With traditional Harvard-Yale competition broken off for the duration, neighboring M.I.T. has come to replace the Blue, and last Saturday's Varsity crew win over the Engineers on the Charles, the first since the spring of 1943, was so sweet that nobody minded much when Navy would up two lengths ahead at the finish.

Coming from behind over the last quarter mile, the Varsity looked like former Crimson eights, which under Tom Bolles, established Harvard as the nation's top crew power. Bolles, on leave of absence, would have enjoyed the Crimson's driving finish Saturday.

The Middies, with almost an extra month of practice on the Severn, went into the race as the odds-on favorite and there was considerable speculation at the start when Harvard stroke Toby Ross jumped into an early lead on a 34-35 beat.

That was the way it went for the first three quarters of a mile, until Tech came up as the shells swung under the Mass. Ave. Bridge out into the Basin, and grabbed the lead and then lost it to Navy when a gusty cross wind threw them off course.

The stern powerhouse, Captain Toby Ross, 7-man Hal Grant, and Howie Weber at 6, kept the Crimson in the running, and when Tech began to fade at the mile and five sixteenths Henley Course mark, it was Coach Haines's more thorough conditioning program that turned the tide for the Crimson.

For nearly two months, the Varsity has been operating on a seven-day-a-week, rain-or-shine practice schedule and through special permission from the H.A.A., has been able to work out late in the afternoon toward twilight.

As a result of its fine showing last week, the Varsity has gained new spirit and now stands an even chance to whip both Cornell and Tech this Saturday over the same course.

The boatings:

Varsity: T. S. Ross, stroke and Captain; H. C. Grant, 7; H. F. Weber, 6; R. B. Perkins, 5; R. W. Macnamara, 4; T. A. Haymond, 3; J. D. Kettele, Jr., 2; P. B. Roll, bow; D. P. S. Paul, cox.

Jayvee: C. A. Shaw, stroke; G. S. Might, 7; H. N. Steuart, 6; T. R. Morse, Jr., 5; R. J. Maier, 4; L. H. Clark, 3; H. C. Siegert, 2; C. R. Polhemus, bow; D. R. Foster, cox.

Third Boat: R. A. Pellaton, Jr., stroke; G. H. Leland, 7; 'R. G. Warren, 6; K. E. Crook, 5; W. L. Saltonstall, 4; H. P. Hall, 3; J. T. D. Rich, 2; W. M. Pickles, bow; C. Lipton, cox