Evening star., 1927-09-11
Ti|den, Unable to Withstand
Onslaught of la Coste,
Wins Only One Set.
JOHNSTON MAKES GAME
EFFORT TO SAVE TROPHY
Californian Wildly Cheered in Fu'
tile, Gallant Squirt to Stave
Off Defeat.
BY ALAN j. GOULD.


GERMANTOWN CRICKET CLUB,
Philadelphia, September 1O.--The
Davis Cup, most highly priced of ten
mis- trophies, passed today from Amer
!ca to France for the first time in it's
history.
In dramatic uphill fight to victory
Frances youthful stars broke through
the defense of Americas veterans.
captured both of the remaining singles
challenge round by the close. but new
ertheless decisive margin of to .
American hopes had been buoyed
high by the sensational comeback of
William T. Tilden in two previous
days Of victorious play that had put
the defenders in the lead. They faded
suddenly, however, when Big Bill to-
day cracked" under the strain and
fell before the machine-like onslaught
of Rene Lacoste. They vanished en-
tirely when Little Bill" Johnston, al.
though making a gallant as we'll as
unexpected stand, yielded to the su-
perior stroking control of Henri
Cochet in the final match.
Lacoste, scoring his second as we'll
as the most convincing victory of the
series, outstroked, out-generaled and
easily outlasted Tilden, upon whose
previous brilliance high hopes had
been placed. The French stylist won
by scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-S, So,
and his victory was as decisive as
these scores indicate.
Johnston Plays Calamity.
Cochet faced a plucky Johnston,
who showed a remarkable recovery
from his disappointing form of Thurs
day, when the American lost in
straight sets to 14acoste. But the re-
suit, even though postponed through
Little Bills" gallant stand, was in
evitable. Cochet won, also in four
sets, by scores of "a, 4-6, 60, Ga.
Thus the two veterans who. to-
gether, brought the famous tennis cup
back from Australia in 1920 and play
ed the leading role In defending it
ever since passed from their long
held heights before an impetuous, in
domitable youth that would not be de-
MED. With the ending of the dynasty
that the two Bills set up seven years
ago, the most successful in tennis his
tory, France has established new
regime of control.
Twenty-thr poker-faced.
relentlessly accurate Rene Lacoste and
25-year-old Henri Cochet. dazzling,
brilliant, have accomplished what
no other nation has been able to do
single handed, but failed in spite of
Mclaughlin tried to check Australia
single handed but failed in spite of
his gallant efforts. Today Tilden, hav-
ing already been the principal figure
in two previous triumphs-one in the
singles over Cochet and the other in
the doubles with Frank Hunter-also
tried to settle the issue alone. But
the strain was too much. At "a.
Tilden had whipped himself to the
peak Of his game for two victories,
but his system did not have the re-
serve to gain third against such an
impenetrable defense as Lacoste
put up.
La COste Proves Standing.
La Coste, emerging as the chief hero
of the French victory through his
two singles triumphs, removed what
ever doubt remained of his standing
as the worlds foremost singles per.
former. Already the holder Of the
American and French titles, he gave
two of the greatest exhibitions Of his
yOuLnLul career III DOWNING lHe lWo
famous Yankee veterans.
Neither of today's two deciding
battles was inspiring as the previous
three contests of the challenge round.
Whatever drama they boasted, beyond
the fact that they settled the fate of
the Davis Cup, was confined chiefly
to Johnston's gallant uphill fight
against heavy odds. Where Tilden's
downfall. was as complete as had been
his mastery of stroke previously.
Johnston exhibited an astonishing re.
vsrsal of form.
Counted out" almost before he had
started, Johnston revived America s
lingering hopes by the gritty way he
fought for victory. For two sets he
played Frances most brilliant stroke
Continued on Page /, Sports Section.)