The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-19

e
Reviewing the season up to this
point, few here believe that the
Naval team mas done anything.
which INSPIRES confidence as to
the outcome Of the tituiar game.
Though West Point, barring its tie
With Yale, has done nothing in
keeping with the brilliant character
/ OF some Of its players, It has had
/ q decidedly better season than the
Navy, and has, 1t Is generally
! thought here. the better chance to
win.
StiIl. It must not be thought. that
the Navy team will go to Baltl.
more already beaten. Service teams
never do that sort Of thing, and lts
friends are not permitted them.
selves to be gloomy about the pros
pect. The fact remains, however,
that most people here who are
not carried away by their loyalty
to the team. feel that the Army
has the better chance to win.
The mentors Of the Naval team
are now deciding upon the strategy
and tactics iOf the final game.
They are planning to win by
presenting the best possible de-
Tense to the many strong Of,
fensive arms with which the
Army is equipped. and they are
preparing an Offense, wliFl tIleys
hope. will prove an offset 60, the
!. Arny's admitted superiority along
several lines.
The Army's supreme threat Is,
Of course, Harry Wilson, Penn.
States great back for three years
and player who ran around.
through and over the Naval AcaR
envy team last year. While the,
Navy is not fooled into believing
that he is the only menace on the
Army team. 1t Is believed that II
he can be stopped, the odds are by
no means 80 unequal as Is generally
thought, I'm
Wilson, it may be; said, IS held
as more dangerous. back than
Smythe, who Was the Arrny's star
last season and for several season S
I previously. Just "a btflliant a
runner in a broken field Wilson
Ifs better line hitter and a better
team player than Elmythe was,
and the Navy anticipates. even
more difficulty IN stepping = him.
Still, this is recognized as an essen
rial step on the way to victory.
The Navy has q larger and
stronger line thar the ArmE's,
though not quite 50 experienced.
Undoubtedly, it is just as good de.
fensively, and is probably as strong
on the offense. 1t is In the ability
and experience Of its backs, for
the Army backfield includes such
players as Wood, Hewitt, Gilmore,
Harding and Yeomans, as well al
Wilson, that the soldiers have a
real advantage.
J, The Navy has no outstanding
star in its backfieId, unless it Is
Shapley, but injuries and seh0Ias.
tic conditions have interfered with
his work, and he has not shown
the good running that he did
last year. Flippin, II. Caldwell.
AlbertsOn, Banks and Hamilton,
have shown some ability in carry
ing the ball, but are BY no
means high grade backs.
Then Folwell has had immense
difficulty In keeping q baclxfield,
or even two. or three members Of
It, together for any length OF time
this season. Injuries or scholastic
restrictions seem to have broken
up his combination every time one
was made. The next two weeks,
however. may mean great deal,
and the Navy team. after that
period, may be a very different
aggregation than it has been at
any other time this season.
It does not require an expert to
realize that the Navy must find
some sort ola attack to offset
the superior running OF Wilson and
his colleagues, and the forward pass
offers the only real hope. This ia
! a season OF surprises, and team
with a varied, deceptive and well
executed passing game may win
over one with considerable more
strength in the more direct plays.
It may be recalled that F'OlweII
has always had his teams 90
equipped for It's final games, and
that his Naval Academy team
Inst year set . record by COM
pleting fourteen passes In sue
SESSIONS against the University
q Washington. There can be no
ADvERTIsEMCNr
Don't miss the show at the Isayety
this week. It's great.
&c.,