The Washington times., 1895-06-19

Eastern High School and one at the
Business High School. making a-bdttallOn
of SIX companies for 1891.
In 1893 the organization Of a regiment
of nine companies was effected, which
has continued 10 the present time The
companies are distributed as follows
First Battaliou-COmpanies 4, z, c, and
D. at the CCutral High School. and Com
pany II al the Western High School
Second acknowledgements T and G
at the Eeastcrn High School. and Companies
E and | at the Business High School.
with the present late of growth OF the
schools, il is probable that in the near
future a iun regiment Of twelve companies
viii be formed
The corps has been under the successive
commands Of Majors ShOales. SOhOu, Ia
Fetra, Stewart, FishbaCk, Borden, Law
yer, Lieut. Col. MCoTc. Gels Reiche!derirr,
S kinner and Shuster, the latter being
the present colonel commanding
The graceful action Of Prof. John Philip
SouSa then director Of the Marine Band.
in naming his famous composition, The
High School Cadet March" u honor OF
the CORPS. has made the name of the
organization known all through The United
States. This interesting event took place
in 1890
The cadets made their first public ap-
pearauCc in 1853. when a picked company
participated in the G. \. T. parade.
From the first the cadets have made a
most favorable impression, and the occasions
Of their appearance are now the event
Of the school year. aud are witnessed by
thousands OF citizens.
The custom of an annual exhibition drill
was instituted in 1884, when it was held
in the plaza in front of the Arlington
Hotel, but with tie growth Of the corps
7
a drill by the regiment in evolUtions and
firing with blank cartridges is held. This
is the last drill OF tie regiment in each
year. and it usually occurs about the
middle of Juue.
The event of great interest to the
cadets themselves aud TO the partisans
of the different companies is the COM
petitive company drin held each year about
the last OF May. This Grill was At first
held in the exhibition hail OF the Central
High School, but thespace being insufficient
Tor he large number of fris IDS desiring 90
witness it, the stage of che of tie local
thcatcrs was utilized. During the last
two years the character of the Grill has
been radically changed. Prior TO 1898
the drills Were entirely in the manual Of
arms but in that year il was decided to
hold the exercises out of doors, where the
competition could include the entire school
of the company ;" The National Baseball
Park was secured for this purpose. az it
offered every facility for the accommodation
ofspectatorS, aEI ample room formanruver-
ing.
This competitive drilI extends over two
DAYS, oneday roreachb battalion Thejudges
are officers of the United States Army
stationed at Washington. The winning
company is awarded the prize flag"
which has been contested for since 1889.
This flag is the properly of the school. but
each company is allo wed to attach 20 it
ribbonhearing gthedesignationOftheco
and the date of competition in which it
was won.
On the final parades of the year, the in
dividual members OF the successful company
are permitted to wear the red ribbons"
bywhch the winning ySbe
distinguished.
An additional incentive for energetic
work OF captains was Offered this year by
Capt AIIiSOuNailur, ofthe WaShingtOnLight
Infantry, who presented to the school a
magnificent gold medal To be annually
competed for This medal is the property
of the school, but provision has been made
for giving a reduced facsimile to the
winning captain.
The drill is under the supervision OF
Major B. r Ross, military instructor, and
L. H Reichelderfer These, together with
cadet colonel and lieutenant colonel, give
personal supervision to the work each drill
day ore being assigned to each of the four
schools.
Appointments of Officers are made in
accordance with standing in studies and
military proficiency, and the candidates also
undergo a tactical examination. These
appointments are made by a military COM
mission, consisting ofthe principal Orthehigh
schools, military instructors. and a COM
mittee ofteachers appointe dby the principal
The thOroughnesso of instruction is atteSted
by the success ofthecadets who have entered
military colleges or the government acade-
mics of West Point or Annapolis tits well
known fact that the majority OF the highest
positions in the regiment at Cornell are held
byg raduates OF the high S school WashintOn;
in fact, for the last four years the colonel
has been an ex-high school
cadet.
1t is beliyed that the military work.
in addition to adding interest TO school