New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-03
DRAWN FOOTBALL BATTLE
PRESIDENT SEES GAME.
Army and Nary ELeUens Play a Tie
Before Monster Cro1cd.
IBy Telegraph to The Trbune.I

Princeton. n. J.. Dec. president Roosevelt
the Secretary of State the Secretary of War,
the Secretary Of the Navy. the cade, corps froIh
Annapolis and West Point ard about 10000
non-comhatants came to Princeton to-day to see
the annual football game between the Army and
the Navy. The President sat half OF the time
on the Navy si1e while the Navy was being
beaten, and the other half on the Army side
while the soldiers were losing their advantage.
Thus the Chief Executive displayed entire i'm
Partially between the two arms Of the service
Moreover. the game itself. one of the most
spiritedly fought of all the contests ever seen
between these traditional rivals. resulted in a
TO tie, the Navy managing at the eleventh
hour to stave off imminent defeat with touch
down and a goal TO match those secured by the
Army in the first half
The land batteries got in action early in the
battle and did terrible execution amid the rulers
of the wave but later on when the sailors got
used to the choppy sea, they got their turrets
TO swinging smoothly, and their thirteen-nch
guns wrought havoc among the West Pointers.
1t appeared really to be only matter of getting
the range
There was the greatest possible interest in the
coming of the President from Washington to see
the match, especially in view of the vigorous in
terest he has shown in the matter Of football
legislation There were a good many persons
present who felt that. so far as Mr.. Roosevelts
influence could reach. the game was more or
less on trial at Princeton to-day. It is pleasant
to be able to say that the President saw a smart,
able exhibition of the great American under
graduate game strenuously played as indeed
are all football games worthy the name. but free
from any faint of foul play or personal rancor.
CHEERS FOR THE PRESIDENT
AS for the President himseIf-well the after
noon was one long series Of outbursts of en-
thusiasm. that emphasized his personal pop
ularity Mr.. Roosevelt arrived at Princeton
shortly after noon on a special train from Wash
ington With him We're Mrs. Roosevelt, Secretary
Of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War Taft, As
sistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry, Miss
Ethel Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, jr.. fresh
from. a strenuous football season himself as an
end on the Harvard freshman team, and Kermit
Roosevelt
The entire party were driven at once to the
home of President woodrow Wilson of Prince
ton University. where they were entertained at
luncheon. driving down to University Field just
in time to get there at 2 o'clock, the hour at
which the game was scheduled to begin.
CADETS AND SAILORS OPPOSED.
The west Pointers and their partisans were
assigned to the east stand. and il the centre OF
that structure a great square block of cadet
blue uniforms, from which at various blood
one to believe that the study of how to manu-
facture it must have a prominent place in the
west Point curriculum. OF course they had
hand. which was useful enough so long as there
was no cheering
Directly opposite the Annapolis contingent
made their headquarters. clad in their soberer
uniforms Of dark navy blue But the uniforms
were deceptive for the middies were bubbling
over with enthusiasm and zest It was most
had 70
pecting to win the game and prepared to cele-
brate it most appropriately. if they did.
Above the west stand 1oated the banner Of the
Naval Academy. From the topmost tier Of the
east stand Haunted the West Point colors.
single cadet in each. case had been detailed for
the task of keeping the banners flying, and the
two of them. in the brisk south wind that was
blowing had their hands full to obey orders.
II may be because neither the Annapolis nor
the west Point team has this year made
high reputation for football or it may be be-
cause the early morning weather was unpromis-
ing but whatever the reason, only few seats
on the north. or smallest. stand were occupied
In the other stands there was not vacant
seat. and when play. was called the scene was
brilliant one.
The President and his suite got great re-
ception when they entered the grounds, every
soul present getting on his feet and cheering
pressive efforts with. Roosevelt! Roosevelt!
Roosevelt at the end Of it. The President adj
vanced raising his hat and bowling from side
to side and smiling his thanks until he had
reached the seats reserved for him and his
party in the centre Of the navy reservation
and lust opposite the centre of the field. All
those who came in his encourage from Washing
ton sat with him on the Navy side with the
exception of Secretary Taft, who, of course, had
rs cross the gridiron and help the West Pointers
root for their team. The Secretary of War made
no attempt to sit on the lid The lid was off
and all kinds of enthusiasm poured forth
While the game was in progress President
Cabinet Ministers, diplomats and statesmen were
nretty well forgotten, for football is jealous
master but when the teams trotted off at the
end of the first half the thousands once more
remembered that there were present the rulers
thew had set over themselves.
THE. PRESIDENT CENTRE OF INTEREST,
DoD,n in the promenade in front of the Navy
.d there was a big rush to see the President
+ba corridor being packed for half its entire
Ia,otb with persons engaged in the process to be
,,;,,idI,, if inelegantly. described rubbering.
p,,+ for the police the Presidential party would
nrobably have been swamped by its friends
while the process of inspection was going on
cbeer vent rp as Secretary Taft, accompanied
h., General Mills superintendent OF the West
point Military Academy. and an escort of several
,7+s crossed the gridiron to claim the presence
of The President on the Army side of the field
for the rest of the afternoon The President
,,-o,,,rtI,- responded and stepped briskly across
the field raising his hat and occasionally waving
g. odee-liehtedly' in response TO the frenzled
greeting that the soldiers roared OUT as