The Washington herald., 1917-04-08
WAR ISSUE MAY EFFECT
LOCAL Water SPORTS
Aquatic Contest Will Be Held at An
napolis April IA, However.
By EUGENE FOSTER.

What effect the declaration Of war will
have on local water sports this season
cannot as yet be determined, but IT is
certain there is little prospect OF there
being much doing in any sports for some
time to come, so the water games will
undoubtedly suffer.
The local roEing contingent has one
event at least to look forward to. That
Is when the Potomac Boat Club sends its
senior eight over to race the Naval Acad-
emy first eight on April a.
Coach HecoX last week received let
ter from the Annapolis authorities in
which they stated that unless something
unforeseen turned up the race would be
held as scheduled.
The local oarsmen were worried that
the war would prevent the rowing OF this
race. but II is understood the graduation
Of the senior class ahead Of time had
little effect on the crews at the academy.
1t is reported that the Annapolis oTi-
cials do not contemplate stopping ath-
letics at this time. but may find II neces-
sary later on. Until that time the vari-
Gus competitions between the academy
athletes and outside crews and teams will
be run OF as scheduled.
The Potomac eight has been pra CticinR
for their race on the 18th for the last
three weeks and Coach HecoX is quite
satisfied his charges will be able to give
very good account Of themselves when
they meet the Mddies.
The crew as it is now made up is one
OF the heaviest eights gotten together at
the Potomac Boat Club for some years
and with the training they have gotten
so far this spring they should live up to
Coach Hecox's expectations.
Hutteriy in stroke has been setting
an excellent pace and the rest OF the
men are hitting the water with him in
great style. The snap and drive OF the
men has been very noticeable and the
blade work has been exceptional good
for this early in the year The men are
anxious to make good showing against
the Middies and are very enthusa site
about their work. as they feel win over
the Navy boys at this time, after the
great amount OF training the Annapolis
boys have had in comparison with the
local oarsmen. would be quite an honor.
The Naval Academy men have been
out on the water for sometime. in ad-
dition to their work indoors on the
ma chimes and the local men will surely
have to put up a stiff fight 10 overcome
this advantage
The men who are now rowing in the
Potomac eight are A. Hutterly. Roberts
supplee. Willis. Kurtz. Duncan. F Smith
and Garner. vith Rally as coxswain.
What the effect the war WILL have on
the rowing game in this country Is un-
known and any statement concerning IL
would be pure guesswork a review OF
what happened in Canada since that
country went to war can give some basis
to WORK on.
Tile war had only been started few
months in 1914. when the Argonaut Row
ing Club announced that most of its
had Snfn
would probably disband. However. the
/ crew managed to make entries in the
Canadian Association regatta in 1915
! They failed to have more than one en-
try in the national regatta of that year,
that heing r. Dibble.
In 1916 they did not have an entry in
any of the regattas in this country. nor
did the Canadian Association hold a
! regatta last year.
1t is a known fact that all sports suf-
fered heavily and were practically aban-
doned in the countries at war during the
last three years. and a like condition
will undoubtedly hc tho cas-, in this
country now that we have entered the
war
| A number of local oarsmen have COM
missions in the Officers Reserve Corps
/ and expect soon to be called out while a
{ number OF others will no doubt offer
their services I'm various capacities
| Again. there are another lot who are
employed in government positions that
| will require them to work extra hours
so that they will be unable to have timo
! for the sport
1t will be seen that there is slight hope
Nof many OF the local oarsmen being en-
tered an any out-of-town regattas this
season.
What has been said OF rowing applies
alsS to competitive canoeing, as il is
understood a number OF the best locai
paddpers are in the Reserve Corps or are
otherwise prevented from participating
in any races.
The extent the war will affect the other
class OF canoeing is not know. but it Is
thought that canoeing as a pastime will
still be indulged in by a goodly number