Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-01
THE CADETS ATTHE DRILL
THE DEFECTS THAT LOST THEM
THE PRIZE.

The Army and Navy Journals" Criti-
eism of the Mobile Contest--Points to
/ Profit by In Future EndeavOrs-The
Inspection Scores Heavily against
the Company.
The army and Nary Journal has been
| giving a detailed criticism of the various
companies participating at the recent
Mobile drill. In its last issue appears the
following criticism of the Savannah Ca
dets
nspeciOn.-The Captain did not go
back to see If the guides properly placed
at the command ''rear open order;" two
guns were dirty, four rusty, and two some-
what rusty; five pairs OF gloves dirty.
several pairs unclean; belts, etc, neat
and clean; set up of men, bad; Captain
and officers, fine looking and military;
left guide not shaved; company not well
sized. ..u. -.#-ar
Manual By the numbers, medium many
pieces not held properly at support; in
dividual errors here and there; in rest on
arms a number of muZzles rested on the
ground instead OfOn the left toes.
Manual Without the Nun1beTS.-All
thumbs not over the hammers at secure
arms. The general practice in the army
is, we believe, to put the right thumb
over the strap. Three men deranged the
position of the shoulders in ''unfX bayo-
nets" Rest on arms, very good; the firing
lying down and rising, good, the Captain
taking the precaution 10 lie down. In
fire kneeling, however, the Captain was
not at his proper post.
FiripQS, etc.-AIl opened their boxes
except two men who forgot. In the po-
sition of load the right foot was brought
too far TO the rear of the left by several
inches. General defect. No. l, rear rank
first set OF tours slow loading. In firing
by rank and cease firing, the rear ranks
did not come to carry at the command
"cease firing" There was some talking
in ranks during this part of the drill.
Manual on the march, fair. The Cap
tain marched his company TO the rear with
arms at port when carry or right shoulder
would have been preferable to say the
least.
EUOlutiORS.-ln forming on right into
line at double time, from column of tours,
the leading four came to a quick time.
Forming column of tours into line, the
Captain gave the command forward"
In executing a left about there was a
break near the pivot, and the pieces not
brought up promptly nor together from
carry TO right shoulder at the command for
turning. There was crOwding in ranks
during the wheels. At various times dur
ing the drill, the pieces were not carried
properly at right shoulder. Marching
fOurs in circle to theleft, the fours did not
complete each arc of 80 degrees simulta-
neously, and the guides marked time in
stead OF hating. Upon moving forward,
after the halt, the right guide did not step
off promptly. In changing direction with
three fOuTs broken from left to
rear, the Captain at first gave the COM
mand column right instead of 'right
wheel" The distances between tours in
column, single rank, was too small on
several occasions. In forming column
Of twOs from column of tours, one, two
failed to obliqued promptly or properly
to its place in rear of the leading two of
that four. In ObliquIng in column of
fours, the guides of fours did not cover.
The Captain prompted the men on two
occasions. (Tne object of the drill is to
lind out what they know alsO.) The
wheels were good; pivot step, excellent.
When the company was marching at
double time in column of fours at single
rank distance, too close to double rank
distance, the Captain gave the command
Form double rank--march." The com
pauy being at trail arms" some men
started to a 'carry'' at the command
'double time" The platoon movements
were fair. This company was awarded
the fourth place.