The times., 1897-08-01
MORTOH5' FATAL MISTAKE
Flank Movement Cost Them First
Prize at San Antonio.
CAPTAIN DOMER EXPLAINS
Movement of the Winning Company
Absolutely Correct According to
the Drill Book-Mortons and the
Other Competing Companies
"Fell Down"

Ever since heinterstate competitive drill
{ san Antonio and the return home OF
ne Morton Cadets, the one topic of con-
ersation among military men In Washing
ION and other cities has been the reason
:or the loss of the Galveston Cup by the
HJrtons, and the reason for the winning
oy the Governors Guard of Austin. Texas.
Auoh has been heard here and else
where about mysterious flank movement
which was executed n one way by the
Governors Guard and another way by all
the other companies i'll the contest Tt has
been alleged that the captain OF the Cover
nor's Guard was incorrect II his interpreta-
ton of the movement, and that the other
Companies, including the Morton Cadets. had
correctly executed the movement in ques-
ton
Reports as to exactly What this move
ment was were somew hat vague, butit is
now discovered that the movement as ex-
ecuted by the Winning company was alb
solutely correct and that the Washington
boys, with the other companies In camp,
"fell down" on its execution. The author
ity for Capt. Roberdeau's Interpretation is
by no means hidden a way In an out-of-the-
way part OF the drill book, and the nys-
terry connected with the question has only
been such because OF the vague descrip
tion OF the movement S received in Wash
ington.
IL Of hn II
hles, is considered an authority on all
subjects connected with these competi-
tions ana after he learned the true nature
of the movement and it's sequence of
ceIamands, Immediately opened his drill
book and furnished an explanation of the
question at issue Referring to the matter
last night he said:
I'm an evening paper Of today notice
that the formation OF the co mpanies in the
recent competitive drill at the time the
movement il question was to be executed
vas column of fours, with the left in front.
To form column of files from that position
was naturally left by files Following
this movement was the order, March in
line ID the right. The nexttwo commands
were, March TO the left in column of files
and Reform column of fours.'
Paragraph 217 OF the Infantry Dril
Regulations OF the United States Army,
adopted October 3 1891. reads as follows:
"A column OF fours, twos or files may be
faced to the rear or flank and marched
a short distance, but no other movement
should be executed until the column Is again
faced 20 the original front.' In
his paragraph the emphasis Is on the word
faced
Lieutenant, now Capt John T. French.
the recorder Of the board that promulgated
the revised edition of the drill regula-
tions, as far as I know, has never had
occasion to offer an opinion on this move
ment. Tie unit in the drill of the COM
pany Is a set OF fours, front and rear
rank, just as the company is the unit In
battalion drill. 1t necessarily follows,
therefore, that, as prescribed in paragraph
217 of the regulations referred to, the
companies should have been faced and
marched to the right few PAGES, and
not marched TO the right by the right
flank Then again, the companies should
have been hslted and faced to the left
in order to permit the establishment of
the four as the unit / should, there
fore, say that Capt Roberdeau, w no halted
his company and faced to the right, and
afterward halted and faced to the left,
was correct and the other company COM
manders were wrong to give their company
by the right flank and afterward by
the left flank while marching
''The misinterpretation of this move
ment would hardly be sufficient to lose q
drill. In addition to the above, however,
the reports to the local papers emphasized
The fact that the rear rank of companies
other than the Mortons executed the load
while lying down. Paragraph SO of the
regulations provides as follows.
When in double rank, the rear rank
men do not aim nor fire. and it lis there
fore to be presumed that the rear rank
should execute the loadings, but not the
aim and fire.
These points would seem to Indicate
that the new spapers were a little abrupt
in their adverse criticism Of the Judges.
who could have no possible personal In
teIest in rendering their decision. While
he result or the various competitions In
which MY company has participated has
lot always been as wished, vet I have
always been willing to accept, In as good
a grace as possible, the decree OF the Off
GERS desailed from the Army to judge tbeaa
interstate contests.s