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Show VVILLARD OFFERS IIS SElGEMira Heavyweight Champion Ia Willing. to Go to War; Officer Praises Jess. WASHINGTON, April 6. Jess Wlllard, the heavyweight pugilist, sent this telegram tele-gram to President Wilson: "I will fight. When do you want me?" By International News Service. .CHICAGO, April 5. Jess Willard said he was somewhat embarrassed today when he discovered that his telegram to President Wilson, tendering his services, had become public. 1 "This is the time for every true American Ameri-can to step forward to help the president," presi-dent," he siid. "I am only one of 100,-000,000 100,-000,000 Americans. Each of us must do whatever he can to help the president. If he wants me to organize a company of boxers I will do that. I will do whatever what-ever he wants me to do. I .believe the rest of the boys also will offer their services." serv-ices." "Willard has set an example for the stalwart men of fighting blood in this hour ci patriotic need," said Captain Kenny, United States recruiting office. "Men of his type are welcome to the army. He is not only a trained hand to hand fighter; the strict regime of a boxer in training has taught him discipline, disci-pline, restraint and patience as w-ell as courage. The soldier's life is that of an athlete from start to finish. More athletes ath-letes should join." |