Evening star., 1940-02-09
Unable 10 Go 10 War,
Whispers 5adden
British Net Ace
No Use to Report Until
His Class Is Called,
Soys Charles Hare
By the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Feb. eff 1t Is possible to
generate q little pity for q young
man who is out in the sun playing
tennis every day and eating three
or four square meals every "a hours,
then Charles Hare Of England is
your man.
Charles, perhaps the best left
handed tennis player in the world.
literally was left stranded over here
when his country, England, went to
war late last summer. Since then
he has wandered clear across the
continent and back again, playing
tennis without much enthusiasm
and uncomfortably aware of a
whispering campaign from the side
lines.
Why, the tongues have asked,
wasn't strapping fellow like Hare
back home wearing uniform?
There was even rumor that he hac
applied for American citizenship, a
rumor that Hare denies bitterly.
Though the Davis Cup star had
Just won his match IN a tournament
going on here, he looked acutely
unhappy when I asked him If 1t
were true he intended to return to
England soon.
No Use to Go Home.
mo, I'm afraid not" he answered.
Probably not until May or June.
know I'm being criticized for stay
ing over here and playing tennis,
but q person gets criticized for any,
thing he does. There would be no
use In my going home until
my class-those "a years old-is
called up.
1--WE kept in touch with my con-
sui in every city, and that's all I
can do right now. They won't ac-
cept volunteers for the service, and
they still have another class to call
before they get to mine. The busi-
ness I was in was taken over by
the government when the war be-
gan, 50 there's not a blessed thing
could be doing in England. So I
guess I'll go on playing tennis"
Most Of the members of the Brit
ish women's Wightman Cup team
have remained in the country, too,
since their matches at Forest Hill,
playing in the winter tournaments
and giving exhibitions. They have
the full approval Of their govern
ment and their home folks to stay
and enjoy things over here as long
as they are welcome.
If and when they do let Hare put
on 4 uniform, he will make Albion
. cracking good man. In all the
sports I ever saw, I never saw q
more courageous fighter than the
then slim. blond lad proved himself
in the Davis Cup challenge round
against the United States in 1887.
Gave Bulge Real Battle.
That was when Don Bulge, Gene
Mako and Frankie Parker beat the
British 4 out of 5 at Wimbledon to
bring the cup back to America.
The British had lost Fred Perry to
the pros, and the result was q fore
gone conclusion. Yet the battle that
Hare put up against Bulge on the
opening day was one to be remem-
bered.
Though every one knew he couldn't
beat the famous redhead, Hare
fought q terrific first set that went
to 14-12, Is I recall before he finally
Buccumbed. Perhaps it was only
1910, but it was terrific while it
lasted, and it made the British feel q
lot better about losing the cup.
Bulge, Of course, won the next two
sets easily, but any one who saw
Hare's supreme effort for that first
hour knows he wouldn't dodge any
kind Of Z tight.
Hare's plight, incidentally, brings
to mind that amateur tennis is in
for q pretty thin year generally.
With most Of the rest Of the world
at war, the home boys will have to
fight 1t out among themselves, and
there isn't a real gallery attraction
In the bunch.
The professionals, with most Of
the big names to draw on, are likely
to make the best Of their opportu.
nifty to capture ths public.