The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-06

PARIS, July 5.-America's sturdy athletic force, one of the finest arrays she has ever sent in quest of interna- tional laurels, was ready tonight for the opening tomorrow of the Olympic track and field battle with 45 rival na- tions headed by the powerful Finnish team, seeking to break t.e hold Amer ica has had on athletic supremacy since the revival of the Olympic games.
 The battle for chief honors in the eighth Olympic games between the United States and Finland promises to be thrilling and many expect that the eight days of competition will develop performances eclipsing in keenness and excellence those of Stockholm twelve years ago, which so far have been re- garded as the high water mark of in- ternational competition.
 The eve of the championship, which includes 26 events, finds the camps of the two outstanding contenders conti- dent but majority of observers is con vinced that the all-arOund team strength of the Americans will carry them through to victo.. once more. FinIand's chief chance for glory, it is generally believed, rests in the possi- bility of her gathering more of the cov- eted gold medals than the Yankees.
 Four years ago the rugged Films equalled the United States in this re- spect, each landing nine first places, but the Scandinavians with l. strengthened squad hope that their little group of individual stars will outshine Americas formidable aggregation which has. in- dividual aces as well as men counted upon to score heavily in the secondary places.
 Finland's principal hopes of gaining the greatest athletic honors it has ever known as built principally on the sturdy shoulders of the great runner, Paavo Nurmi, holder of seven worlds records, who is prepared to run in five races to aid his native land and who is expect ed to clean up in the distance events. Finland also has such stars as Willie Ritola, Hanes Kolehmainen, Villar Ky ronen and Stenroos for the distances from 1,500 metres to the marathon.
 Nurmi was entered in a sixth event, the 80-metre run, but word came from the Finnish camp tonight that their star would not run in this race because it would entail too great a strain upon him. He will center his efforts upon winning the 1.500-metre and tn 5,OOO- metre runs on Thursday afternoon :; also participating in the 10,O00-metres flat tomorrow, the crose-country run finals on Saturday and the 3,OC0-metre team race on the final day.
 The Films also are expected to score heavily in the field events, especially the hop, step and jump, the discus throw, the javelin throw and the shot put, but 10 offset this menace the Americans nave formidable lineup including prob lbly the greatest array of sprinters ever adhered together, stars in the hurdles, nigh and broad jumps, pole vault and hammer throw;. who seem certain to clean up. Others of the American camp expect to give the Films terri lie battle in some of their favorite events.
 Six of the Yankee aces are enterd in double events and their performances will have an important bearing on the final outcome. They are Jackson V. Scholz, Charles Paddock, sprints; Glenn Hartranft, Clarence Houser, shot put and discus, Dehart Hubbard, broad jump and hop, step and jump, and H. M. Os- borne, high jump and decatI.on.
 An analysis of form tonight. apparent ly, assured Finland anL the United States of nine first places each with close fights between them in about q half dozen other events, notably the shot put, hop, step and jump, discus throw and marathon, the results of which are likely to turn the tide one way or another.
 The experts, however, are not over looking the chances of outsiders up- setting calculations with such strong teams as Great Britain, South Africa, Italy and Norway in the running. Nor