BARBARIC WAR TAKES ITS TOLL OF FIGHTING MEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 107, 12 November 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

BARBARIC WAR TAKES ITS TOLL OF FIGHTING MEN.

ENGLISH AND FRENCH ARMV UOXEKS WHO CHEERFULLY FACE THE MUSIC OF THE TRENCHES.

(By JACK SKEI LY in the 'Referee. )

If the infernal, barbaric war continues for another year or so across the broad Atlantic, there'll hardly be a corporal's guard left of the famous European boxers who are now battling in the bloody trenches lor their homes and flags. , r Almost every day we read of some gallant, courageous pugilist being slaughtered in the firing line or shot down in some furious hand-to-hand encounter on the battlefields. , These horrible killings are .inuceu very distressing to the whole civilised world, and especially to mi, because 1 have personally known so many ot the brave, athletic vouug men who have sacrificed the'r lives so willingly in the very heyday of their manhood. Of course, the slaughter of game, innocent men of any walk of life is indeed sad and mournful, but the dreadful massacre of fine, brave, young, skilful boxers especially appeals to me, as I'm more or less in touch with most of them, and to a certain extent they are of my own kith and kin. For let it be known, ye scotfers ot the fistic ring, that we of the manly art are almost human, and have a certain amount of brotherly love and affiliation for one another, even though nc occasionally batter each other within, the rope 6, in the most manly fashion, under the fairest of rules and conditions.

And after our little war is ovjt we shake hands and are generally the best of friends. As Cowper puts it: "lhe brave men bear no malice, but forget at once in peace the injuries of war.

FIGHTING SMUT LURED BOXERS When the diabolical war broke out in France a year or so ago, nearly all her fistic champions answered the bugle call, and quickly joined their colours. Even that marvellous boxer and champion of all Europe, Georges Carpentier, immediately joined his regiment. Possibly few of the outside world know how many great sacrifices this gallant young fellow has uiadc by his tine, manly, courageous action. In the first place, Carpentjer was on the highest pinnacle of pugilist'c popularity and glory. He was and is today the exalted fistic idol of France. It would not be extravagant to say his boxing in the ring would net him IOO,(XX)dol., or even more, a year. But like a real gallant he threw all his boxing glory and golden harvest aside to fight for his country, at the risk of losing his life also. A recent cable from Paris tells us that Carpentier was painfully hurt while making a bad landing in the aviation corps, after returning from a scouting trip. He is now in a hospital near the front, as full of fight as ever. He has written to a friend in Paris telling him not to worry, as he will soon be on the front line again and in fighting action. It's the gallant fighting spirit that makes such game men as Carpentier so daring and courageous in the r'ng or on the battlefields of war.

MANY FRENCH BOXERS KILLED. It's almost impossible for me to get a full list of the heroic French boxers who have been slain in battle tt present, but among those recently killed are Battling Lacroix, Marcel BaJgan. Bantam Olive, Charles and Edofcard Verheist, of the American Boxing Olub of Pans; Toulis, Sturia, and others, who now sleep in unknown graves. Thore i 6 a host of great sprinters, cyclists, auto racers, jockeys, and other French athletes who have also perished on the battlefields. HOST OF BOXERS IN ENGLISH ARMY. Tile British boxers have answered the call of Johnny Bull for lighting soldiers verv promptly indeed. " Right Cross," in the New York "Evening Journal," pens the following list: "One of the reasons why Frank Moran is back in the United States is that nearly all of the English boxers arc in the army doing fighting in more or less uncomfortable trenches. The First Surrey Rifles, now in active service, is made up chiefly of prizefighters. Among those in the_ ranks of this organisation are Pat O'Keefe, middleweight champion of England; Dick Bulge, Ernest Barry, Guy Roberts, and 'Young Snowball.' Jem Driscoll is quartermaster-sergeant of a Welsh regiment, and Pat McEnroy. who enlisted as a private in the Irish Guards, is now captain of a company in that regiment. Bombardier Wells is learning to sight a rifle across the trenches in north of France. Bruce Logan amateur lightweight champion, is a private, and Victor McLaghlan, the heavyweight, is a lieutenant in a Middlesex regiment. Peter Brown, who fought with Willie Lewis, was killed by gas fumes in a trench in the North i»f France. Private Braddock, a favourite English boxer, won a Distinguished Service Medal lor conspicuous gallantry in action at the Dardanelles. -Gentleman' Mitchell, who fought with Carpentier, was killed in action at the Battle of Mi.rne. With tlx* boxers is one lone fight promoter, Wilson, the man who owns the Liverpool Boxing Stadium."

I might add a few more names of boxers taking part in the war, who may bo not quite so noted in the fistic art, hut who may be as good soldiers n their way as warriors. There is Lieu, tenant C. L. Mackey (an amateur), Lieutenant Bostock, Peter "Brown, Arthur Duncan, Martin McNally, Arthur Ireland, Sergeant Person, A. Boothby. and manv more brave boxers now in the firing line. Gunner Kllie has been reported mortally wounded. Dal Roberts, one of tho* best welterweights in England, Duke Lynch, Jack Goldswain, ex-liglit-weight champion, and Jack Wayne a;" i:i the same regiment with my old friend Dick Burgo. There are many others whore names I am unable to obtain just at this writing.