The Washington herald., 1914-11-28
Army Team Favorite, But Navy
Has Chance To Win Today's Game
West Point and Annapolis
Elevens Clash in Annual
Battle on Franklin Field.
Washingtonians Interested.
BY WILLIAM 'PEET.

game between the Army and Navy teams
this afternoon, ana, as usual. Washing
tonlans will be vitality interested in the
outcome Of this classic struggle.
BY virtue OF its fine work this fall the
Army team rules the favorite in the bet
ting. West Point has not been beaten,
but the caliber OF the teams which op-
posed the Army was, according to most
critics, weaker than the opponents of the
Navy.
Army will probably rely once more upon
the open game for victory. The Navy has
been coached i'm old-style football. with
Just enough forward passes to vary the
monotony of attack
| The writer looks for a close hard
fought game with a fair chance in the
Nays favor to nose out a victory. de-
spite the Army's greater reputation.
Washington society will, as usual, be
well represented. Special trains will car
ry hundreds of football fans from the
various departments, among the dipIo-
matte corps, and from those prominently
Identified with Army and Navy circles.
The entire Engineer football team Of
the Washington Barracks will be on the
side lines roofing hard for the Army to
win.
Philadelphia regarding the big game:
Philadelphia. Nov. 2T.-Society from
New York, Washington, Boston, and even
from far-off Chicago is hockinE into
philadelphia tonight, to be on hand when
the referees whistle puts the ball into
play tomorrow.
| President VIII Not Attend.
For once the cadets and middies will
have to fight their football battle with
out the eye of the President OF the United
States upon them, but there will be pres-
ent in the side-line boxes practically all
| the rest Of official Washington, with
Secretary OF War Garrison and Secretary
Of the Navy Daniels leading the official
family by right of football precedence.
President Wilson's decision not to at
tend is in line with his plans not TO at
tend any social functions this season,
owing to the death Of Mrs. Wilson.
| Every army officer who can get away
| from his garrison or department duties
and every wearer of epaulets in Uncle
SANS navy who is not needed some
where else. will be in the reviewing
stands
Both the military academy at West
| Point and the naval academy at Annap-
| oils will be represented by student bat
taltons. Noncoms and privates from both
branches Of the service will also be In
the stands somewhere, along with near
ly 5000 other American football bugs"
| who are expected to tax the facilities
of Franklin Field, temporary stands in
cluded, to the utmost.
or the teams themselves Il need only
be said that the coaches OF both squads
contend their men are in tip-top shape to
put up a battle worthy of all the tradi-
tons of this football Derby. Both teams
arrived this morning. and after brief
visit to their hotels went out to Franklin
Field for short limbeTing up practice.
The army squad was first on the field.
and ran through brisk signal drill. In
this practice Coach Daily handed out a
few surprises, for while he left the line
intact he shifted the backfieId materially.
Van Fleet was at right half back, while
Benedict, the regular full back, was re-
placed by Coffn. Capt. Prichard was
sent in at quarter, and the nimbIe Hodg-
son at left half. The line was composed
Of Neyland. left end: Butler. left tackle:
MeaCham, eft guard: McEwan. center:
O'Hara, right guard: Weyand, right
tackle, and Merrill at right end.
Navy Take the Field.
The Navy took possession Of the field
when the Army had finished, thirty-six |
midshipmen making possible the fOrma- |
ton OF three squads. The first team line |
up included several shifts, and its work |
was closely watched by Coaches Howard, |
Vaughan, and Olcott. Weight seems TO |
be what the Navy coaches are aiming at, |
and with this in view Mitchell. the III |
FOUNDER. probably will recall the faster |
but lighter Miles Big Blodgett will hold |
his regular berth at left half, but Craig |
will be replaced at right half by Failing /
The greatest surprise Of all, however,
will be the substitution Of Bates for the
veteran Harrison at full back
The line also was changed by the sub
stitution Of Mills for Graf at left guard
while De Roode was given the right
tackle position after a grilling battle
against Ward for the place Capt. Over
esch will he at his old left end position.
hold his job at center. and r. H. Jones,
right guard. and H. Harrison, right end,
also are considered sure to start
Army is Betting Favorite.
There is some little betting about the
hotels tonight. with the Army a 5 to Al
favorite. There also is considerable ex-
citement over the promise OF stirring
times at the ticket wickets when holders
Of pasteboards known to have been pur-
chased Of spectators are refused ad-
mittance. The new plan of combating
the spectators has been In effect for
several days, and it is reported that the
numbers OF every ucket sold by the
brokers have been recorded. Duplicates
have been printed, and the plan is to
turn every holder Of an irregularly pur-
chased ticket away without a refund or
any other form Of redress, except to get
his money back from the scalper-if he
can.
Among other things that are proyid-
ing much food for conversation on this
feature is the belief that the tIcket-takers
will have their hands more than full re-
ferring to their lists as each numbered
ticket is presented, to make sure that
1t is not one of those to be refuded. Just
how the new plan will work out no out
slider will forecast but It is noticeable
that the scalpers tonight are asking, and
getting so a piece for the choice seats
and not less than SO for any sort of
ticket.
The weather man gives little hope for
a clear day tomorrow, when the Army
and Navy teams will meet on Franklin
Field. The outlook as forecasted by the
local weather bureau for tomorrow "a
unsettled and colder, with probably rain
in the afternoon.
The city this afternoon took on a holi-
day spirit, flags and bunting were dis
played by the prominent hotels and busi-
ness houses in the center OF the city.
Reservations at the prominent hotels
were requested from all parts OF the
country, and visitors from the neighbor-
ing cities and towns added to the gaia
occasion.