THE DAVIS CUP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 662, 12 November 1909, Page 9

THE DAVIS CUP.

■,'■'; AMERICANS ARRIVJS ': IN;' STONET. ■'■?. ' PLANS" OIT THE CHAt-I,ENGERS:..- ';•' I The two ( American players,'- Melville H. Long ;and MaUricp E.'Jl'iougnlin/'. whose mission ; it is to 'onaenyour ,to:toko;tlie.'Davis -Cup backto the land of- its< ; donor,-' and thus -at- the same time regain the title , of Champion tennis nation,.arrived in' Sydney list weeki :'>■■':'•:■<■■''■' ■ In appearance the visitors are typical American "college boys." J/iug, wh'6 is in his last year at tho University ot California, : has not yet-reached -his: niajoritj'c-.while - his even youngor:partner, M'Loaghlin,' is; what we in Australia would torm a "iresher," and' com- , inences hls.coufse in origineering at California on iiis return;lrom the present ttip. Even a .short acquaihtahce'. enabled ■ oile ;' to ■ ; discover ! Witt botn tue Americans' nro distinctly likeablo young^iollows;^withv.a-,refreshing, ftbsericp''of ."'brag,..... and . very -. unassuming' delileanouri Long is 6ft. insight, and well, though slimly/ built.--:- M'Lbughlin being a jcPuple of' inches shorter,. butv.with a eolid iigm'e and broad shoulders that seem to indicatp plenty of' reserve power.. The -Americans'have (lecidea.not to compete in the Victorian.chimpipnships. ;■ They gratefully: acknowledge 'the oonrteous inntation from the Victorian assooiation, and would like very much "to ' tako BdvaWago of it, but evorything is to be subordinated to the Kavis Cup itSolf. That is the sole purposp of their visit,- and they mean to take, every advintage' of the opportunity to tackle the m two lorerafist players; of. the present, day.., The rcniainder of thV-week will be spont (juietiyi and. active practice will'not bo indulged .in until' the eflocts o( the, trip , hll Xepeen-east off.- Hi course, ot'coriversotiou .neither M Loughlin nor Long, was particularly keen .on adding anything tp tne statement)) already _ published, It seems that they '■■ maw tennis .their sole game, and devote. every attention to practice;, so'.fet as training- is cow ■corned, a regular, system' of ..esefciso : combined Jolio'wed ' ieCtDS - t0 * — Oniy '' T<!cive ' 'I'here was a good muster' of woll-k'nown-sporting;folk at the Australia -Hotel, S we-.0010101 reception took, place, .'Mr l> Jti Colquhoun was in the chair, and although, the-Cousul-General for the U.S.A. (Mr; J. P. Bray) was only % a lloeting visitor/ tho '■Vice-Consul--(Ur. Brathwaite) remained tnrougliout the pro-' ceedings. .-•;,..;■.■,..■-.■,. ; .. . .-. f! ■In tne absence of..the : - Premier and 'Lord Mayor, Mr.. P., B. - Colijulioun'•■ propostid tho health of tho visitors.-. They were. ail pleased to see M'Longhlin.aiid Long, ia.net pre-, pared to give them a very hearty welcome. It was recognised that the .visitors:had made- the trip. at. some pewUftt inconvenience,-. for the purpose of doing "honour to. Australian. :tennie, ■ and ■. he (Mγ.' (Jolgunoun) felt sure that-the many friends they would Vmake in Australia would providi some recoiopensd; • After alluding to the great possibilities of the' game, and paying a tribute to'Dwight Davis, ''whose cup has been: the means of -doing, more for- liwn 1 tennis all 6ver the world than any other factor* in that it brought all-the nations of the world' together in teniia riTalry"' Mr. Colquhoun went on to. speak of Beats Wright and ¥~ 3, Alexander, "wEo gave one of the most, exoiting and brilliant exhibitions in the history'of th« contest, aid -proved themselves -fine-.- fellows, men in evei7 sense of the word, and real good sportsmen." The visitors,would find-that in ■Australia, the game was played in.;the true spirit of sportsmanship, and before spectatora who could Be:depended upon to appreciate the good play of both sides. . It could safely be promised that the' American- team ■:would be accorded the same generous.appjause: as ;that' given to the: Anstralians.-. "We want to see ;& good matchi" said; Mr. Colquhpun, in: conclusion, "and want Australia to win,- but if yon are successful there is not a 6ingleperson m: Australia who will begrudge you the, victory."'. (Applause.) , - : ':■ ■'~'■■/ ■':". ■'- MrU C. ■W. Oakes extended a warm Auv tralian weleome to the "young American inTad«rs." Might he hope that , while they would , make a strong effort \to regain possesBion of i the Davis Cup they would just fail at, the critieal moment, when publio excite. Bient was intense. (Laughter.) ißut. even in failure he felt sure.that the general public would reay »-rieh reward in, the" shape of 6em« .Vrrilliaat tennis I'.Hβ had •been. very pleased to netice th&t in recent years Australian tennis; had made a tremendeus ad-ranee, and: he: trusted: .that th* two American plaVers would have an- enjoyablo stay, put.np agood.'keehTeentest, and have a'' right royal time. (Applause.) •' • • :•'"; The tPast was drnnk with 'enthusiasm. '■'■'■■■■ '■ . Dr. Braithwaite responded on behalf of the Ameriean ' team* and, in doing se, pleaded inability to express adequate appreciation - for the .association's,: hospitality. ' One 0.f,-. qbestlons, to be carefnjly consideredr howevei was how much of 'this hospitality would .they have to combat m : order', to- ensure' a successful issue.. /(Laughter.)-..-; He .'.was' ;sure that ' the approaching, matoh would be played in -that spirit of' true sportsmanship' always .-exempli-fied^»>.-.Mnt««li.-.between: Australia 1 ind ■America. . ■•>'.'-<