THERE ARE SIX military egghead freshmen at Oxford — a record since Rhodes Scholarships were established in 1902.

By no means are the six lieutenants — five West Pointers and the first Air Academy graduate to win a Rhodes — holing up in a medieval ivory tower.

They're very much in the swim of university life, and one, Pete Dawkins, is the most talked-about sports personality of recent years in Britain.

The 21-year-old All-American football player was selected for the Oxford rugby team after playing the game only eight weeks. He is only the fifth American to earn an Oxford Rugby Blue, one of Britain's greatest sports honors.

Awards of Rhodes scholarships are based on high scholastic standing, character, instinct for leadership and interest in outdoor sports and the ability to get along with one's fellows. The caliber of the six lieutenants at Oxford has impressed both "town and gown."

A lot is expected of Bradley C. Hosmer, No. 1 man in his class at the Air Academy; James Ray, No. 2 in his West Point class; Stanley Karanowski, No. 3; Powell Hutton, No. 4; Michael Gillette. No. 23. and Dawkins, No. 10.

Twenty-two-year-old Hosmer has said that "West Point has a good name and reputation at Oxford," and he hopes to help win similar respect for the Air Academy.

Previous West Pointers have achieved distinguished records; notably the prodigious showing in 1948 when three graduates won "firsts" in final exams.

Hosmer, who served. as a Military Air Transport Service navigator last summer and maintains his proficiency at Bovingdon Air Base, England, impresses one as a young man who will establish the academy's name and reputation in good standing.

There are an infinite number of temptations to goldbrick for two years and procrastinate about the do-or-die final exam. There is an option of a third year.

While the six lieutenants are involved in a range of activities from lacrosse to social tea-times, there's no indication they'll slough off the studies.

As Hosmer put it, "We came here to get every bit possible of the intellectual, cultural and social life of the country. It's up to the individual here to do what he wants with his time."

The six, who receive lieutenant's pay plus the $2,100 annual Rhodes stipend, are studying "PPE" — philosophy-politics-economics.

"Our taking PPE," he said, "reflects the tendency to broaden the officer corps. The services are getting away from the emphasis on specialists. The scope in PPE is larger than in other fields, where a student goes into depth in a small area."

While sipping coffee in his room at 645-year-old Exeter College, Hosmer chatted about various aspects of university life.

His recent activities include an occasional game of lacrosse; attending a tea sponsored by a Commonwealth organization with Princess Margaret as guest of honor; attending a dining-in night at the officers club at USAF's Bushy Park Air Base; theater going in Oxford and London; browsing around Blackwell's Oxford's superlative bookshop.

Others included twanging a guitar and mandolin at informal parties; listening to classical records; bull sessions with his British roommate, Peter Herbert, a former RAF officer; and spending the holidays with the Herbert family in Kent.

"Because I've got a British roommate, I think I've gotten into social circles faster. I'd say that it's put me about three weeks ahead of the others who live in single rooms. Certainly it's helped me in meeting the other sex.

"Academy people find a lot more freedom here than they've been accustomed to. On the other hand, some of the Rhodes scholars who've come from civilian colleges find some of the regulations restrictive and petty. For example, a limit to the number of weekends that can be spent away from university during a term, and the midnight curfew.

"One change that an academy graduate enjoys here is being able to entertain women friends in his room at certain hours. At the academy, lightning would strike both of you.

"You're probably thinking that this is a messy room. Well, I suppose it's typical of an ex-academy man. It's a reaction to what you go through back there."

Many of the 32 freshmen American Rhodes scholars buy bicycles. Hosmer hasn't, since his college is centrally located, but Dawkins, who lives at 450-year-old Brasenose College, bought one for a few dollars.

He's been described by the British press as "a most likeable, naturally reticent guy who is more than a little embarrassed by the maelstrom of publicity into which he has been plunged" because of his prowess on the rugby field.

A Daily Telegraph sports writer commented after the Oxford-Cambridge game — Britain's equivalent of the Army-Navy football game:

"A warm word, too, for the new personality Dawkins, who far from turning out the raw rookie some had feared, looked quite the strongest and most accomplished wing threequarter of the four."

"There should be a big future for Rugby in the States," Dawkins says. "It's had a lot of publicity this last six months. I wouldn't be at all surprised if our armed services took it up.

"American football is almost impossible for these people because of the cost of equipment and coaching a whole team. Rugby is a more basic game. All you need is a ball and a field."

Dawkins said he would be delighted to help promote the game in the States.

At Oxford he has found nothing like the tremendous buildup of school spirit prior to the Army-Navy game.

The peak of student body emotion may have been reached when a friend dropped by to say, "Good luck, Peter."

Team attitudes are diametrically different.

"Here, there's a more easy-going approach to the game. One of the team members serves as coach.

"As for training, a player probably won't have any beer a day or two before a game, but he may relax Saturday with a couple of pints. They believe that a few pints keeps a fellow from going stale during the long September-March season. And, they take the view that a fellow can work off his beer during a couple of hours training on Monday."

An example of the low-pressure approach occurred before the recent Oxford-Cambridge match. The Oxford team had a light workout Friday afternoon, then went their separate ways until Monday, the day before the game was played before 60,000 spectators and television cameras.

About his teammates. Dawkins said:

"They are a damn fine group."

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