West Point's swimmers, to date a little doughfooted in splashing through the waves, hit the waters of the Indoor Athletic Building Pool at 8 o'clock tonight, affording Hal Ulen's men their first test in Eastern Intercollegiate League competition.

All portents point to the Crimson keeping the four time losing Army in retreat. The Cadets have been relentlessly pushed into the bottom of the League's standings by high-riding Dartmouth, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and last Saturday, by Yale. Ulen's crew has triumphed against Brown and M.I.T., and savor their first taste of League members against the Point.

An Eli powerhouse dunked the Army 53 to 22 last Saturday in the pool of the Hudson River dwellers. Jim Van Fleet was the sole Pointer to hit the wall anywhere ahead of the pack, and at that he only tied Yale's Ed Weiss in the 220-yard breast stroke. The Crimson's Chuck Hoelzer, on comparative times, may edge even this heavy gun.

Crimson Edge in Sprints

Sprinter Bill Lambdin showed up well in a fast 24-second 50 yards against the Blue, but here again Bill MacVickar should outstroke him. Ex-Harvardian Edwin Townesly, reputed to be out of condition from extra sentry duty, should be moderately easy pickings for Jerry Gorman in the 220-yard freestyle.

Dark spots marring the roseate Crimson picture, however, are not only the practice loss due to vacation and exams, but a gap in the lineup caused by the graduation of Davy Murray. G.I. credits suddenly materializing from University Hall left Murray with a mid-term degree and Coach Ulen without a backstroker.

Not only will the specialty swim be weakened by his absence, despite the best efforts of Bob Branard and Dave Smith but the medley time will doubtless suffer accordingly.

Most optimistic views expressed in the pool during yesterday afternoon's time trials found the Crimson taking a clean sweep in everything, with the extremity of the lopsided score tempered only by the charity of Ulen. But meets are won in the water as well as by the clock.