The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-09-10
u. S. NAVY CREW
DEFEATS BRITISH
victors in Great Olympic Mile and
Quarter Race and Clips as
Second Off Previous Time.
ROW SO STROKE TO WIN.
English Eight coIIapses After Finish;
Kelly Beats the Henley Regatta
Star-Americans Win in !.
Three Races.

bruSSelS.-Ine navy crew repreSen-
ting the United States in the Olympic
egatta not only won the worlds title,
defeating the best eight Great Britain
ever had, but set new worlds record
of 6 minutes and seconds, four
f1fths of a second faster than the dis
tance has ever been rowed before.
About $50 yards from the finish
line the midshipmen started squirt
which they sustained until the finish,
when they crossed the line a scant
half length in front of the English
shell. Every man of the British crew
collapsed the moment the race was
over.
No American crew ev{ rowed with
more power or finer rhythm, and never
before has such high stroke been
maintained over mile and quarter
course. When the race was over every
American was fresh enough to give
the Englishmen cheer.
The. British had said little before
the start, but they were confident they
would show up the navy, which had
made no secret of the prowess of its
men. 1t should have been an even
money betting proposition, but the
supporters of the American crew
flooded the bookmakers' pari mutuel
until the odds became / to on
America.
The English took the lead at the
start, Stroke HorsfalI timing "a, with
King, of the navy, setting his men at
similar beat The British veterans
forged ahead slowly until at the half
mile mark they had good half length
lead. In this order the boats went to
the three-quarters mark, but there the
navy jumped to 36 stroke.
At this stage it began to look as If
the Americans had finally met a crew
that was more than their match, but
never for a moment did the United
States rooters lbse heart.
When the mile mark was reached
the British were still holding their
early established lead, but there were
signs of trouble in the boat, several of
the oarsmen splashing now and then.
The Americans were going along
magnif1cently, every member of the
crew in perfect tune, and three hun
dred yards from the finish stroke King
calle for "3S," and the crew respond
ed every man getting his back into
the new time. The navy began to gain
slowly on the British eight, and it was
only, case Of whether the race would
be long enough for them to win.
With a scant $50 yards left the
Americans came up on even terms with
their opponents, and though the Brit
ish fought gamely it was clear then
that nothing could hold the midship-
men. Inch by inch they slipped past
the famous Leander crew, until they
were nearly a half length ahead as
they flashed in front of the judges
The navy's victory was fitting ell
max to q day Of successes for the
United States, only the Pennsylvania
barge failing its supporters. We had
four entries in the finals, and three
won, while the Pennsylvania barge fin
ished second to the Swiss. No other
country had more than one winner.
Jack Kelly, Of the Vesper Club,
Philadelphia, had a double success, win
ming the double scull race with his
cousin, Costello, also of Philadelphia,
and winning the singles after fierce.
battle with John Beresford Jr., win
ner of the Diamond Sculls at the Hen
ley regatta.
Kelly's margin Of victory was
scant boat length after rowing second
for the first mile. Through the last
quarter it still seemed either mans
race. The American said after the
race that it was harder battle than
he had with Hatfield, the New Zea-
lander.
Beresford was in great distress after
the event, but Kelly came out only an
hour later and with Costello rowed to
an easy victory over the French and
Italians