
Caserno de Pompier.
Major Cauchois lectures the men
each afternoon before the play. Ad-
| jutant Caucher, head monitor and
athletic trainer of the department
referees the games and acts as in
structor in Mr.. Jones absence. And
| the firemen are playing with a spirit
] and a quick intelligence that fore
| shadows hard fought contests when
the American and the French basket
/ ball players meet
The classes at the Caserne de Pom
| pier are made up of picked men
These are being trained to instruct
| the members of their companies, and
| through them the mastery OF the
game is spreading to every corner
/ OF the city.
Mr.. Jones has been teaching the
| firemen mass games. too, and some
OF the pompiers have been assigned
/ to teach the school children of the
| city, so that now field days have be-
come a regular part of the school
programs and athletics have a rec
| ognized part in the training of fire
| fighters.