New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-30
West Point Team viii Take the
Field a Slight Choice Over
MidShipmen.
CLOSE BATTLE PROMISED
Thousands to See the FootbaA
Curtain Rung Down on
Last Big Game Of
the Season.


tho football season at Franklin Field
Philadelphia, this afternoon, in what
rroroisss 70 be one Of the keenest battles
or the season, ana certainly the most
snectacular. The Clamor for tickets mas
been such that the demand as usual lar
exceeded the supply, so that tully ol'"O
persons will he packed and JamInea III
the stands when the teams take the neiu
At > o'clock.
The midshipmen, under marching orders
from the Navy Department, Will be on
hand 200 strong, and as in other years
will camp out in the north stand WINE
the cadets from West Point, probably D."
strong, will be directly across the way
IN the south stand. In the boxes ana
round about will be representatives of Of
fetal Washington-Senator Assembly
men, Cabinet oficers-to say nothing VI
the officers from both branches of Uncle
Sans service, from heutenants TO gen
erals and admirals.
The Army team is slight favorte' AZ
odds Of 5 to 4, but nobody seems TO kno"
why. as il is almost impossible 70 ORA"
comparison, individually or collectively
that points TO any advantage for one or
the other. on games played this year
the cadets have made slightly better
showing, but early games leading 70 the
ell-important struggle Of the year nave
little bearing, as so many sacrhces are
made i'm order to bring a team up 10 the
final battle at the top Of its form. The
NAVY eleven, unbeaten for two years has
}, Sc
comes from Annapolis that great strides
have been made in the last ten days ana
this was substantiated by the play OF the
team in so easily defeating New YORK
University last Saturday.
The Army recovered from the crushing
defeat at the hands Of the Carlisle IND
isns. and played well enough against
Syracuse, the conqueror Of Michigan, TO
inspire the cadets with a feeling OF con-
fidence that the time has come to revenge
the defeats of the last two years. Inc
two academies have met on the gridlron
sixteen times, and the advantage now lies
with the Navy, as the midshipmen have
won eight games to seven for the cadets,
with one tie.
In 1910 and last year the Naval Academy
one Of the greatest punters and place
kickers in the history of football. He won
both games for the midshipmen by a goal
from the field, the score in each year
being 3 TO O. Dalton is now an ensign, and
the Naval eleven is likely to miss him
this afternoon as no player has been de-
Veloped, so far as can be judged TO fill his
shoes
In some respects the Navy is better off
than the Army, as five veterans are on the
eleven as compared to only two at West
Point There has been general shifting
about however Brown who made such
rame for himself two years ago, has been
moved in to his old position as guard
from tackle; Gilchrist, who played quar-
terback a year ago. is now at right end,
where he played in 1910, while Captain
Rodes who played fullback year ago, is
now running the team at quarterback.
Howe, al left guard, and McReavy, the
hard running halfback, are the other two
who have been under fire. The only vet
Grams on the Army eleven are Captain De-
wore at right tackle, and Godfrey Reyes
at fullback but il is cause for comment
that last years ends. Gillespie and Hoge,
have been beaten for places after a Keen
competition by Merrill and Markoe. This
in itself indicates that Lieutenant Ham
mond. coach of the Army ends for the
last three years. has not been lacking III
good material for the wing position"
In spite of the fact that Captain Graves
the head coach, has been forced 20 build
practically a new eleven, he has managed
TO turn out a more or less finished team.
IL showed great promise in the Yale
game, and remarkable power against
Syracuse The ends apparently are
above the average, while Captain Devore'
although he has not been at his best this
season, has been ranked with the great
tackles of the game and found place one
year on the All-America team. The other
forwards are not lacking in football brains
and have absorbed the finer points of the
game in a way TO indicate that they will
give good account Of themselves this
afternoon.
Prichard the Army quarterback, mas
shown keen judgment in running the
team, and has. been remarkably sure IN
handling punts Further than that ne
hurls the forward pass with more &C.
curacy than most players, or at least mas
beer doing so IN practice. keyes, at
fullback, is a good punter and drop kick
or, and ranks with the best ever de-
veloped at West Point. Hobbs and Bene-
dict are strong, powerful runners, the
former showing to great advantage
against Yale on the whole. then, the
backfield looks reasonably strong.
The Navy eleven appears TO be particu-
Iarly strong i'm the centre of the line as
the guards, Brown and Howe, both
weighing over 200 pounds. combine great
speed with their avoirdupois. Experience,
too. will stand i'm their favor Less is
known of the tackles, Ralston and Hall
but Gilchrist. on one end, is a speedy,
brainy player while Ingram, his running
mate is not far behind him.
In the backfeld Captain Rodes has had
more opportunities than Prichard. OF the
Army. as a quarterback. but. while d
good man in the position, he has not been
particularly conspicuous. McReayy is al
most second Dalton i'm hitting the line
or circling the ends and in all prona-
bility is the best back on either team.
Leonard and Harrison are new men. but
both are good punters even IL not in the
same class with Dalton and both also
have proved useful IN running with the
ball.
The Navy eleven has a slight advan-
-
~ 1~A~s q,