New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
RULES AT BISLEY BROKEN.
NO DISHONOR IMPUTED.
Lord Cheylesmore Says Officials Did
Not KnozC of Conditions.

Cheylesmore president OF the National Rife Asso-
citation, TO a representative Of The Associated
Press referring to the controversy the rifles
used by the Americans in the match for the Palma
Trophy. which was by the American team in
July last However continued the former COM
nander Of the Grenadter Guards. that is not the
case, nor do the comments OF the English papers
represent our feelings. There is no resentment on
our part. and we continue hold the American
rife team in the highest respect. IF they offered
TO re-shoot the match for the Palma Trophy we
would not do it. We beaten. and We own it.
We looked on them while here good sportsnen
and did our best to make them feel at home. We
have no reason to change opinion. All we say
Is that, unfortunately. a mistake occurred on
count OF the American team using rifles they them
selves admit not similar those issued TO the
American army. Such action distinctly broke the
conditions under which the Palma Trophy must be
fought for
Our action in pointing out this mistake was not
Que TO any desire to take advantage Of It. but
merely in justice to our men. and actually as the
result OF a letter which appeared in an American
paper some time after we resigned ourselves 10
the conviction that the Americans were the better
men.
i do not suppose that the result OF the shoot
would have been different whatever happened and
= would Ike it to be clearly understood that we
are not trying to beIlttle the American victory
nothing dishonorable has been imputed by
the American team. and am sorry 70 see that
The London Times made such IN unfounded de-
auction L is really a very small matter which
personally, never wanted to come to public ut
tention- STILL since the controversy has arisen
may be forgiven for pointing out again that Gem
eral Spencers letter explicitly admits breaking the
rules OF the competition.
AS president OF the rifle association never left
Bisley while tho shoot in progress. During
that time my attention was never called to the
American rifle. Had known. or had any official OF
the British association known, that the American
rifle was OF a different pattern from that issued
to the American troops. we should have been
obliged TO call q meeting TO discuss the merits OF
the case
Please do not think I intimating that the
Americans practised deception. I know that I OF
anybody at Bisey welcome to shoot with or
inspect the rifles they used We took it for grant
ed they were service It IS entirely false,
however. for any TO say that the Ocffiials OF
the British Rife Association were told that the
spiral was different from that used in the army.
Perhaps Il would have been better If we had been
more officially minute the spot. but It is easy
TO be wise after event.
All objections especially those made by the
loser. are Objectionable, but afterward when the
statement appeared IN the American papers that
the winning used non-reguIatioa rifles. we
were forced to inquire into the facts OF the
The reply received leads to no other conclusion
than that the rules Of the competition violated
Internationally doubtless and without the slight
est desire TO deceive or be dtshonorabe. but still
they were violated 1t is most unfortunate. and
attitude in the matter has been officially stated
as not desiring TO reopen any question regarding
the merits OF the Americans victory, but merely
10 investigate the truth OF a statement which ap-
peHred IN American papers. 1t was a technical
point. and should not have received any more
prominence than It deserves. Not man of
team grudges the Americans victory. They
by excellent shooting Personally. 7 shall be Bit
terly disappointed II the incident affects the friend
~ rivalry in this branch OF sport between the
countries
The statement that the barrels OF thu rifles
used by the English team made by private
firms and that hence the conditions under hitch
both teams shot identical is misleading. The
| British barrels undoubtedly made by priva,e
firms, but they all bore the War Office view mark
and conforrned in every particular with the bar
res used by the British army. The rifles used by
| the American team could not bear the War De-
| partment stamp because that procedure does not
exist IN thu United States. but they did not con-
form IL an impOrtan: detail with the
then .ped TO the service permitted IN inter
state rife matches under the auspices o. the Ma
! tioaaI American Rife Association"
Lord Cheylesmore added that the Canadian
thCr.ties unoficially cognizant OF the action
| tken here but he did not know what they intended
/ II do Nothing would be done ofl,iaIy here Until
/ tho National American Ride Association heard
/ from.
You may be sure" said Lord Cheylesuaore, that
| any communication from the American authorities
| Will be treated in sportsmanke spirit. We have
/ no idea OF making fuss over this thing, and
/
and interesting matches from occurring IN years 10
! come We cannot be blamed. however. for pointing
| out what we believe be an Infringement OF the
strict rules OF the Palma competition especially
| We expressly state that our action is not taken
/ with the desire minimize upset American
| victory
| The controversy aroused here ove- the Palma
affair has brought TO a climax long series OF I'M
| pleasant incidents associated with Anglo-American
/ sporting contests Scarcely any OF these has
| CURED IN England without leaving bitterness on
/ side the other. Americans resident in the
| United Kingdom have come to dread the visit Of
| any American team Almost inevitably. whether
tennis or any other sport, there has been left
| something to explain or sometl ing 10 vindicate
Since Howard Gould came over with his yacht
Niagara which visited by officials OF the Yacht
Racing Association in 1896 tie absence Of Mr.
| Gould. owing to rumor that she was fitted with
water ballast. the present Palma episode. NUT
uaI distrust appears TO have existed between the
leading opponents of sport IN both countries.
Hence the forthcoming trip of the HarvarG-Yale
athletes causes some misgivtnss in the minds Of
Americans who are obliged to live in England.
| They recall the keen feeling exhibited by the Eng
Hsh spectators against the college yelIs'' heard
when Harvard and Yale last met oxford and Cam
bridge in London CornelTs troubles at Henley in
1895 are still fresh IN the minds OF all Engshmen
connected with rowing while both Yale and Penn
sylvania continue to come IN for severe criticism
for employing professional coaches. practice
which has resulted in the Henley stewards practi-
cally barring a revisit of these American crews.
Even to the matter of clothes and the megaphoned
voice of the cOxswain and coach the Americans
are still bitterly criticised in rowing circles while
the English tennis experts have never quite for
given Ward and Davis for appearing in English
CHAMPIONSHIPS in unconventional shoes. In polo
circles Lord Shrewsbury's attack Lawrence
Waterbury, tho American player for the wearing