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The Anglo-American Cable Chess Match.
The eleventh Anglo-American cable chess match was contested March 26 and 27 and ended after an exciting struggle in favor of the British players. The result came in the nature of a surprise as the American team appeared “on paper” much stronger than the “make-shift,” but astonishingly successful, team of last year. The British on the other hand showed few changes, but the recruits proved a worthy few and acclaimed their presence by well earned victories.
The United States was represented by the following well-known players: F. J. Marshall, C. S. Howell, G. J. Schwietzer and H. Helms of Brooklyn; A. B. Hodges, Staten Island; J. F. Barry, Boston; H. O. Voight, S. L. Stadelman, S. Mlotkowski and W. A. Ruth, Philadelphia.
The Americans started auspiciously and two games, wins by Hodges and Voight, respectively, were recorded in their favor when play was adjourned on Friday evening. The general outlook at this stage pointed to the probable retention in this country of the celebrated Newnes trophy, but it was generally conceded that the final score would be very close. On Saturday, however, after Marshall had added a third victory to the American score, the tide of battle took a sudden turn. Howell began the unexpected reverses by attempting to take liberties with a drawing position and thereby suffering an inglorious defeat. Herman Helms added to the discomfiture by entering upon an unsound combination that turned his winning advantage into a losing game. Then came a succession of disasters for America, relieved somewhat by the sturdy play of Messrs. Barry and Stadelman, both of whom drew, so that at the close of play the advantage of the morning had faded away and the British were leading with 5 points to 4. But one game, that between Sergeant and Mlotkowski, remained unfinished at the closing hour and must therefore be submitted for final adjudication to the referee, Baron Rothschild of Vienna. Expert opinion, however, almost unanimously predicts a decision for Sergeant, so that the final score will probably be 6 points to 4 in favor of Great Britain.