Evening star., 1944-01-12
Attitude Of War Leaders Bnghtens Outlook for Sports
Labor Draft, as Urged
By President, Would
Bring Showdown
BY PAT O'BRIEN,

Associated FfeSS Sports Writer.
Take it from the top men of the
Navy and marines-sports, particu-
larly the bodily combat variety, play
an important part in battle training
and physical conditioning during
war years as well as in peacetime.
The Endorsement came from Navy
Secretary Knox and 1t. Gen. Alex
ander A. Vandegrift, Marine Corps
commandant, shortly after President
Roosevelt's recommendation for q
national service law. Such legisla-
tion may force showdown on
whether athletes are essential to the
war effort.
I'VE Of the Navy believe football
should be continued" MIR. Knox said
last night at the Washington Touch
down Clubs annual banquet.
Held Essential to Fitness.
And in peacetime, the Secretary
continued, outdoor sports programs
involving bodily contact-"and that
primarily means football should
be emphasized to improve the
Nations physical fitness standards.
Military leaders were amazed at the
high percentage of men found unfit
for service duty during the present
war, he said. adding that "only q
Nation able to fight to preserve its
liberty Is fit to be free"
The Navy chief expressed the be-
lief that intensive physical fitness
programs-for children, youths and
adults alike-were necessary for the |
Nations future well-being, saying
that "a durable peace for the future
must be backed by force"
Knox indicated that the NAVY.
whose preflight cadets and Via COL
lege trainees made up some of the
country's top teams last fall, was
going ahead with plans for football
this year. He expressed sharp dis
agreement with the Army policy Of
barring college trainees from varsity
competition. Secretary Of War
Stimson has explained that the
Army students are too busy for other
than intramural athletics.
Finds Athletes Are Thinkers.
Vandegrift, who directed the
heroic marine invasion Of Guadal-
canal, told the Touchdowners he had
found that youth trained to think
quickly on an athletic field can think
effectively and accurately on the
field Of battle"
President Roosevelt's recon-
mendation for national service legis-
lation may mean that athletes
professional baseball players. for in
stance-must be classified as essen
tial to the war effort or be subject
to specific order to take a war job.
Representative Weiss. Democrat,
OF Pennsylvania, leader of a congress
sional group which has been urging
that sports be classified as essential
to civilian and military morale, said
such legislation, If passed, would
bring definite showdown" on the
issue.
Weiss, a National Football League
referee and q former backfield star
at Duquesne, complained that man
power officials have neglected to rule
on how sports are classified.
Grin Hopeful for Baseball.
In the sports world generally, the
reaction to the presidential recon-
is that athletes will not
be affected any more than now, in
asmuch as they all are subject to
draft board orders.
Ford Frick, National League presi-
dent. said in New York he believed
baseball would continue, regardless
of any such legislation. He pointed
out that scores OF players already
have given up the game to take over
war work.
'If players are called. they 60,
that's ALL" Frick commented.
President Clark Griff1th Of the
Washington Senators expressed the
hope baseball would continue, but
emphasized his belief that the sport
was dedicated to doing its part, no
matter what that part may be" In
the war effort.