The New York herald., 1921-04-24
BRITISH POLO MEN
AWAIT MILBURN TO
PASS ON OUR FOUR
Yankee Leader Is Likely to
Surprise Critics Over
There.
STARS ON VARSITY MINES
Many Great Pitchers Are
Watched by Major League
Scouts.
STARS ON VARSITY MINES
BY DANIEL.

With the international polo matches
between America and England sched-
uled to be started at Hurlingham on
June Fl interest in the competition is
growing stronger every day. Reports
from England indicate that our players
are doing far better than had been
expected there, but as yet we have
received no word that any Of the lead
ing polo critics on the other side was
conceding the Yankee four a strong
chance to regain the trophy.
The critics, no doubt. are waiting
for the arrival Of Devereux Milburn
who ought to be on the field in about
a week. He sailed from here last Tues
day. The British are familiar with MIL
burns style and his capabilities at his
best, and they want to see just how far
he has gone back-if he has retrograded
at all. In that too they are in for a
surprise. Miburn is not the Titan or
1918 and 1914 but there are no Capt
Cheapes among the English candidates
and we are quite sure that the Ameri-
can captain will not suffer by com.
parison with the British best.
The Americans have been playing
with Louis Stoddard, Tommy Hitch
cock, j. Watson Webb and {. G. Rum
sey as the regular four. with Earl "
Hopping on the opposition In practice
contests. The arrival of Milburn Will
mean the retirement OF Rumsey. Webb
seems to be assured Of his place 1T NO.
3 He Is a great rider and hard nit
ter and the fact that he IS a left handler
may be regarded as something TO his
advantage. Tse. do not believe that a
left handler ever has played in an in
ternationai match. At one time there
was a strong feeling that "southpnw"
polo players should be barred from the
classic event.
Hopping Not Protested.
Hopping may be able to oust Webb
but we doubt that very much. While
on the subject of Hopplng's ability let
us say that the British have not pro-
tested him or in any way questioned
his amateur status. When the Amcri
can officials challenged for the cup
they asked the Hurlingham Club abou.
its attitude on Hopping. who some
years ago was connected with horses
in professional way. The Yankees were
informed that any players whom they
named were good enough for the
British. The question has not come up
since. That's the way 1t ought TO be
in international sport-polo or any other
variety.
There has been n lot OF discussion
hereabouts in regard to the elimination
OF Malcolm Stevenson. who last sum-
mer was regarded as almost a certain
No. 3 against England. We have seen
many letters protesting against what is
called an injustice to Stevenson. Ste
venson is a nine goal man. Stoddard IS
a nine goaler. too. while Milburn stands
at the top-at ten goals. Hitchcocks
handicap Is seven goals. Webbs is
eight. Hopping's eight and Rumseys
seven.
IL handicaps ruled the selection OF the
team Stevenson would have to be
member. But handicaps mean nothing
In that regard. We do not think that
the American chances would have been
protected better II man with the
ability of Stevenson had been nominated
for the squad. But the Polo Association
wants to win the cup back at least as
much as anybody in this country desires
to regain It, and its officials know
what they are doing. There is yet
chance that Stevenson will be asked to
run over to England, but II is q slim
one.