Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 202, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1918 — AMERICANS PLAY BALL GAMES BATTLES—ARMY TEAMS IN PARIS LEAGUE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AMERICANS PLAY BALL GAMES BATTLES—ARMY TEAMS IN PARIS LEAGUE

Raymond B. Fosdlck, returning to London from France, where he has been making a study of welfare work for the soldiers of Uncle Sam, gives an interesting .Interview In which he dwells at some length,on what part baseball Is playing,.in which he says: The inoral condition of our men is so gratifying that any Improvement would seem superfluous. No army ever before enjoyed such provision for recreation. I was in France several Weeks for the purpose of observing and coordinating the work of various organizations represented In our commission and I found the activities dovetailing perfectly. Nothing could be better than the spirit with which all entered Into, baseball, superintended by Y. M. C. A. and Red Cross officials, at the American Soldiers’ and Sailors’ club In Paris. There is as much baseball enthusiasm among our troops In France as in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia combined. The language of the game is heard on every hand. Baseball is played right up at the front and at some points too close to unfriendly shells

the boys play catch at odd moments. I was almost -up to the trenches just before one of the recent American attacks that so surprised th? enemy, who apparently was not aware until then that our troops were prepared to go over the top In such strength. The night before the attack I watched our men playing ball as long as daylight permitted, and I am sure each player was a better soldier on the following days as a result of the diversion. I witnessed-a game in the historic Tulllerles garden between sailors and Y. M. C. A. workers. The onlookers included a good sprinkling of temperamental French trying to sympathize with the players and cheering the Yanks without understanding what was going on except that the ball was traveling at great speed about the diamond. The Paris Baseball league Is composed of various army, Y. M. C. A. and Red Cross teams with a regular schedule of weekly and Sunday games. The English papers In Paris print the scores with percentages, standing, and so on.

MASKS HANDY IN CASE HUN SENDS OVER GAS.