New-York tribune., 1908-03-30
ARMY-NAVY GAME OFF?
DEADLOCK OYER DATE.
Soldiers Want to Play 4nnndI Gr7d-
iron Battle ON NOUember 22.
fpv Tele1ranh to The Tribune, ]


ANNAPOLIS March 2.-There appears TO be strong
noss,ntv that the Navy and Army will not meet on
the gridron this year for their annual saie' " - :
Is one of the features of each footoah seasoh' "
Army has thrown down the gauntlet by oemahu
ing that the game be played one week carrier 'i''
,s customary or on November q. 1t has dehVered
this utlmaturn to the Navy: If you 90 not con
sent to the earlier date We will not meet you On
the gridiron this year
Tth Navy picked up the gauntlet without over
much hesitation and has delivered this uitiIhatu"
to the Army: IF you will not meet US at the
usual time you will not meet US at all NeFeItie
less the midshipmen to are hoping that the
game will be played, for they fondiy oehe'e 'ha'
i, would result in another Navy victory
Several weeks ago the manager or the ARMY
football team wrote to Mdshpman WeisheiHner
manager of the Navy eleven, asking IL the Navy
would consent to play the game the Saturday pre-
ceding Thanksgiving this year instead OF the Sat
urday succeeding Thanksgiving Day
He gave as his reason for this request the state
ment that the weather in West Point was so bad
during the latter part of November that II serl-
ousIy interfered with the practice of the Army
team whereas Annapolis being further south. did
not have to contend with such climatic difficulties
After consideration the Navy Athletic AS
socaton decided not to accede TO TINS request
taking the position that the Armys argument Ior
putting the game forward week was not of
sufficient validity when all the circumstances gov
erning the football situation at both academies
were taken into consideration Manager "eish-
elmer wrote the Army manager refusing the re-
quest and saying that the Navy would insist on
the game being played at the usual time or, 'hls
year. Saturday, November %
Midshfpnan Welsheimer, in his letter, called
West Points attention to the fact that the three
senior classes at Annapolis were on leave through
out the entire month of September. and for this
reason the Navy could not begin regular practice
until October / although some of the football men
give I'D half OF their annual leave and return TO
the academy about the middle of the month for
practice; that the other hand the West POINTERS
return from ther turlough September l. and thus
are able to and do start regular practice al that
time, giving them full two weeks start on tne
Navy.
Welshemer added that it would be obviously
unfair to ask the Navy to meet the Army week
earlier than customarf1y. and that there was no
precedent for such request
The ARMY manager promptly replied that the
Army football candidates would agree not 10 De-
gin practice until the middle OF September II the
Navy would consent to play the annual game on
November %. Midshipman Welshefmer repiied that
the Navy would refuse to consent TO the cnange
of date.
Again the Army manager wrote 70 Weishe1n1er'
insisting upon the earlier date and intlmatlns IN
no uncertain tone that unless the Navy yielded
the point the Army would refuse 70 meet her Oh
the gridiron this year.
That Is the situation ii stands at present
The sentiment at Annapolis is entirely against
Welding the Arnys request, which the mid
equally determined to have its way, and there are
no indications to point toward breaking the dead
lock in the future
Navy officers here hope that the matter will be
adjusted and the game played usual. II there
are no new developments within the next month
and the prospects of the annual service
grdiron battle being fought this year do not grow
brighter, it is practically certain that Army and
Navy officers will take a hand and bring pressure
to bear the cadets and midshipmen to force
them to agree some date and play the game
At present the officers inclined to let the em-
bryonic admirals and generals handle the matter
themselves without interference, hoping that they
will be able TO reach amicable agreement
1t has been rumored here that the Army's in
sistence upon earlier date is merely pretext
TO get out of meeting the Navy this year. AS
foundation for this ~unOr 1t pointed out that
the Navy will have all except two of last years
winning eleven eligible to play this year, while the
Army has lost many of her best men.
The naval officers attached to the academy and
the mfdshipmen themselves do credit this
rumor They do not think Ii consistent with the
ideas