The Washington times., 1915-12-03
Navy Favor OF Holding Football Game Every Year
Service 4 greement Is
Hardlyto Be Changed
Nevertheless, Sentiment at Navy Grows in Favor of
New York for Big CONTESTANTS Years Occur
rences Swing Doubling Thomases.

ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 3.--ln spite
Of the fact that the sentiment for
playing all of the football games
between the teams of the Naval and
Military Academies in New York
city has made some threads among
naval people, nothing has occurred
which makes it probable that the
definite agreement between the
athletic representatives of the SER
vices to play the games of 1916 and
1918 in Philadelphia, and that Of
1917 in New York, will be changed.
Any proposal to this end would nat
urally come from the Navy, if it
should be made, as the agreement
represented compromise, the
Army people desiring New York as
the permanent location Of the an
nual game, and the Navy people
holding firmly to Philadelphia.
Prior to the game of 1913 the first
played in New York Representa- tives of
the services made an agreement as to
the time of playing which covered
of playing, which covered five years.
The game was to he played, It was
agreed. upon the Saturday nearest No
vembcr 2s--eithcr before or after as the
case might bc--and alternate between
New York and Philadelphia. the first,
thlrd, and last Samc being played in
the latter place. Two of these games
have been played. and 1t is not likely
that the agreement will be changed
. during the period.
II cannot be Jencu that Naval sentl-
ment is, on the whole. more favorable
70 New York than It has been at any
time previously. and that Naval people
Incidents much more satisfactory than
they did two years ago. when all the
1nldshtpmen were considcrabr delayed
~ reaching the grounds. and had "a most
tir'some trip from Annapolis and back
again all in one day. This year, one de-
iaChmcni Of midshipm"n arrived well
before the game, and the other was de-
laycd slightly. but reached the Polo
Grounds before the contest actually
started.
The great objection to New York
from the Naval standpoint was the long
trip which It cntailed upon the mid
shipmen and other naval people in this
seGtion. This was met in part this
year by permitting the midshipmen to
remain In New York over the night of
the game. The plan worked we'll. and
though II "ntailed some expense upon
tne midshipmen and other members of
the naval contingent, the midsh>pmen
themselves were delighted with the
privilege OF spending a night In the !
vicinity OF the Lane Of Life" and are ,
IN accord with any plan which means
It's repetition. Incidentally. It may be |
nmentloned that the confidence held by /,
superintendent Eberle that the mid |
shipmen's bearing and conduct would be |
above criticism. was justified absolutely. |
and not one incident Of improper be-.
hevior was reported
On the other hand. a great many navy |
peopie-those living in Annapolis and
washington. great naval colonies. par
ticularly-feel that 1t is unfair on the |
part or the army people to insist upon
place which is so much nearer to
them than to the naval people, when
philadelphia offers proper facilities. and
10 very nearly equally distant from
Doth: very large number of naval
people attached to the Academy did not |
see the game Mt all this year. and say
that they do not expect to make the ,
trip to New York to see 1t at any time. |