New-York tribune., 1907-11-30

Thirty thousand persons. more or less, will he
hacked and iamrned into Franklin Field. at Phil
adephia this afternoon to see the Army and
NAVY football elcvens fight out their annual
battle OF the gridirOn. The game VIII marx
the close Of the most interesting season IN the
history 81 the sport, and 1t should be hthns
climax, as the fighting spirit of both teams Is
aroused 10 a point that insures a hard fought
and spectacular struggle West Point Is de-
termined wipe out and get revenge Tor last
years defeat: Annapolis IS determined 10 ENJOY
the fruits Of another victory unfortunately
the bis, incIosure is not large enough 10 accom-
rnodate more than one-half Of those who would
like watch the game. Applications by the
hundreds have been returned TO those VINO de-
faVed too long at both West Point and Annapo-
tlfs and these and a host OF others must needs
content themselves with reading and hearing
fabout the struggle
The Army is slight favorite and supremely
confident, as II was a year ago, based on par
iftcularly good record for the season. in which
lie game was played with Yale and Cornell
won by a score of only Il 10 10. The Navy
rs quietly confident and hopeful, however as the
Army game has been the goal Of the mldshlp-
men and everything has been sacrificed 10 bring
ing the team to its top form for the day OF days
Defeat by Swarthmore was humiliating ana
iPennsvlvania State was beaten only in the last
fssv. minutes Of play but the men have rallied
hand will play better football to-day, judging by
Ttfeir work in practice. With Harvard's Won
lxIerful brace against Yale and Pennsylvania's
tx--lShiner defeat of Corner I.tSn IN IllIu, II
EsvouId not be we'll for the cadets 10 go TO Phila
delphia too confident of victory A surprise
may be in store, a was the case year ago
THE new game is uncertain at best, and all
fshings considered, the Navy's chances for VIC
rsory are quite as bright those OF the Army.
IFrom a perfectly neutral point Of view it looks
Hike an bet.
The game has aroused widespread interest not
r5nIy in football circles but in both branches Of
the service far and The struggle will
hardly be over before the news is being flashed
by cable to the Philippines Cuba China or
wherever there is a battlesilp, a cruiser or an
sarnny post The officers and enlisted men away
from home take the same lively interest In the
outcome as those who can see the battle fought
Every army and navy man who can get away
from duty and was lucky enough to get a ticket
VIII be on hand. we'll as members of the
diplomatic corps and the legislative bodies at
washington. President Roosevelt will not at
tend the game, as he did at Princeton two years
ago. but official Washington will be represented
by Secretary Metcalf of the Navy Department
and Acting Secretary Oliver of the War De-
partment. OF course. the midshipmen and
cadets will be at the game to a man in full uni
1orIn
The yelling and singing will he distinct feat
yre as usual number Of songs will be
hurled back and forth from the rival camps, and
in all probability the midshpmen will sing that
old favorite: ~
she's our greatest rival too.
We hope that she may always win,
MAJ the best team win!
T54t,f Fn5 ,ss he se.f Tay Z 6is & bsER5 SaRy,
Three cheers for the Rs5 Red White White and AND Bgs Bigs
The Army and Navy forever,
Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue.
FThe Navy Will depend largely on the famous
sfTour NJ yell TO encourage the team 1t goes:
@N-N-N-N! A-A-A-A! V-V-V-Vi Y-Y-Y-Y!
Navy Navy! Navyi'
The cadets win respond with. "Rah. Rah!
Ray, Ran, Raht Ray West Point! West
Point A-R-M-Yl" The cadets have new
scannonbalT yell to match the Navy "sren"
yell, and both promise TO be as effective as they
are Undesirable.
COMPARISON OF THE ELEVENS.
Latest reports indicate that both teams are
ready for the fray. The men are in good physi-
cGl condition and have had the benefit of the
best training and coaching. Both teams expect
ito win; neither will have any excuses for defeat
In studying the records OF the two elevens for
ihe season there is not a single game from which
a comparison can be made, both lined up
against different teams. The Arrny's record is
slightly better, however, as so far can be
Judged West Point had stronger opponents,
against which the team acquitted Itself well.
harvard beat the Navy TO 0. but the game was
@ al intents and purposes a tie, but later
ewarthmore defeated the midshipmen 18 TO 0,
end West Virginia and Pennsylvania State were
barely beaten The Swarthmore game must be
discounted, however, to a large extent. The
strongest men. and O'Brien, the Swarthnore
nparterback, did the bulk Of the scoring, thanks
TO his remarkable ability a drop kicker. The
results of games played a weak reed 10 lean
on, as has been clearly shown in recent contests.
still, what advantage there IS in this lies with
the Army
An individual comparison OF the players does
mot serve to untangle the problem TO any extent
II the Army is slightly stronger at the tackles
and guards the Navy has a slight advantage at
THE centre and on the ends. If Beavers is a
better fullback than Jones, and Captain Smith
Stands over Reifsnider the Navy can boast of a
running and plunging halfback in Captain Doug
ias. who has few If any equals the gridiron
to-day. Further than that Douglas should quite
hold his own in punting. as good as Beavers is.
st quarterback only the game to-day can de-
eide between Mountfosd Of the Army and Lange
or the Navy The latter lacks experience, but
Otherwise he is well up 10 the standard. The
Army backfeld whole, however appears 10
be stronger and better balanced. and conse-
quently much depends the individual efforts
OF Captain Douglas for Navy victory.
In the line Slingluff, the Navy centre. is OF
All-American calibre He IS remarkably fast
charges quickly and follows the ball well Phi
loon his Army opponent. is good man. but Is
quite likely 10 be outplayed The left side OF
the Army line is wonderfully strong as Erwin is
an An-American guard and Weeks has few
equals as a tackle They viii be opposed by
Wright and Leighton. respectively and the Navv
men suffer in comparison. on the other side
Moss and Fowler. for the Army. will face Never
aud NOrihcrolt. and it looks like an even break
If Pullen. the giant Alaskan should go I'm for
the Army at the last minute in FowIers place
then Northcroft might find more than he could
handle. Pullen has bad knee but NAV pIav
part OF the game
on the ends Dague one of the surest tacklers