Official announcement was made last night that Dr. R. H. Howe Jr. '01 had been appointed general supervisor of rowing at the University.

The announcement came as the result of the Athletic Committee meeting last night at which the Committee voted to approve the recommendation of the Graduate Rowing Committee, which in a statement signed by Captain L. B. McCagg Jr. '22 and Mr. F. L. Higginson Jr. '00, advocated the appointment of Dr. Howe.

It is understood that the appointment has come greatly as a result of the desire of those in charge of athletics at the University to put as many sports as possible under the supervision of graduates, whose position will be largely permanent. It is felt that graduates can more truly represent and understand the spirit of the College than even the best professional coaches. This closer relation between coach and college has for years been the subject of enthusiastic approval on the part of Dean L. B. R. Briggs '75, head of the Athletic Committee, while only recently President Angell of Yale has emphasized in several speeches its importance.

In accepting this new position Dr. Howe is severing for the time being at least, his connection with Middlesex School. His duties in connection with the University will not be solely in regard to rowing but will include those of an instructor of Physical Education to which position he was appointed at a recent meeting of the Corporation.

The account of this new departure in rowing which appeared yesterday morning in a Boston paper was entirely unofficial and in many respects inaccurate.

The report of the Graduate Advisory Committee which was submitted to the Athletic Committee is as follows:

"Rowing at Harvard has become so general and covers so much equipment in the way of boathouses, boats, cars, and launches that the Graduate Rowing Committee, after much consideration, felt convinced that a general supervisor of rowing and equipment and details relating to rowing was desirable. The work has hitherto been guided by the Graduate Rowing Committee, the Captain of the University Crew, and the undergraduate manager of the crew, that the management of this branch of Some time ago it became clearly evident athletics at Harvard requires the major part of a man's time during the college year. No one on the Graduate Rowing Committee, as it has hitherto been composed, could possibly give more than a small fraction of this time, or, in fact, be certain of giving some time every day. The Captain of the University Crew has all he can attend to in taking care of the University squad and his own college work. Therefore, it was necessary to find some one to act as supervisor. The Graduate Rowing Committee has been considering the subject for a year, but did not wish to be too precipitate in its conclusions and recommendations. It was unanimous in its recommendation of Mr. Howe.

Position is of Permanent Nature

"Mr. Howe has had considerable experience and success in organizing and directing rowing at summer camps, at Middlesex School for nineteen years, at Cambridge last year, where he had charge of the whole Freshman squad, and again this autumn. His position will be that of general supervisor and director and will be of a permanent nature, dependent of course on his general capacity and fitness for the position, but not subject to success or failure in such special contests as the Yale race.

"He is a member of the Graduate Rowing Committee and is subject to its general supervision in case of necessity, but in this respect, the Rowing Committee wishes it clearly understood that it desires to leave the direction of rowing in Mr. Howe's hands, that in general it stands ready to be of such assistance as Mr. Howe may require, and that its policy is not to be one of hindrance or interference except under grave circumstances.

"The direction of the University and Freshman crews will be a part of Mr. Howe's duties. Whether or not he takes part in the actual coaching will depend on developments. If he does not take part in the active coaching it will be his duty to secure some one who is fitted to fill with success this particular position.

"There is now a staff of five assistants, but there are so many men rowing that Mr. Howe feels that he will have to call upon the services of a number of the graduates. This autumn there were 169 Freshmen rowing in organized crews on the river, and this was exclusive of men playing football, who may reasonably be expected to row in the spring. Besides these there were over one hundred upper class men, who also wished to enjoy the privileges of the river.