Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-28
Vacancies in the Naval Depart
 ment Cause Much Figuring.
FOOTBALL AMONG CADETS
At West Point Academy Brings About a Deal of Investiga-
 tion--Lamont's Decision.

WASHINGTON, Oct. z7.-Secretary Her. bert spent an hour with the president this morning endeavoring to settle problem which has worried the naval authorities for several months, and which must be disposed of promptly. Four important commands are to be filled: The superin- tendents of the naval academy and naval observatory, the commander in chief of the south Atlantic sta- tion and the commandant of the New York
 navy yard, the latter becoming vacant Nos vember 10 by the retirement of Admiral Gherardi. s4A.A
 Ordinarily these details would not cause so much concern, but at present they in- volve most of the higher officers of the navy and numerous changes are likely to result. Admiral Walker, it is understood, is not anxious to accept either of the four duties, yet his desire seriously compiicates the problem. It he could be assigned to the naval academy the matter would be Admiral Greer as chairman of
 the lighthouse board next February. Commodore Selfridge has been slated, against his will, for the command of the
 south Atlantic, which would leave the
 pre- ,identy of the inspection board tempo
 rarily for Admiral Walker. Commodore
 Sicord, now commanding the Portsmouth
 navy yard, expects to get the New York
 navy yard or the naval academy. Capt: J.
 W. Phillips, who commended the cruiser
 New York in Brazil, wants the naval ob-
 servatory ,-and Commodore Norton, Cap
 tain Bunce, Captain McNair and a number
 of prominent officers are candidates for the
 places.
 Secretary Herbert said this morning that
 he had not yet decided upon any of the de-
 tails. a f4st ef.s asssagc
 FOOTBALL AT WEST POINT.
 The secretaries of war and the navy are
 deaf to all appeals that have recently been made to secure football game between the naval and military academy teams on Thanksgiving Day, and 1t Is understood game to prevent the law branches of the service from meeting again on the gridiron will be vigorously enforced.
 On that occasion bitter animosities were aroused almost culmiBating in duel be- tween an old rear admiral and g brieadier- general, who were among the spectators. Bad blood wes engendered to such an ex- tent that in army and navy club circles rival factions were formed.
 Secretaries Lamont and Herbert there- fore determinedtt that they Iwould not take the responsibility of revivins the rivalry. The pressure brought to bear for game this year has led to making public the of- ficial reasons of the departments for stop ping the practice. After considering Tor several months the troubles growing out of
 
 perintendent of the military academy, made full report on the subject to ths war department,s asking for specific instruc- tions in the matter. General Schoheld ,
 commanding the army, made the folloy- ing indorsement on the report in trans- mitting it 10 the secretary of war:
 The game of football as recently played requires some essential notifications. This, believe, is the concurrent public sentiment on the subject. The. required
 modification will be oithcult to enforce, for the reason that the objectionable feat ures are those which contribute moststo success in a a.contested game. They are those features which are most dangerous to life and limb, and may be said to most re- senble military operations They are more or less objectionable on that account. While 1t is undoubtedly true that the ex- perience in actual war is the best possible military training, modern civilization does not permit the making of war simply for the purpose of training an army. For like reasons the practice in peace of those oper- ations which most resemble war must be condemned, notwithstanding the fact that they are manifestly beneficial to military training. .sgf LicEa ggs
 The reports of the superintendent show | that the casualties in playing football st l West Point are .much~ greater than they ought to be, aud the same may also be said in respect to riding although expert horse- manship is indispsnsab ble, in g large part of the military service .se It m usts'be acquired, although, at much risk.ye,
 There is little need of football at West Point simply as means of physical train ing, and as such 1t is open to uthe objection that it is far from upiversai Probably the young men, being already endowed with physical developments, are capable, by additional raining of. successful com- petition with the best of any other selected | class. 5s- ,Fes.
 But the game is exceedingly useful as an | entertaining, exbilaratiug, absorbing, | pate either directly or indirectly, and in l which they obtain absolute diversion from l academic and military restraint. For this l reason, in my judgment, the game should l be encouraged, : but controlled by the aca- l demic authorities, SO tbat it's rules should | be duly modified and promptly enforced by authority. Occasional visits of teams from | not objectionable, but the annual visit of | the team from West Point t, any other in-
 stitution is open, in my opinion, to insur- mountable objection. .s,ts s5C
 Almost identical orders were issued Feb ruary 23 last by Secretary Lamont and Secretary Herbert, after the subject had been brought before the cabinet and Presi- l dent Cleveland had approved the solution of the 'ticulty. Secretary Lamont's order was as .,,Iows:
 sThe game of football will be permitted at the United States Militarytacademy un- der such regulatiens as may now or here- after be prescribed by the superintendent. | He may permit teams from other institu- | tions to visit West Point, and to play there with the academy ~teamy but the team ot cadets is prohibited from engaging in matches elsewhere, euoD B. LAMONT, Secretarysof War.