The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-28
FOOT BALL UNDER THE BAN.
The Naval and Military Academy Not
to Be Allowed 10 Play.

The Secretaries of the War and Navy
Departments Decide Adversely on Ac-
count Of the Bad Feeling EnEendered
By Last Years Game-An Old Retired
Rear Admiral and a Brigadier Gen
eral on the Point of Fighting a Duel
over Last Years Contest.
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE secretaries Of
war and the navy are deaf to all appeals
that have recently been made to secure a
foot ball game between the naval and
military academy teams on Thanksgiving
day. and it is understood that the policy
adopted as a result of last years game to
prevent the two branches of service from
meeting again on the grirdiron viii be
rigidly enforced.
On that occasion bitter animosities were
aroused, almost eliminating in a duel be-
tween an old retired read admiral and
a brigadier general, who were among the
spectators. Bad blood was engineered to
such an extent that in army and navy club
circles rival factions We're formed. Sec
retaries Lamont and Herbert, therefore
determined that they would not take the
responsibility of reviving the rivalry. The
pressure brought to bear for a game this
year has led to making public the official
reasons for stopping the practice After
considering for several months the
troubles growing out of last years game
Col. Ernst, the superintendent Of the mil
itary academy, made a full report on the
subject to the war department, asking for
specific instructions In the matter. Cen
Schoheld, commanding the army, made
the following endorsement on the report
in transmitting it to the secretary of war:
THE game of foot ball as recently
played requires some ESSENTIAL moditica-
tons. This, 1 believe is the concurrent
public sentiment on the subject The re-
quired- mobilization will be difficult to en-
force for the reason that the Objectionable
features are those which contribute most
to success in a contested game. They are
those features which are most dangerous
to life and limb and may be said to most
resemble military operation. They are
more or less Objectionable on that ac-
count. While it is undoubtedly true that
experience in actual war is the best pos
sible military training, modern civiliza-
ton does not permit the making Of war
simply for the purpose of training an
army. For like reasons, the practice in
peace OF those operations which most re-
semble war must be condemned notwith-
standing they are manifestly beneficial as
military training
THE reports of the superintendent show
that the casualties in the play of foot ball
at West Point are much greater than they
ought to be and the same may also be
said in respect to riding, although expert
Craftsmanship being Indispensable in a
large part of the military service II must
be acquired, although at much risk
There is little need of foot ball at West
Point simply as a means of physical train
ing. and as sueh.it is open to the objection
that it is far from universal. F-Sably
the young men who most need such train
ing do not get it. but only those who be-
ing already endowed with splendid physi-
cal developments, are capable by addi-
tional training of successful competition
with the best of any other selected class.
"But the game is exceedingly useful as
an entertaining, exhilrating, absorbing
out-of-door sport, in which all can partici-
pate, either directly or indirectly, and in
which they obtain absolute diversion from
academic and military restraint For this
reason, in my judgment, the game should
be encouraged, but controlled by the
academic authorities so that its rules
should be duly modified and promptly en-
forced by authority. Occasional visits of
teams from other institutions are in my
judgment, not Objectionable; but the an
nual visit of the team from West Point
to any other institution is open, in my
opinion, to insurmountable objection"
Almost Identical orders We're issued on
Feb. % last by Secretary Lamont, and
Secretary Herbert after the subiecpshad
been brought before them and President
Cleveland had approved the solution of
the difficulty. Secretary Lamonts order
was as follows:
The game of football will be permit
ted at the United States Military Acad-
envy under such regulations as may now
or hereafter be prescribed by the superin-
tendeht. He may permit teams from
other institutions to visit West Point and
TO play there with the Academys team:
but the team of cadets is prohibited from
engaging in matches elsewhere.
ID. S. Lamont Secretary of War"