The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
By ENOC p. WATERS

(ChicAgo Oefenoer fAcilc OoHespohdehU
WITH A NJ F r c A \
FORCES SOMEWHERE IN
NEW GUINEA remember
reading some years ago an
article by a student of juve-
nile behavior in which he ascribed
the increase in juvenile delinquency
TO the inability OF young people
10 entertain themselves.
As true as that may have been
then, il certainly can't be said that
American soldiers. don't know how
10 entertain themselves. And most
Of their good times, they make
themselves. the special Service d.
vision OF the Army and the Ameri-
can Red Cross notwithstanding.
New Guinea. as everyone must
know by now, Is one OF the mos.
desolate. God torsaken and prim-
tive places where troops are re-
Quirei 10 live. Ye; almost every
type OF leisure tine activity the
mind Of man has conceived and that
can be engaged IN in a tropical
climate Is available 10 the soldiers
here.
Not long ago 7 passed through
Port MoyeSby on my way 10 North
e-n New Guinea. I; was hot Sun
day afternoon. and after hitch hik-
iNg - the camp site OF an organ
ization which usually CHARTERED me
vas surprised 10 and the place
almost deserted.
asked a soldier found snooz.ng
in the orderly room where every
one was.
AT the races he informed NE
casually.
heard him. but knew he was
mistaken. Where" I asked again
At the races" he repeated.
had Just lef: Australia where
! had become so acustoned 70 horse
races that my mind had become
channelized. After AZ, told my
self. there are other races than
horse races.
Any Old Horse Will Do
But later on when the men be-
gan returning ~ he area | dis
covered 10 my surprise that they
had been 20 horse races. Tu-i ial-
lowers had rounded UP Captured
Japanese horses. army mules, Wild
horses and every Qusdruped that
looked Ike hdyburner. bull.
track and were putting on races.
II was a ridiculous performance
which would have drawn Only
sneers from the followers o, tnc
fast. sophisticated race crowds CT
The states.
b.; The soldiers over here be. rs
hard on the balky army mules
which were pitted agains. each
other in one race and followed as
aF.dly the progress. not always
smooth. around the track as any
spectator Of the Kentucy Derby a;
Churchill Downs.
II is such ingenuity among oar
soldiers which MAKE the jungle
hours. which have more than 60
minutes, pass quickly.
Many Of the better hard and soft
ball teams are organized into
leagues which attract as much at
tention over here as any major
league game n the states. Little
mimeographed daily news sheets
published by army epecial service.
sheets with names such as The
FoXhole Observe The NoSd ito"
and the Guinea God" carry the
standings OF leagae teams IN heir
areas as prominently ss war news.
Several months age witnessed
a game FOR the Island so,tha,l
championship between team rep
resenting Negro port battalion
and white outfit. The thror =
witnessing the game was ono IL
the largest ! had seen since COM
irg here. Interest in the Elme
!, Eht be measured by the lac; ;ha:
:. leas; 1000 pounds. $50 500 was
wagered by the port battalion boys.
who, Incidentally. Won the champ
ionShip.
Negroes Dominate Sports
Among the major sports here
however. Is boxing. The army Is
full OF ex-proS and amateur boxers
some good. some bad. some punch
drunk, some immature, but all arc
willing and al helpful. Becaus,
eve where have been Negroes
/ have dominated the sports, not in
numbers but in skill. more and
NC are going into the squared
! circle - see what they can do
I Al the recently held all-NcN
Guinea box.rg tournament il which
leathc! pushc.S wed FOR tfoph c;
donated by movie stars, Negroe.
u.o,, .Nr,r,f,a11v oil NJ tho Ci,a,,ip N.