Alibi?

Oxford blamed it on the austerity diet. Its crew, which before the war got two steaks a day per man, was now down to an egg a week and no steaks. Crewmen, stroked by R.M.A. Bourne (a prisoner of the Germans for three years, whose father and grandfather had stroked and later coached the Oxford boat), averaged a puny 154 Ibs. Prewar average: 180 Ibs. Last week Oxford ordered the lightest boat in its history, for the 96th race with Cambridge March 30.

Cambridge crewmen, on just as austere a diet, were inclined to think Oxford was alibiing in advance. The Cambridge Eight (including two ex-R.A.F. pilots, and an Australian sapper) averaged 173 Ibs.

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