BOXING AND WAR

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13170, 17 December 1914, Page 3

BOXING AND WAR

AN ENGLISH. CHAMPION TALKS. ■ Among the many boxers who have, thrown themselves with zeal into the sterner game of war is "Pat" O'Keeffc, middle-weight champion of England, a cheery Irishman who is well known in Australasia, which he visited with "Tommy" 'Burns, some years, ago. Recently, O'Keeffc told a London newspaper man his reasons .for enlisting, and they make interesting reading:— "King and country! I guess you'll say, and you'll be about right, for it was the national call (o arms and the love of a tight lhat made me throw in my lot with the Army, and here I am in khaki learning to drill and shoot, and very anxious lo get to the fighting line," said O'Kecffe. "Some of my bqal pals are in the Army, and ever since England decided to stand for right against might, and relieve Europe from the oppression of Kaiserism, I have been anxious to do my little bit to help the old country through. I wanted to-go with the Irish Guards when they left for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, but they wouldn't have me because I'd never been a soldier. That was the first setback. The second was a mental one. I was anxious to join Kitchener's army, but the thought of be-' jng sent to guard a tunnel at llogwash-in-the-llole instead of fighting Germans proved a bar lo military inienj.ions.for a few days, but patriotism triumphed,' ml it needed only a little friendlv conversation wjtfi Captain Fowles Jo decide mo to sign on to the L'lst Company of London Regiment (attached to the East Surrey Regiment) ten davs ago. I think it the dntv of everv British subject fit to fight'arid free from encumbrances to put his services at the disposal of the King. .When I wan the Lonsdale middle-weight, belt last February I thought it n big honour, but I regarded it as a greater one lo box before tho King, and because I was thus honoured I feel I am only doing my duty in fighting for (ho British Empire until tho war is ovor, The Lessons in Boxing. "As a boxer and a champion it is only right and fitting I should,do so, for the lessons wo learn in the ring or in the'gymnasium should be appliod to tho stern realities of lifo, and war, Which is a matter of life or death, is surely the sternest and grimmest of all.. "Boxing is regarded as tho hardest of all sports, the one that calls for the greatest gameness, confidence, coolness, stamina, and all-round ability from its devotees, and surely this is tho time for men supposed to possess such physical attributes to answer their country's call and set an example that"others may follow, .That they are doing It, top, we are all delighted to see, and the list of boxers in tho Army nnd Navy is, l eoiisider, a credit to the game, We aron't living in ordinary times, and Avhoi) Kitchener asks for men he'wants theni,and it is for the nation to'see, he gets them, ;'■■ . One-sided Patriotism. "Of course, the money'and the question of providing for dopowlouts crop, up, and they show English patriotism .to' be rntlier ono-sidqd, Men are asked to • leave decent jobs and give their lives for their country and a shilling a day,, while the maintenance-money .■;■ isn't enough' .to meet, the rents •. tho great majority of. them' pay. The relief ifund of two and a-lialf )iiillionsj.s'vory sinall for; a ridh' Empire-like,. ours; f nncl .will" iiotf be nearly, enoiigh to provi de for thd (lisable'cl laii(l; the'woiiien and childreii' pi • those -killed- in such a terrible struggle as this?' The risks are great, but. the •pay is •lions whoro;shQ getting hundreds of thousands*; if a\bbttor. vatp lidcq'nalo provisloa mado for tlioso'.left; behind. 1 ' ~ --r, ' - - * Soii)eon'o has'said ] that thejlower of ■England;s^mnnhoodiis-'.unmnrri^'?pnd- ' if " H*

fi or," brotliofs and f sistovs.y-.Ciln *stich,; moil | 'j^aV^tl^sG^ivo^ipyM i" :i|nrtds^^lo^h* s ?^'s!'&s?■ tJri iinnkqrw. strong an appeal as Kln| i riiiil (Joimtrjvmijl'those who turn;oitl 5 patriotlci'ppotry:ot l w>'ito ; to,-tlio pnp'ci. 1 • te!ling..Qtlierß.to enlist- ought, to- remeni; ! dangor, however, llnds her, as detei i' inliied'to' light, and conquer, as iSllo Wflf ' hiindi'fid^years, iigo, and .if wo foe' i 'pacdonnbly ' pvoiuV of tho fiiont. .worli doiio. by our .boys in. Kranep we.;miwl '. 11 jbt\forget.Vtliht; thcrd ..ifi stilt inuch ; to Ij( accomplished, Mon .nro. wanted ,foi •, lnoti'a worli/nnd it Is for.us.to' soo llltit purlionour,'m! l !;!;''? ;. glorious traditions of buv race nii'?' taiiicd, a lid tho world shown that the twisting of .'tlio BriHsli; lion's tail .will .! prove'as' fatal.to (lie ambitions of the ' Kaiser lis ij; ; did to.;thoso of the-great ; Napoleon. The menace of militarism ninst be -wiped out, and every fellow with red blood in ' his veins should . shoulder a rifle in- Britain's fight fp f i freedom,". 'J