Only the Fourth Marines will play American football in Shanghai this son. That there will be no civilian team nor any team combining the forces of local civilians with those of the U.S. Navy here was made clear in a statement issued to the Press yesterday by Mr. T. F. Mullahey, Pre-Sident of the. American Amateur Athletic Association.
This news comes as a blow to a few civilians who have been eager to develop a civilian team this year to meet the Marines, or at least unite forces with the Navy. Now it seems neither hope will be fulfilled owing to the fact that the interest is limited to a very small number.
Mr. Mullahey's statement says:—
The Shanghai Amateur Athletic Association regrets to announce that they will be unable to form a ci football team. or a combined civi Navy football team this year. A call for civilian candidates falled to yield sufficient material for a team. Subsequently the Association carefully examined the possibility of forming a combined civillan/Navy team.
The situation was discussed with the "responsible authorities in the USS. Augusta, but it was found that due to the shortness of the Augusta's stay in port, the other athletic activities to which they were already committed, and other cogent rea:
was" impossible ' to secure necessary material from the Navy.
Although the Association regrets that cannot field a team this year, theless the loyal adherence of S. Marines to American traditions, will ensure that there will be American football in Shanghai this year, at least on Thanksgiving Day. Definite plans for a Marine game or games will be announced later.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.