The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-07-11
new A. I. F
CONTRASTS
GDNEOF Y
By Davis J. Walsh

BY Davis ]. Walsh
NEW YORK, July lit
q farewell flutter of flags anc
the strident voice of a harbol
set upon making the day hide
Gus with its. adieux, America I
newest army of expedition sci
sail today on the steamship
President Roosevelt, bound fol-
Amsterdam.
To make an announcement OF
this nature during those dark days
of 1918 would have been a tacll
invitation to the firing SQUAD
There were no farewells 1hen
merely a whispered word to go, 2
wordless handshake or two ana OIL
they went. in the dead or night
their destiny known only to them
selves, their destination OFTEN
secret even to those in command
but that was war.
The American Olympic team,
hand-picked flower of nations
athletic life, is the expeditiOnary
force that is sailing this time.
Not war, now; conquest, per.
haps, but only In the name OF
spOrtsmansfip. For this e peace
and those identified with the
argosy are ambassadors OF IN
fernational good will.
They will arrive in Amsterdam
nine days hence, pitch their camp
on shipboard in the harbor there
with training and diet and healthtuI
rest make ready for the start OF
the great international meeting on
July 90. Few American teams have
been better prepared for the ordeal
Few have been sounder in team
strength. But a staff OF famous
coaches and trainers is aware OF
the dangers that threaten tnelr
teams efficiency and those nine
DAYS at sea and the ensuing seance
of foreign preparation in q IoWh
that is three meters below sea
level, will be an anxious period
indeed, for Lawson Robertson ano
the coaching staff in general. MANY
a perfect race may be left on snip
board or in the humid atmosphere
of Amsterdam before the gun goes
off.
However, the American OIym'
mic Committee and the coaches
have had trouble enough to
date. what with the Paddock
case and Lloyd Hahn's desire
fO 90 abroad weeks in advance,
without borrowing more. Those
in command are willing today
TO rest their case, content IN
the belief that the future can
be far from dark.
Paddock. charged inopportunelJ
with professionalism, has beer
squared overnight. Hahn has beer
placated. The rest of the outfit Is
as ready as human limitations car
assure it. :.
The team looks like one that vii
not have to depend on the fielc
events to bring it victory as was
the case in 1924 at Paris. Indeed
the present squad may even lack
some of the formers balance in the
field: But, If it does, it's greater
strength on the track should more
than overcome this factor. 1t II
an excellent bet that this team viii
win more than one flat" race, the
inevitable indictment lodged against
America victory in 1924.
Our sprinters, headed by the
great wykoff, Paddock and Borah
are second to none; we have two
5 relays teams that figure to be
faster than the 1924 squads and
both of these were good enough tc
win in record time. Bafbuti, Snider
Phillips and Tierney are at least
the equal of the 400-meter men al
Paris. while the presence of Hahn
in the 500 and 1900 meter races
means that America has a better
chance to win these events thar
at any time since the heydey Of
Sheppard and Meredith.
All four of the steeplechasers
are yards superior to the 1924
representatives. This statement
applies. too, to Leo .Lermond'
MacAuIey Smith and Dave Alb
bolt in comparison with our
last 5000 meter entry. We are
not quite so hopeless at 10000
meters with Ray in there and
JOie's presence in the marathon
squad gives us bona.fide hope
for a victory in the long race.
The 110-meter hurdle sntrY Is al
good as in 1924, the 400-metel
hurdle squad is unbeatable. There
isn't high Jumper in the worlc
who has quite the class of Boz
King, while Barnes and Carr stanc
alone in the pole vault. The broad
Jump perhaps lacks the American
balance it knew in 1924, but &c
Hamm, the new worlds record hold
err should win and we have the
added hope that De Hart Hubbard
the old champion. will return Il
form, giving us a one-two prospec
in the pro-games calculations.
The triple-jump field is no better
and no worse than it was at Paris
the shot putters are definitely bet
ter and, it might be added. so are
the foreign competitors. However
we lack TootelI in the hammer
throw, having only four average
men. The javelin men are like thu
shot putters-better but likely u
be faced with a similar improve
ment all around.