New-York tribune., 1921-11-26

between the two schools has been.
The Navy Is confident concerning TO-
days meeting; the Army is optimistic.
The members Of both elevens are In
wonderful condition and are ready to
be driven at full speed for the entire
sixty minutes. This Is even truer Of
tho Army warriors than it is Of the
! Annapolis players. For the West Point
ers and their coaches are desperate and
intend to capture the victory this
afternoon at any cost.
1t is reported the odds on the result
are 2 to 1. These are to high. The
Navy hasn't better than an even chance
to win the contest and the middies
will be doing mighty we'll to get the
verdict by the smallest Of margins. To
us 1t looks very much like an Army
victory.
Our reason for picking the West
Point team is due chifly TO the pres
ence Of Walter French, the Army's
great little performer, who Outclasses
any individual back on the Navy eleven.
French Is wonder in open field and
will be q mighty hard man to stop
French Stopped Last Year
1t Is true the Navy stopped French
last year-stopped him in his tracks on
every rush. But it is reported the
Army has worked up the plays to get
turned that end or passed the line Of
scrimmage he will strike terror into
the hearts Of the Annapolis rooters.
The coaches at the Army are an in
telligent lot and they are not likely
to make the same mistake with French
in this game that they did last season,
This little fellow is q great threat one
of the best in the game at the present
time. He can pass. run and kick and
can do each of these things as well as
the next man.
run with the ball and to punt. Con-
sequently he never was a real threat,
and the hard usage he received in try
ing to run with the ball affected his
kicking. Against Yale several weeks
ago the former Rutgers star showed
hims self to be first class passing back.
French, working at top speed and
used as he should be, will aid Smythe
and Wood, and Smyths is a grand little
do most of the kicking, and Of late he
has been averaging fine distances in
puntng.
The Navy has q greater number OF
star backs than West Point, and in
Barchet the niddies have player who
Is nearly the equal of French. How
ever, the Navy has no really fast man
who can skirt the ends or who can
run through broken field like French
can.
Storck Stars at Passing
The Army ends, Don Storck and
Myers, are the equal If not superior
to the Navy wings, and Storck is
hne forward pass receiver. The Navy
has no effective forward passing game.
1t uses mostly lob pass over the cen
ter of the line, short toss that is
good for short gain If 1t goes
through.
The Navy line is slightly superior
to the Army's, and whatever gaining
the Annapolis students do will prob
ablv be through the tackle positions
Last year the Army held of
the Navy attack for more than three
quarters of the game, and had il
shown any kind Of offense of its owr
might have pulled out victory.
The middies will find too that Multi
gan is greatly improved tackle over
going through that particular spot
rather strenuous, to say the least
Davidson also has come along rapidly
Nevertheless, the right side Of the line
is the weakest segment Of the Army
defense and it is through that par
that the middies will probably try tc
make most Of their gains.
What the Army will be up against
is hard-running attack. one that car.
ries considerable power and speed
The Navy interference in this attack
is Of q high order and mows dowr
the opposition with telling effect.
Middles Strong on Defense
But that attack can be stopped, and
| once stopped, it will be found that che
Navy will be quite at sea. The Navy
has distinct advantage In the line re-
garding defense. The Army will And II