Evening star., 1896-02-07
YALE'S HENLEY TRIP
bob" Cook Tells Why it Was De-
cided Upon.
COLLEGE MEN NOT DIVIDED
Stake Events of the Benning Meet
ing Announced.
GENERAL SPORTING NOTES

In an interview with Mr.. Robert J. Cook,
Yale's ex-captain, coach and authority on
matters aquatic, on the subject of Yale's
entry in the Henley races, he Is quoted as
saying: "Harvard's refusal to contest in
the annual race with Yale at New London
in 1896 made it necessary for the Blue to
look for a race elsewhere. AS Cornell, Co.
lumb!a and Pennsylvania had pledged them
selves for a renewal Of their regatta of
1895. Yale could not look for any race with
any of them and had no wish to join in a
regatta. Yale, therefore, considered the ad-
visibility of entering into negotiations for
a race against the winner of the Oxford
and Cambridge race, which has always
been favcrite idea with her. A PROPOSE
ton was made to the English universities,
but it was not feasible, as their annual
race takes place long before our crew could
&c over, md they were unable to hold a crew
together until We were prepared to row.
Failing that, We had Henley to fall back
upon, but did nothing regarding any other
race until We had a definite answer from
the universities. AS soon as that was re-
ceived we then wrote to the Henley au-
thorities, and the crew will go there, as /
think they will be only too glad to receive
our entry"
Yale Men Not Divided.
In answer to the question of how Yale
men felt about sending the crew to Hen
ley, Mr.. Cook said:
'They a unit the subject, not
withstanding that an effort is being made
to create different impression.
II think very strong crew can be turn
ed out. We will have to take in new men,
but there is good material to draw upon.
1t will be easy to teach those men what
Is required at Henley as 1T will be for the
old members of the crew to learn it.
1T was said that l was altering the
stroke. l dd nothing that have not done
at New London when making the crew
squirt, and 1t was only because it was ask
ed of them now that onlookers thought
there was a change.
Believes in American Skill.
Il have always felt confident ever since
the centennial regatta, when we rowed
such Il good race against the London four
under conditions entirely new to US, that
hrst-class American crew should equal any
crew afioat. We rowed 80 strokes a min
ute In tnat race, lost at least length and
a half by the course we took, and yet were
close on top Of the London four, which
rowed over 10 strokes. Our improvements
In rig of boats and other details give us an
advantage the English crews do not pos
sess. AS our men are physically the equals
or any that can be got together for the
Henley course 1 10 not see why we cannot
win. L believe We can, and l shall rot
cease to be of that belief until defeat has
demonstrated that 1 am in error.
1t is possible hat this trip to Henley
may bring about what We most desire-a
race, perhaps an annual one with an En-
gEsh university crew. Yale has already
had two annual athletic meetings against
the champion Varsity of England-Ox-
ford in 1884, and Cambridge last year and
1t would be a great thing If the same could
be done in rowing. In addition to difficult
ties there are prejudces to overcome be-
fore making any such arrangement, but the
latter can be overc ome by Intercourse, and
1t may be accomplished By the visit of Yale
10 Henley TINS year.
Report Of Yale Officers
Officers of the Yale navy make this an
nouncement: las soon as full information
in regard to the Henley regatta is received
from abroad the final decision as to wheth-
er or not a Yale crew will be entered will
be left 20 the undergraduate body 1t seems
that this announcement, which is in ac-
cordance with the original intention of the
management, should be no longer deferred
owing to some abs Ird rumors in regard to
the Henley matter that are going the
rounds of the press
The announcement is signed by Cant r