New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-04
Rid Football Game Comes to
the Polo Grounds After
a Long Conference
in Washington.
NAVAL ACADEMY YIELDS
craciously Comedies a Point
to Avoid Rupture with
West Point and the
Loss of Real Battle
of the Gridiron.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


washington, Sept. 3.-The annual
football game between the Military
Academy at West Point and the Naval
Academy at Annapolis will be played
this year after all. and at the Polo
Grounds in New York on November %.
The decision that the contest would
10 held followed u conference between
army and navy officials here to-day.
secretary Of the Navy Daniels and act
ing Secretary Of War Breckenridge met
Captain H. K. Koehler, of the army,
and Lieutenant Fairfield. Of the navy.
the latter two representing their re-
spective athletic associations.
The dispute which recently brought
an announcement from West Point
that the Army would this year play the
Carlisle Indians on the date always re-
served for the Navy game arose from
the question of where the battle should
be played. The Army wanted to play
in New York; the Navy insisted on
Franklin Field, Philadelphia, where the
annual contest has been held in recent
years. When the Navy refused TO give
in the Army made its arrangements
with Carlisle.
This brought action on the part of
the Secretary of War. then on tour Of
inspection in the West He tele-
graphed the Secretary of the Navy, ex-
pressing his disapproval Of any dis
agreement between the athletic as
sociations Of the two institutions, and
the conference held to-day was ar
ranged.
The Navy finally yielded point and
agreed TO play in New York. This will
be done if proper arrangements can
be made with the owners OF the Polo
Grounds. which. OF course. is assured.
The acting Secretary Of War, Mr..
Breckenridge, issued the following
statement:
Il am very glad 10 say that the diff
Guilty in the way OF the annual Army
and Navy football game has been OBJ
waited through the generosity of the
Navy in yielding TO the desire Of the
Army 10 hold the game this year at the
Polo Grounds in New York.
For eleven out Of thirteen years the
teams have been playing at Franklin
Field, in Philadelphia, which mas neces-
STATED a somewhat longer trip for the
Army team than for the Navy eleven.
But this is not the main reason for de-
string any change at this time. The
reason for the desire OF the Army 10
play the game at the Polo Grounds is
the superior seating capacity and ar
engagements for such a competition.
Despite the fact that the midshipmen
will have TO take three times as much
Of trip this year to play the game,
they have most generously conceded
their willingness TO yield their objec
tons and play in New York.
"Of course, the decision to play the
game at the Polo Grounds is dependent
upon obtaining satisfactory arrange
ment from the management Of that
field but IL is not thought that there
will be any difficulty about this matter.
Il am most heartily pleased that the
cordial athletic relations OF the Army
and Navy are not to be discontinued
even by the omission of a single an
nual game. Such generosity as the
Navy has displayed in the present
negotiations il bound TO create an even
more cordial feeling and cement more
firmly that comradeship and friendship
which ever should and will exist be-
tween the two services"
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels said:
Representatives Of both athletic as
sociations expressed their earnest de-
sire that the annual game be continued.
and after consideration Lieutenant
Fairfield and Mr.. Daniels decided that
in view OF the earnest desire Of the
Army 10 play the game this year at the
Polo Grounds in New York they would
extend the courtesy Of acceding 70
their wishes. This, Of course. is con-
ditioned upon a proper contract being
secured from the owners Of the Polo
Grounds.
Acting Secretary OF War Breckin-
ridge, Captain Koehler and Lieutenant
Mathews expressed their high appreci-
alton Of the courteous and generous &C
ton OF the Secretary Of the Navy and
Lieutenant Fairfield.
Oificers of thu New York Rasehau Ctut