Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30

men. and this makes It much harder for
this company than the rest. Marching in
company front has been practiced much Of
late. and Is exceedingly well done, while
the Tours movements are poor, the obliques
good and the manual fair Lieuts w. s.
blanchard and B. r. Kelly are two excel
out Tor mistakes and breaks. AS Principal
Davis placed scholarship requirement on
all prospective candidates the first of the
year, the company is composed Of only the
most desirable material. This COMPANY
Will undoubtedly make the best impression
In the parade on Washington's birthday.
The Eastern Schools Companies.
The two companies at the Eastern High
School generally have few surprises for
their opponents, and Of the two it may be
said that the first has the most. Com
pany F Is commanded by Capt. N. Gapen,
the youngest of all the officers. He is de-
termined that he shall have discipline or
nothing else. Backing him are two able
l!eutenants, j. 8. Miller and H. H. Brown
aid this trio of officers can hardly be sur
passed. The best work done by this COM
pany is In the foot movements the obliques
pelng exceptionally good, the distance be-
1--WE en- tours Is correct and the movements
OF right into line and fright front into
line are We'll done. Little can be said
about the manual. as they executed it well.
| In marching in company front" the men
tend to crowd and keep a rather poor align
ment.
Capt. H. Hurst of company G is also well
advanced and Is rapidly improving. He is
conscientious, hard-working officer, who
Is determined to have everything tactical
and as well executed as possible. The foot
good 1t needs great deal more practice
| en- all Of them. J. H. Williams makes an
excellent first lieutenant, while Second
Lieut.. F.. H. Yount. who has been on sick
leave since the middle of December is
thought to be Of the same caliber. His sick
ness was caused by scratch received at
the teachers bazaar. which caused blood
poisoning and has affected his eyes.
The utmost interest is felt in company H
| at the Western High School on account of
the fact that this was the prize company of
last year. capt. Berry is cool-headed and
sensible officer, who does his work in a
| systematic way. The company seems to be
at standstill, as there has been no i'm
1.royement noticed in the last couple of
weeks. Everything has been undertaken in
a slow, steady way and thoroughly prac-
tlced, but the men do not seem to keep
good distance in fours nor in regular files
| in the obliques; but in the manual they do
| well Lieuts. Cassin and Smoot have not
| yet tried their hand at on,manding, bu. it
| is thought that they will prove as proficient
as their chief. There is plenty Of snap put
| Into the manual. but not much in the
marchings. where they have a steady ca
dence.
Drill in General.
On the whole the drill of the regiment is
hot as good as might be expected which is
PAL NY oOe " tHe new manual. Port arms
is made the basis of most all Of the move
| nients, and is hard position to come to in
going to an order from right shoulder or
| executing right shoulder" from an order.
and these two movements have not been
correctly done as yet by any company, as
TIE second year men seem unable to get
! rid Of the habit of bringing the piece up
ard down along the right side, as done in
| the old tactics, while many Of the first year
n EN- move their heads and then half shirk
the movement. Precision and snap are not
as noticeable as in the old manual, and
| there is almost a total disregard for drill
among the members.
very ugly effect is made by the men
swinging their arms from foot to a foot
| and half on each side of their trouser
stripe, like so many pump handles, while
the tactics allow for swing Of only six
inches altogether.
In marchings and turnings the men in
cessantly shuttle and scrape their feet, and
in coming to order arms the pieces are
dropped heavily. while they should be let
down almost noiseiessly. Lack Of discipline
| Is evident in oil the companies, and it is
safe to say that command without good
discipline will not attain to as high stand
ard of drill they otherwise would