Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1919 — UNCERTAIN AS TO SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

UNCERTAIN AS TO SOLDIERS

Major League Players May Not Ba Released in Time to Get Back for Spring Practice. There is still much uncertainty about the prospects for getting back in time for spring practice all of the major players now in the milltarx_and_ naval service. One theory was that General March intended to discharge soldier players as soon as might be, irrespective of the demobilization of their units. The other theory was that General March would do no such thing. He had recommended baseball so highly as a sort of serai-public utility that many thought he would make exceptions for the athletes in the army,- but - that is beginning to be doubted, and no man can say at present precisely what material the clubs will have when they count noses. It might be mentioned, by the way. that the Eighty-ninth division. in which Is the artillery regiment containing Clarence Mitchell and Chuck WarTl of the Superbas, and Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Cubs, has left’ its former camp on the old battle line, and lias joined the troops advancing into Germany. As this army of occupation and garrison will probably be the one which will he kept most intact, the prospects are not bright for its share of bad players being discharged.