The New York herald., 1876-09-02
POLO IN 1HE ARMY.

To THE EDITOR HERALp:--
The suggestion made in the columns OF the HERALD
the other day by cavalry officer that the game OF
polo should be introduced into cavalry camps and
military schools, especially the school a, West
Point, deserves serious consideration. trust it will
meet with general approval
1t is an interesting question to consider how far
games express tho character OF people, and how far
they play part in the development Of national pride
and sei-rcspcct l have always been struck with
remark OF the Duke OF Wellington when bc was a
spectator at cricket match between the school boys
OF Eton and Harrow. at here" said tho Duke,
"that VIC learned to fight the battle OF Waterloo" 1"
What was simply game to the players,
to tho crowd who looked on and TO
the general sentiment of the public, education
the eyes Of the great commander and education for
the highest duty that devove upon free people
the protection Of the national honor
The Duke saw that the points necessary to a good
crlcketer we're essential in a good soldier-ncrvc.
clear eye, quckness courage endurance, The spirit of
emulation, which the spirit OF victory, and without
which as an underlying principle, there can be no true
soldier
AS understand the game of poo, il is moro vau-
able from an educational point of view, in The sense
implied in the remark OF The Duke OF Wellington, than
cricket A polo player, to succeed, needs all the
qualities essential TO cricket player and other
qualities In addition The cricket player may
be said 10 be learning how to be infantry soldier
The polo player may be SAID to be learning how
10 be cavalry soldier Any military critic Will tell
you how much more difficult It IS to drill recruit into
cavalryman than into inantryman. In SIX months
loot soldier viii know his duties how perform
them But two years are necessary to make tolerablo
cavairyfnan In this point oil view polo, far IL
hts the player for cavalry service, is valuable
q game than cricket
cumbrnt upon us 10 strengthen our cavalry. You
have, no doubt, observed in modern wars, and moro
especially in the recent between France and
Germany, the immense importance given to cavalry.
Moltke, the great commander Germany, has taught
us the value OF cavalry just Napoleon taught us the
value OF artillery me cavalry Is needeu to reconnore
TO envelope the enemy and feel his strength and his
arms IL Is more than all needed to protect an
advancing army, to movements aud enable 1t
to manouvrc. When Moltkc led the German army
into France he threw before him cloud OF cavalry.
Into that cloud the French could never penetrate.
There hidden from the observation and practically from
the antagonism Of his army, Moltkc enabled not
alone TO defend Germany, but to work out those sue
cessnl military problems which destroyed the French
Empire
II cavalry is important in the modern wars OF the
CoGtnent how much important is IL TO The
United statcsy We have only two foes that We have
encountered within the past baf century outside oil
thc rcoeion The one is the Mexican, the otner tbe
Indian. There has been constant abrasion OF from
tiers between Mexico and tho United states, Constant
irritation, which led to n war generation ago. aud
compcls US even now TO keep large force on the
Rio Grande The Mexicans lne cavalry men. Wc
have no such horsemcn IN our armies. Tho Mexican
lives to great his horse until has become
part OF him. II VIC ever fought Mexico this advan-
gc In the character OF her cavalry would prolong the
war, and entail upon US the loss of life aud treasure
that might as well be avoided Our other enemy Is tho
Indians The events IN the Yellowstone country, nov
three months sincc anj which have fallen upon the
country as great national disaster, show now iccbie
| We are IN our cavalry party OF mounted saVages
cut 10 pieces OF tho finest cavalry regiments IN 'he
army. This was, To extent because the INDIANS
were really cavaIrymen, while our troops were Simply
men on horseback.
There Is every difference between n cavalryman aud
| man on horseback A man on horseback, II he has
been halt dozen times 10 the riding school, and hold
well on TO his animal, may make nturn oil the fark ane
succeed In bowing 10 his cmac friends but organ
grinder or circus wagon or whecloar