The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-16
ERRORS OF THE MORTON CADETS
One of the Judges Talks and Capt.
Shilling Replies.

In a talk with one of the judges of
the contest between the Morton Cadets
and the Oglethorpe Infantry yesterday, a
Morning News reporter was informed that
the OglethOrpe Infantry came much near
er to winning the prize than was sup
posed.
while it is true" said the officer, that
from the grand stand the Morton Cadets
made better appearance on account of
their more snowy uniforms and the neat
ness and precision with which every move
ment undertaken by them was executed
there were many things not apparent to
the Impractical eye in the drill of both
companies which counted in favor of the
Oglethorpes and against their competi-
tors, A close calculation of the score
would show that the totals scores
of the two companies We're much
nearer to gether than the general public
has any idea of. The work of the Ogie-
thorpes was soldierly in every respect and
their drill was thoroughly creditable to
10 them. They wore the state regulation
UNIFORM, which is the only uniform they
are allowed to wear under the present
law. 1t Is true that Capt. Fleming made
some omissions, but Capt Shilling made
fully as many. The latter was guilty of
carelessness, which would have cost him
very dear in closely competed contest
where every point was rigidly scored bv
the judges. His manner of bringing the
company on the field was unsatisfactory
to the judges. In the extended order drill
NbAAAA'eNAAs
bayonets, which was a serious error In
the close of the company drill there were
seven commands which should have been
executed at the double quick whereas
only two We're so executed. / called Cant
Shilling's attention to this, and he stated
that 1t was an oversight on his part. That
oversight would have cost him dear had
there been close competition in the
field. He also gave more commands
which were not on the programme than
dld capt Fleming. Another thing
10 l.
to his men. which was entirely pe out
OF order do not mention these things
to animadvert upon Capt. Shilling and
the Morton Cadets. The Cadets are un-
ques tionably one of the finest drilled com
panies l have ever seen, and they Ger
ta!nly put up a beautiful drill. / know
capt. Shilling to be a fine commander
and do not understand how he came to
make the errors he did.
The Oglethorpes deserve all the more
credit for their drill because they had not
prepared sufficiently for it, and only came
as matter of accommodation to the
Military Interstate Association in order
to make a contest, and had had only nine
days practice for the drill. Taking this
into consideration, their work was really
These opinions of the judges came 10
the ears of Capt. Shilling. He seemed to
think that there must be some error about
II He was positive that he had followed
the programme carefully and that the
omissions, if any, were slg6t.
The programme was differently arrang-
5 he said used and this ae PPi1S dri for
my failure to give the commands in dou-
BILE time, as prescribed, the words "dou-
BILE time above certain platoon move
ments being overlooked by me-"
As to other points made, Capt Shilling
was inclined to challenge the opinion of
the judges.
I have participated in several prize
drills he said, and I must say that I
was surprised at the manner in which
the decision was summed up. l fully ex-
pected that the scores made by the two
commands on each portion of the drill,
as in other prize drills in which l have
taken part The manner of my entry may
have been somewhat ceremonious, but no
more than is customary on such occa-
sions, and besides. it was not a matter
for the judges to pass upon. The com
pany was not under their inspection until
matter of the ommission of the bayonets
in the extended order drill l wish to
state that we followed the United States
regulations and l think the judges will
so find if they investigate the point. The
government regulations now provide only
for guns and cartridge belts and no bay
onets are issued with the regulation out
fit l would like to say that in Wash
ington we have every advantage for keep
ing fully posted on all questions of tao
tics, having the men there who make the
tactics and prescribe how they shall be
carried out, and any disputed point s
promptly settled by unquestioned author
ity. l am ready to stake my Judgment
on any contested point in yesterdays
drill against that of the judges"