The Washington times., 1938-02-10


BEck o'Neili the Army
long enough to win the stars
OF a general, will ever be
known as "Cappie."
Major Wells was sent north
from Louisville to Walter Reed
Hospital for observation. They
told him down there that the
rigorS of Army life and his ex.
periences in the World War had
taxed his robust heart, but
Cappie obtained leave for a few
hours and dropped in to cut up
q few old touches. Already he
is looking forward to his return
to the troops. And if we know
Cappie Wells, his battalion is
looking forward to his return.
For four years that rushed
furiously by, Cappie was public
relations officer at United
States Military Academy at
West Point. Fenced as he was
with military regulations, Cap
pie Wells always had a good
human interest yarn on tap.
His office at the Post became
a happy rendezvous for sports
writer's.
Those were the days when
Col. Phil Fleming was grad
uate manager OF athletics. Capt.
Lawrence "Biff" Jones was
head coach of the Army foot.
bail team. MAJOR Ralph Sasse,
who succeeded to the post of
head coach, was one of the staff
of assistants. So was Capt. Bill
Wood, who takes over the foot
bail job for next season. This
was one of footballs royal
family.
Hero in War
Cappie entered the service
when America threw its armed
might on the side of the Allies.
He was commissioned a second
lieutenant and went overseas
with the regulars. He was grad
uated from Penn State, and
carried the spirit of the Nittany
Lion into the service.
Men of his company told the
story how Cappie, with a couple
of volunteers, crawled over the
torn terrain OF the Argonne
and wiped out a Boche ma
chine gun nest that was hold
ing up an advance. They had
to tell it, for Cappie talks about
everything except his service
on the western front. He is a
great publicity man for every
thing and everyone except Wal.
lie wells. And he doesn't need
any publicity.
."I just left Ralph Sasse,"
said Wells, and the sports staff
stopped work fo1 a minute to
listen. "He is through with
football for all time. He's de-
voting his time in Louisville to
mechanical cavalry.
"Ralph is a soldier at heart"
Wells continued. "He was and
is a great football coach. But
the Army holds more for him
than football ever could.
"I guess, though, that If he
ever were sent back to West
Point that he would coach again.
did you ever hear the story
Of how he framed Biff Jones?"
asked Wallie.
Worked in Reverse
1--WE were getting ready for
Navy, and Ralph was working
hard. The night before the
game Biff arrived by airplane,
and Ralph was told of his
arrival.
"'We've got to appear frantic,
Ralph told the boys" Wallie
said. We've got to make
him think that we can't win
$50, when Biff came up to
Ralph's room. there he found
Bill Wood, Moe DAILY, Red
Reeder and the others apparent
ly plunged in gloom.
: "'We've got to win: stormed
sasse, walking up and down.
pretending to bite his finger
nails"
"'But can we VIM asked
Wood, and he joined the pro-
ceSsion.
ut got on Biff's nerves after a
while, and pretty soon he began
to walk up and down the room,
rumpling his hair.
You're damned right. we've
got to win,' roared Biff, and
damn the Navy, we're gonna
win
{ "The gang roared with
laughter, for Biff was always
the guy who told everyone to
keep cool and calm before these
games, but the acting of the
boys got him down that time"
w and |. Rallies