The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1939. Davis Cup Rallies

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1939. Davis Cup Rallies

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

LIKE a cool breeze on a sultry day comes news from Europe that the Davis Cup competition has again been launched. Amid the atmosphere of suspicion, truculence and intrigue that has been built up during the past few months, it has seemed as a rule, scarcely credible that the nations could so far forget their growing rancour and hostility as to meet each othei in friendlv rivalry on the tennis court; but it takes nothing short of a war to stop the Davis Cup series, and now that summer is again moving on the northern hemisphere, Europe is perhaps finding that there are other and more agreeable things to do than exchange talk across the frontiers. The same thought is inspired by a cable message in to-day’s “Advocate,” announcing the remarkable interest manifested in a soccer match between Italy and Britain to be played at Rome on Saturday next. Last Sunday four first round matches in the European zone were begun, and it is interesting to note that Germany, in beating Switzerland, had the assistance of two eminent players enlisted under her banner as a result of recent frontier changes. One was the Austrian, von Metaxa, and the other the Czechoslovakian, Roderick Menzel, who visited New Zealand a few years ago In these two men Germany has gained great additional strength, so that although von Cramm is apparently excluded from the German team, it is still very powerful, and it has a o-ood prospect of winning the European Zone. ° Germany in the second round will meet Poland, bo long as these two nations, in the midst of their embittered aigument about the Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig, can pause amid their recriminations to play each other tennis, there still seems hope of a sane solution to Europe’s troubles. It is unfortunately true that the idea that sporting rivalry leads to international harmony has often in the past proved to be a delusion. Nevertheless, even such a slight and trivial distraction as a tennis match may perform the miracle of restoring a proper sense of piopoitiom the other ma tches, too, international suspicion was put aside while Hungary played Rumania. Here, for a time, the burning question of territorial rights in Transylvania was forgotten All Hungary was concerned about was to advance a stage further in the Davis Cup; and this she did, after a very close and interesting contest, which might have gone the other wav had not one of the Rumanian players been forced to retire with cramp in the fifth set of a hard fought singles match. Hungary now meets Yugoslavia at Zagreb. > As the competition progresses, it will be interesting to see the further results in the European Zone.- Britain has an easy task, it would seem, in her first round match against a New Zealand side that has yet to prove itself. But the British team is not dependable, and seems unlikely to go very fai. Possibly France will offer more serious opposition to Germany in the European Zone. Forgetting the Maginot Line and the Siegfried Line, and all their instruments of death and suffering, the two countries may be pitted against one another in a test ot skill, resource, and endurance. Surely, if they can meet each other in this friendly atmosphere, it is possible for other differences and grievances to be adjusted. . , Somehow the commencement of the Davis Cup competition in Europe' seems to suggest that there is still a chance for the rational point of view to assert itself. Since September the growing tension and hysteria have clouded Europe s vision. Feihaps, as summer weaves its spell over the troubled peoples, they will turn from thoughts of war to the boundless enjoyments o peace, and will yet be permitted to see their dangerous nvahies in a more enlightened perspective.