Republican farmer., 1919-01-17
AMERICAN ARMY PLANS MILITARY
 OLYMPIC MEET
Gen. Pershing One of spon- sors for Biggest Fixture in History of Athletics
 to be Held in Paris.

Paris, Saturday, Jan. 11-A man. moth military Olympic meet to be held in Paris in May or June, under the direction of the American army, fer athletes from all the Allied fight irs forces, is projected in plans an- nounced here tonight
 Gen. Pershing. the American com mander in chief, who is taking a keen interest in the plans, is sending personal letter to the commanders ir chief of the armies of all nations with whom the United States has been associated during the war in viting the officers and men to partici- pate.
 TweEty-one Allied countries will be asked to take part, and it Is plan ned that the games will surpass any other athletic competition ever con ducted in the history of sports. The games will be financed entirely by the American army in cooperation with the welfare agencies now oper- ating with it
 The French Government and the French Army have given their ap- proval of the plan and have promised lACit AiSci y CO-OptTdtlU4l Gen. Pershing's letter of invitation to the French Army, which is a du- plicate of those sent to the command CTS of other armies, follows:
 The officers and men of the Ameri- can expeditionary forces, being keenly appreciative of the splendid relations which exist among those who have borne arms in the great common cause and which in the present instance have so happily developed into such deep feelings of mutual respect and admiration, are most anxious to pre- serve and strengthen this relationship In every way possible.
 Now that active military operations have ceased they believe that nothing could be more conducive to this end than to gather in friendly competi- tion the field of sport representa- | tivee of the armies of each of the na- tions which have so long been asso- | ciated together in the stern struggle for the right.
 Accordingly, they have decided to l orga nibe an inter-Allied athletic meeting to be held in the Colombes Stadium, Paris, during the month of May or June, 1919. in which officers and men of all these armies shall be eligible to take part.
 As Commander-in-Ch of the American expedltionary forces, have the honor. therefore, to invit, | through you. their Commander-in l Chief, the officers and men of the ar. mics of France to participate in thf contests and to express the earnes I do ho, | the ties of the much cherished spiri of comradeship which have sprung | up from the gallant Joint efforts O our forces on the battlefield ma! thus be even more closely cemented Respectfully,
 JOHN A. PERSHING. i The plan involves large question 1 of organization, finance and operation and the American Army as host vii assume responsibility i'm all matter l Of this kind. The actual operatin, unit probably will be a Games Com
 mittee, whose personnel will be SC
 lected by the chief athletic officer o
 of the American expeditionary force
 and the committee will be the re
 sponsible agency and the final au
 thority on all matters pertaining t
 the games.
 This committee will ask the var
 ious armies each to name two dele
 gates to sit as members of an Advis
 ory Council.
 The only cost to the Allied AT
 mics participating will be that in
 volved in training, transporting
 equipping and rationing their ow
 competing athletes. These expenses
 1t is understood, each army prefer
 to carry.
 Individual prizes already hay
 been provided for and will be of ar tistic merit with symbolica1 designs It Is probable that team trophies als
 will be presented.