Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-25
BIG SERVICE TEAMS
STAGE MIMIC BATTLE
Army and Navy Game Grips New
York Interest, and Uniformed
Officers Own Metropolis.
WILL BE PICTURESQUE EVENT
Polo Grounds To-Day VIII Contain
Official Life OF Nation-Players
Engage i'm Brief Practice-Sol-
dfers FavOriteS in the Wagering.

NEW YORK. November 24-For the
twenty-hrst time since 1890. the Army
and Navy football teams will meet in
mimic battle upon the gridiron here
tomorrow, when the two service clev-
ems line up on the Polo Grounds green's
ward. Notwithstanding the counterat
traction Of the Harvard Yale contest
at New Haven. every ticket for the vast
baseball stadium has been sold for
several weeks. and the gathering or
spectators will present all the pictur-
.suucncss for which this Sridiron
struggle is noted.
Hlgh government officials, members
OF the Cabinet. together with hundreds
OF officers OF all ranks from the Army
and Navy VIII attend. accompanied by
wives and daughters prominent in
Washington social circles. From many
other cities OF the south, East and
West vii! come persons prominent in
ii scattering Of forei.,n government rep
rescntatives. With the naval and mill
;ary corps in uniform as Il background
the setting should equal il not sur
pass any seen at previous academy
game, either at Philadelphia. Princeton
or this city.
The advance guard OF spectators are
already in possession OF the leading
hotels tonight. and the registers read
like the roster of Il military or naval
gathering. Uniformed shicers OF both
academies lend wartime atmosphere
10 uptown streets and hoStelries which
appears strangely out OF place amid
the work -a.day rLsh of the average
citizen of the metropolis.
The two squads uf players and sub
stitutes arrived upon the scene of the
coming battle earlier in the day, and
both ran through light signal drills and
pra ctice at the Polo Grounds I'm order
TO familiariAe themselves with the
lights and shadows OF. the field upon
which they will meet Tomorrow. Prac-
tice for both academ! elevcns was Sc
cret, but the coaches announced that
all the leading players were In salts
factory physical condition. and that
they expected ,hard-fousht contest
with plenty of football thfills before
the winner was finally cvol;cd.
On the record of the two teams TO
date, the Army is slight favorite
although. following the regular custom
OF the two academies. the Cadets and
Middies are neither asking nor receiv-
ing odds In the wagering between the
TWO corps. The soldiers have presented
an impressive front to all opponents
this season. and although confronted
by several strong clevens. have man
aged to triumph with an exhibition of
offensive and defensive power which
makes 1t appear as though the West
Point institution was represented by a
team team Of more than usual football
ability. Their backficld, with Oliphant
and Vidal playing. contains two Of the
most finished all-round offensive
ground gamers in the country. The
line. from tackle to tackle. Is ono OF
unusual strength and ability. If there
is any weakness II will he found in the
ends and possibly at quarter.
played rather erratic game all fall.
flashing surprising power one day only
to disappoint their admirers in the sue
cceding contest The material for n
winning combination appears to be
available. but the units have apparent
ly found II difficult to strike the stride
| together. If, under the spur OF the
struggle against the greatest rival of
the year, the Sailors can rise superior
10 this fault the Navy comhina ton
will be one which will test the ability
OF the Army to the full. notwithstand-
ing the presence of the two Cadet
stars. oliphant and Vidal. IN the back :
field.
Following arc the probable lineup
OF the two teams physical statistics
OF the players; 1916 scores and the
complete record OF the twenty games
OF the series: