Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-30
NAVYBEATSARMY
IN GREAT BATTLE
AT CHICAGO,
Jaekies in Fine Condition While Fort
Sheridan Men Short On Lung
Power.
CROWD OF 10000 WITNESS GAME
Erickson, Speedy Half, Does 90-}ard
Sprint for Touchdown Early
in Game.

Chicago, Nov 30.-Unable TO defend
their territory against the savage on
slaughts of the navy, the army eleven
| from Fort Sheridan retreated to q a.
ito-0 defeat at Stage field yesterday
Trained to a raZor's edge IN tactics OF
open play, straight bucks, double and
= forward passes, the Great Lakes sail
ors walked all over the PROSTATE forms
= Of the shoulder strapped heroes OF Col
onel Ryan's land forces for four touch
downs.
The feat Of Erickson. the former st.
Olaf player, who ran 80 yards for
touchdown, was the thriller Of the day.
= The sprint was punctuated at every
step by the triumphant toots of hugle
/ and brass. Eric the Fleet started from
his own l0-yard line, after having in
tercepted a forward pass. Twisting
and wriggling between the opposing
forces Of lieutenants and captains. he
bumped one after the other out Of the
way. The pursuit lasted until the
army fire-yard line was reached. There
the last Of the enemy buried his nose
In the turf while Eric scooted around
the east goal post for the touchdown.
Result Never in Doubt
There. was never a minute when the
result was in doubt With the army
in possession Of the ball after the first
kickoff the navy threw up 8 barrage
of forwards and backs, which the men
in olive drab could pentrate only at
0. rare intervals. Three trials at the
i line and the army was compelled to
punt. The navy. not yet ready 10 push
e the landsmen into the scoreless deep
countered with the same tactics. Craig
h for the losers returned the ball, but
this time the navy kept it. Long gains
by Councilman, Pliska, Raymond and
Smith and the pigskin was on the
army's fve-yard line. A couple OF
|. plunges and Smith was over for the
first touchdown. Allen missed goal
m but the point wasn't needed.
Il Touchdowns came more rapidly after
ID the first period Erickson's brilliant
- sprint came in the second. Before ths
smoke had time to clear, Smith scoote(
E. over the line. after forward pass, fol
the third.
Erickson rang up the last in thu
third quarter when. after interceptins
another forward pass, the feet Gophe,
k ran 35 yards for the fourth and las
err marker of the day. The fourth periot
Id was mainly confined to punting an,
n forward passes, which mostly faile,
r and neither team threatened tn
others goal.
be Sailors Have Everything.
III The army had the advantage i
IN titles. names and weight, but that wa
a. all The navy was present with
VI game in which the strategy and driv
~ was good enough to hold its own i
10 any company Of gridders. The sail
m ors had speed, team work and pei
~ which smothered the soldiers from III
- start Many a m0ss-coveTed trick wa
,c- worked for long gains. principally on
old friend the double pass There wa
ITO also new strategy on tap. Against theI
Al all the army was helpless because
,ra lacked unity in both defense and al
.er tack.
an Individually the army eleven shon
IN brilliantly, Craig, Spalding, Plisk
II and Wheaton pulled off a number {
IN long runs. In the line such formt
of greats as Benbrook, Thomas, Harr
raj and Ofstie did magnificent work
1jo blocking or making holes, but the
he lacked consistency. They were o
ice watch too often and during thes
lapses the sailors guided their stor1
tossed craft to safe Ravens.
What hampered the army more tha
anything enlse was the lack of win
Il, The seamen had enough on tap to fu
nish gale. Seldom were the latt,