Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-11-06
Boys of the Alexandria Light In
fantry Play Football With the
Mexicans Instead Of Fighting
(Special to the Gazette)

this section of the border, ana the
Alexandria Light Infantry IS deVei-
oping a team that shows promise OF
comparing favorably with any among
the Virginia regiments.
The team is lead by Captain Con-
rad johnson, who puts the eleven
through rigid practice several times
week. It has not gone up against
any soldier teams yet, but has played
several hard practice games.
Yesterday the Light Infantry
plaved a hard fought game against
the Tex.-Mex., an eleven composed
of employees from Brownsville stores
that cater to the doughboys ap-
petites. Most of the players are
Mexicans living on this side of the
horder. as their name implies. They
are practically the same outht that
composed the Texas Lunch, a base
ball team that made good showings
against several soldier mines during
the summer.
The Light Infantry players licked
the Mexicans p to in the game yes
terday. But the victory was hard
won and does not indicate great
superiority on the side of the win
ners. Captain Johnson-"Cornbread"
as he is affectionately known to his
men when he takes off his epaulets
and mingles with them on the grid
iron--was not able to play yesteT-
day, but refereed the game. In spite
of the fact that he could not under
stand the gesticulations of the Mex
leans much better than other mem
bers of the team, his decisions never
caused any serious disputes.
The Alexandrians' lineup was:
right end, Floyd ,shinn; right tackle,
D. [. Meeks; right guard, Big"
Davis; center, Corporal McCleary;
left guard, Joe Morgan; left tackle,
:.Dumps" sterns; left end, "Yank"
Hancock; right half back, "Reveille"
Mitchell; left half back, Detail
Boswell; quarter back, "Parson"
Bitter: full back Benny Swami.
Names on the opposing line up are
unpronounceable for the doughboys,
and would not be very intelligible to
Gezette readers. Fritz Birrell sub
stituted for Stearns in the last quar-
ter.
The company's varsity" team is
getting some stiff practice just now,
playing against second eleven head
ed by Lieutenant Knight.
The first team has been given the
nickname of "Cornbread's Ragged
Tancer's, on account of the un-
kempt showing they make at prac-
ticc. They have not yet been able to
secure football clothes, and use ln-
stead remnants of their worn-out or
discarded uniforms. With only two
outfits provided them, with which to
founder through the mud or dust on
hike day, and appear spic and span
perhaps the same evening on parade,
thev can not afford to sacrifice a
good uniform to the rips and slashes
it would get on the gridiron.
The members of the team have
provided themselves football, how
ever and hope to get hold of some
uniforms in time to 60 up against
the Lynchburg Musketeers and sew
eral other company teams during the
next few weeks.
A number of changes have takel
place recently among the company'S
commissioned officers. Sergeant
Brawner, who succeeded johnnie
Arnold, as quartermaster. has reliev'
ed J. Walter Brown, as mess ser
geant. The latter is acting as bu'
pler and signalman. Corporal Boswell
company clerk, has BEEN promoted
| to sergeant and taken charge of th'
ouartermaster's department; and ha
tbcen succeeded as clerk by Rober
Bitter, who was relieved as musician
and given the rank of first class pri
vate. Raphael Birrell has been ap
pointed corporal; and Dawson, Car
| pehter, ,xPetty and Churchman desig
fnateH first class privates. Second
fg6ok Edgar Clark, was promoted t
'ffsst cook, and. George Jones to sec
old cook, Z with. Dawson as pernla
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