Harvard's fencing team, hoping to rebound from its disastrous New York road trip last week, travels to Baltimore this afternoon to face Johns Hopkins in a 2 p.m. match.

Coach Edo Marion readily admitted that this year's fencing squad is not as powerful as some Crimson teams of the past. "We really are not very strong," he said after losses to Columbia and CCNY.

The Crimson should fare well in epee against Johns Hopkins. Captain Geza Tatrallyay and junior Ken Bartels came brilliantly into their own against Columbia and CCNY two weeks ago, with both Tatrallyay and Bartels scoring five victories in six bouts in New York.

The development of Bartels particularly pleases Marion. "He has become a very smart fencer," Marion said.

"I discovered that you just can't get in there and slug it out," Bartels said. "You have to think how you're going to slug it out before you do it."

The performance of the Crimson sabre men will be of crucial importance to the team's success. The sabre squad was completely stifled against Columbia and CCNY. For Harvard to win, the sabre team must perform convincingly.

In New York, Terry Valenzuela showed none of the skill that makes him a potential All-Ivy candidate, and Ken Hetzler, who fenced beautifully against Columbia, came up empty handed in the victory column far too often.

For the Crimson to succeed this afternoon, Valenzuela and Hetzler must rebound from their recent performances.