The Cordova daily times., 1923-04-02
ATHLETES OF FAR EAST IN
 FINE FEIILE

l ental menace" is facing the western world.
 Far from having any warlike signi- ficance, however, the cause of "appre- hension" this time is based upon a growing development of athletic prow- ess in the Far East which threatens to challenge the supremacy of American and European stars in vari- ous branches of sport.
 l Comparatively little is realized in this country of the tremendous for ward strides which athletics have taken in the past decade in the Orient especially in China, Japan and the Philippines, our island possession. These three nations, banded together in the Far Eastern Athletic Associa- tion, the major Oriental sport govern ing body, have taken the initiative in putting recreational activities on it's present high plane.
 As the result of progress which has been transformations but none the less effective, the rest of the athletic world is beginning to focus it's attention on this Far Eastern development. Right now particular interest is being mani fested in the 1923 Far Eastern games, biennial affair modelled along Olympic lines. The meet this year is the sixth since 1913 and will be held in Osaka, Japan, beginning May 21. It promises to witness a calibre of performance comparing favorably with the best in this country and Europe, and in the Far East it is looked upon as preliminary step toward real rep resentation from that part of the world in the Paris Olympics of 1924.
 Conditions peculiar to the Orient un- doubtedly will preclude the possibili- ty of Far Eastern people competing generally on an even footing with their Caucasion rivals, but high class talent in many branches of activity is being produced as result of sys- tematic training and encouragement As an example, the list of track and field stars, according to latest reports, includes several 10-second sprinters, while unusual proficiency is being de- veloped in such sports as swimming, tennis and boxing.
 Proof of the invasion of western | standards also is shown in the pro- gram for the Far Eastern meet. which will include competition in volleyball, basketball, rugby football and base ball.
 Women, too, are following the lead ership of their American and European sisters in taking more active part in athletics. Tennis and swimming events for feminine participants form
 American leadership and principles have been largely responsible for the athletic awakening in the Far East. Interest first was stimulated in the i Philippines, where natives proved eager and apt pupils, and has spread throughout the Orient.
 One of the outstanding figures in this development was Elwood s. Brown, of New York, now executive officer of the newly launched Nation al Amateur Athletic Federation, but who for years stimulated athletic ac- tivity in the Far East as Y. M. c. A. worker With others he was instru- mental in staging the first Far East ern games in 1913, at Manila, and bringing China and later Japan into the Far Eastern Athletic Association. Siam and Malaya also were induced to become members of this associa- tion, but the outbreak of the World War forced both to withdraw from ac- tive participation.
 Reports I have received from the Far East indicate that this years games will be the most successful ever held," MT. Brown declared in dis cussing the athletic situation in the Orient "China, Japan and the Philip pines all promise to have strong teams in the field. Keen rivalry exists among these nations, and they are anxious to develop talent which will be worth sending to the Olympics at Paris.
 "The city of Osaka is building a big concrete stadium for the events and expects to handle average daily crowds of 20,OOO." ....