AMERICAN LEGATION

OFFICE OF MILITARY ATTACHE APO 924
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA C/O Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.
18 October 1944

Mre Forest Allen | We

University of Kansas 7 “ye

Lawrence, Kansas | thn took fed)
My dear Fog: | : :

I have been seeing the football contests in Melbourne over
a considerable period, and each time have thought of you wonder-
ing if you would be interested in perhaps a study of football
as it is played in this State according to the rules which are
quite different from Rugby and other types played in some other
parts of Australia.

Mre McBrien, the Secretary, is a good friend, and has had
me as honor guest at most of the larger games. I am enclosing
his card, "A Primer of Australian Rules Football" and the folder
for the final game which was played on September 30th.

The war being on, the teams are not quite as good as would
normally be expected, but an attendance of 30,000 at the games
is not unusual. There is something doing every moment of the
game. It is by far the best football game I have seen from the
standpoint of spectators! interest. The Scores, of course, run
very high, frequently one team or both scoring more than 100
points. To me, it might be styled as foot-basketball since the
ball is everything. The quibbling and delays so cormon in our
game are not present in this, and it seems to me to have great
value as a game which can be participated in by a large number
of players. Our ball is not exactly suited to the game, The
Australian ball, I believe, is slightly heavier than ours, and
much more rounded at the ends. I thought you would like to
look this folder and Primer over and perhaps study them over
a bite I am sure Mre McBrien would be glad to hear from you.

I was certainly glad to see you and my other friends in
Lawrence. I have no idea when I will be back there again, but
I hope everyone will carry on and keep the University well on
the mape I know you will do your part splendidly.

I am going out for my 25th Rotary talk next week.

Very sincerely
aE .

KARL F. BALDWIN

With best wishes,