Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-10
POLO TEAMS MEET
FOR WORLD HONOR
First Clash in International
Championship Match at
MeadoWbrook Club.
GREAT CROWD ON HAND
TO CHEER THE CONTEST
"Big Four" of Two Years Ago
Finally Pitted Against the
British Invaders.

NEW YORK. June 1O.-Fair weather
brought out great throng Of sport-lov-
ing persons today for the first Of the polo
matches between United States and Eng
lish teams for possession Of the West
chester cup. The trophy for many years
has been regarded as emblematic Of the
worlds championship. and the enthusi-
asts who fiocked to the scene Of the con-
test on Long Island today felt no doubt
that the opposing tours represented the
best combinations Of mallet wielders and
mounts In the polo world today.
BY bridge and tube. by automobile and
train. tho throng started early today for
Westbury, L. L., where the Meadowbrook
Country Club was prepared to accommo-
date the largest crowd that ever wit
messed a polo game here. Additions to the
stands which were In use when the Amer
lean team defeated England two years
ago had made 1t possible to care for
nearly Sa.000 persons. a crowd compar-
ing favorably with those seen at many Of
the champ ionship base ball games. al
though polo as q sport has generally
been regarded as limited In its following
AS usual. men and women Of society CIR
cles were conspicuous in the crowds.
Prominent Among Spectators.
Although not oficially representing the
United States in this peaceful trial at
arms with England, Secretary Of the
Treasury William G. McAdoo was among
those for whom a box had been reserved.
while the British ambassador. Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, was expected to be present
to encourage the kings men. The United
States Army. which recently has taken
up polo. was also expected to be repre-
scented by Maj Gen. Thomas II. Barry.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. Col Henry P.
Allen and Col Charles G. Treat.
The fashionable colonies at Newport
Lenox and Tuxedo were reported as prac-
tically depleted by the rush Of society to
the game. and many came from more dis
tant points. Conspicuous In the throng
we're many who had been spectators dur
ing the past week at another interna-
tional contest, the Davis cup tennis pre-
liminary. In which the Americans de-
feated the Australastans, and sporting
gossip In the corridors Of the large hotels
was strangely mixed with the vocabulary
Of the tennis court and the polo field. as
the enthusiasts triumphed over one VIC
tory and discussed the chances of an
other.
Changes in the Teams.
So many overnight changes had been
made in the polo situation that this tea
ture was the center OF the polo gossip.
The final decision Of the American Polo
Association TO pit the old big four
against the English challengers developed
a shortening of the odds reported in the
betting. but the English quartet seemed
still to rule a favor.le.
The lineup as agreed upon today in
cluded no further changes although there
was still gossip OF a proposal In the Eng
lish camp to substitute Lord Wodehouse
doubtful. however. that this move would
be made in the first game. The line
up therefore stood as follows:
America-No. l, L. Waterbury: No: 2
NJ WsteTSury: 5r; Ne g. II. P. Whit
England-No. !. Capt. l.. st. G.
Cheape: No. .. Capt. A. Noel Edwards;
No. &, Capt. r. G.. Ritson; back, Capt
Vivian Lockett.
Activity at Meadowbrook.
The English playing contingent moved
over early today from the Piping Rock
Club. where they have been practicing, to
the Meadowbrook course. followed by
the squad OF ponies in charge Of their
Irooms. Although the game was not
scheduled to begin until 4:3O o'clock In
the afternoon. there was much activity
at the Meadowbrook quarters in prep
arat.on for the fray.
The change in the American team by
the reinstatement Of the old four made
It uncertain just how the players would
be mounted for the first test, but 1t was
expected that only about twenty-five OF
their string Of pom es would be used.
These were carefully selected and their
grooms insisted that they were little II ~
all inferior to the speedy stable sent over
by the Duke OF Westminster. Among
them were Conover. Flora, Grayl;ng and
Mohawk. which were to make their third
entry into an International contest Hob
son. Little Mary, Miss Hobbs. Siren and
YaQui were to be saddled for the second
time against England. while the others
were fast and clever animals that had
shown ability to follow the ball and keep
up with the fastest of games.
Mounts Of the Invaders.
The Englishmen also selected twenty
two Of their ponies to perform the buli
OF the work today. One or two had no,
been used much in practice matches. and
II WAS coSS.O thai thew might pFOVA A