The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-09

spOrtSmen OF Ine Wo!lo we
The letter was in the n;
but hardly expected. And b
last letter that the Olympic
out to the press, we are fepf
The Letter:
Tn 1888 the International Olympic
committee entrusted Finland with
organizing the XI1th Olympic Games
IN Helsinki, capital of the Finnish
Renublic. Finland and her sports
men accepted this commission with
gratitude and thanks to the gener'
Gus sacrifices Of the entire nation
the preparations had progressed So
far by the Autumn Of 1889 that the
successful realization Of the Games
seemed ensured. In a cheerful anu
confident spirit we looked
In the arrival of the worlds atnletes
and sportsmen as our guests.
The Olympic Idea
When the European war broke u
last autumn, Finland decided TO
continue her preparations for the
Olympic Games. We thought that
even in time Of war it was impor'
tant to keep Give the Olympic idea,
and idea that would unite all the
nations of the world in a spirit OF
peace and brotherhood. We felt that
it was our duty to arrange the Games
at the very time when their slgnltl'
cance,a as a symbol of goodwill among
the nations, was greater than ever.
Shortly after having been entrusted
with the Games we defined their
aim: to be a feast which would
awaken, in all individuals
nations, a desire for mutual under
standing and hold before the eyes
of a world, infected with discord and
suspicion, the ideal of peace.
But when less than a year remain
ed before the Games, Bolshevik Rus
STA attacked our peaceful people,
thereby violating her Nonaggression
Pact with Finland. She disclosed her
intentions by making air raids on
the unfortified Olympic City killing
women and children with bombs and
machine guns. Russia's aim is to de-
stroy Finland's independence through
bloodshed and fire.
The people Of Finland have taken
up arms as one man. They have
abandoned their peacetime occupa'
lions and are now using all their
power to defend their right to their
native land. The nation fights for its
very existence.
At this moment Finland is not
sending out information about the
Games. Nevertheless the Organizing
Committee OF the XIIth Olympic
Games has met in order to make
this appeal to the athletes and
sportsmen of the world. We beseech
you our fellow athletes and sports
men in ali parts Of the world, to
think of Finland at this moment
Finland, the country, which was ELL
trusted with the XIIth Olympic
Games, the country, which expected
to greet the flower of the worlds
youth as her guests at this great
festival of peace, the country which
has been attacked without the slight
est justification by a Great Power
pursuing it's bolshevist policy.
And when you think Of Finland
may you understand that, however,
encouraging the sympathy shown US
by the world has been, it is not suf-
ficient for a nation struggling
against an enemy fifty times great
er in size and power.
It's up to you, also, Athletes and
Sportsmen Of the world, to decide
whether this appeal from the Or
ganizing Committee Of the XIIth
Olympic Games shall be a last mes
sage or not.
Odds And Ends
The New Hanover baseball team
has started practice and is gradually
working into the drills . Cape
Fear association teams are also going
at this business Of practice with a
vengeance and plan to be in tor
condition by the time the season
opens in April 80. Nelson Stephen
son, whose Calypso basketball team
lost out in the cage race here yes
terday, is already claiming the South
eastern district Class c baseball
championship and his nine hasn'
started practicing yet The rea
son: the Calypso team is the onl,
one entered in the district . ONLY
eight Of the a. men Doc Newton il
using in his spring football prac
tfce come from outside the state O.
North Carolina Which prove.
State colleges claim to native.borl
talent NewtOn'S team boat pioh