San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-13
THE INTERSTATE DRILL
ORIGINAL RULES WILL STAND
WITHOUT AMENDMENTS.
There Was Too Much Of An Objection As
Time Is Too Short For Companies
To Perfect Themselves.

Interstate Military contest beginning
July 18th, has been abndoned by the
management, owing to the positive pro-
test of several companies which are not
willing now to add anything to the
manual which was eliminated in the
original rules promulgated by the
judges. AS the rules stand extended
order, bayonet, and setting up exer-
cises are eliminated. AS these fea-
lures are among the most attractive
movements in the drill, it was thought
by the judges that they should not be
eliminated. However, this determine
ton was reached too late to justify the
change. Manager Irvine telegraphed
all the interstate companies on Fri
day night notifying them of the pro-
posed change and asking whether it
was satisfactory. Capt. Shilling, of
the Morton Cadets, at once wired in
response from Fort Washington, Nd,
as follows: I'VE are now in camp
practice. Time remaining is too
short to admit of any change in rules.
wire lie lilllllculdlCly Jul dNlSh-
dance depends upon your answer"
Capt. william 7. Chautland of the
Fort Dodge Rifles, wires as follows:
Much prefer rules as originally
made"
Capt. E. S. Beam of the famous
company d, First infantry, St. Paul,
wired back Amendment rules as per
telegram perfectly satisfactory" Evil
IDENTIFY company D is prepared for all
emergencies.
Capt w. ]. Foye, who has an eye
single to the perpetual retention of the
Texas cup and the national guard
championship, telegraphed as follows:
"Close order only as originally stated
will be satisfactory"
1t will be seen at once that any
change of the rules which might be
construed to be against any COM
pany would be not only be an injustice
to the company, but would reflect up
on the management should any acct
dent or fortunes of the field cause the
Directing company to lose the contest.
It is the purpose of the drill associa-
ton to maintain the strictest impair
TALLY, and an absolutely just position
in all points to each company, and
therefore, the proposed change of rules
was promptly abandoned upon receipt
of these protests. Each company has
been notified by wire that the rules as
originally stated will stand.
The judges are in constant communi-
cation with the various captains of the
contesting companies answering the
usual questions relative to points of
Interpretation in order to avoid any
misunderstanding of the tactics to be
followed. So far everything has gone
along smoothly and the prospect is
that the contest will be one of the
most interesting ever held in the
country, and will be absolutely free
from the slightest possible tinge of
criticism as to the fairness of the de-
cisions.
The battle is growing warm between
many of the companies which have
heretofore monoplized public attention
at the various drills in which they
have participated. Then tendency to
prediction and the proneness of par
tisans to belittle the pretensions of OPP
ponents is likely to cause the burning
of much imaginary red fire before the
actual contest is settled. The bugle
blast of challenge resounding from
Omaha is taken up and answered from
st. Paul with a defiance that betokens
a contest akin to the old time ardor
which marked the interstate drills back
in the SOS, while the protest that re-
sounds from Fort Washington and re-
echos about the corridors of the ma
tional capital would seem to be given
in order to prejudice the minds of the
people against the Omaha claims.
Meantime, New Orleans, the very home
of the competitive contests, and where
under the gallant leadership of the old
Crescent Rifles, they became the most
popular national event, quietly Major
Elmer E. Wood has donned the cap
tain's uniform and taken command of
his picked company from the Fourth
Battalion of the Louisiana National
Guard, and every night and morning
his forty men work like veterans with
the view of again bringing back to New
Orleans the standard of the champion
ship by the capture of which the old
"Crescents" made New Orleans so ia
nous. Within the state there are
several companies whose work and
justify CAPCSbdllOh VI IC-
ward in the larger prizes. The Bel
knaps are a veteran company which
need not in the least check it's aspIra-
tons owing to the mutterings, threats
and predictions of these foreign COM
panies which have been more in the
public eye than our modest boys of
Texas have been of late years.
1t is proposed by the management of
the association to so arrange it that
full information and the record of each
company, and photo of the commits
stoned officers of the companies shall
be presented to the public in advance
in order that all may be thoroughly
posted on the contest and so that the
popular interest may be based upon
facts rather than mere fancy. AS
soon as the information is received the
management has promised it to the
press, and it viii be furnished from
time to time as convenience of space
and the receipt of the data therefor