The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-07

airy service In view, for Ii Ia always
possible that he will find a purchaser
for much of his stock which falls below
the required standard for his own pur-
poses. A horse that Is useless for
breeding and not fast enough for a
trotter or racer may yet be eminently
fitted for the cavalry.
AS at present constituted the service
needs about 700 new horses every year,
being one-tenth OF the 1000 used in
active duty. When the quartermaster
goes into the field to select his steeds.
he is deluged with offers Of fine ami
mails There are trotters in whose veins
courses the noblest blood of the leading
track stars OF a past generation: sleek,
well formed creatures whose slender.
rounded limbs and intelligent eyes and
gracefully curved 1enecks betray their
Arabian ancestry Only a certain type.
however is purchased. The animal
must be gentle and free from all vicious
habits and fair, nimble trotter. Even
the mouth must be moderately sensi-
tive and not so hardened to the bit that
a rider could not turn him without run
ming into a stone wall. White horses
have been used, but they are not de-
sired. The object Is to obtain as near
ly as possible uniformity of color. Sor-
rel, black and bay are preferred Every
animal must be a gelding, from Is to 16
hands high and weighing from $50 TO
1,150 pounds. Horse and master soon
become fast friends, and the docile, af-
fectionate beast readily learns to love
his temporary owner. Sometimes the
soldiers get choice animals, and after
years of training and close association
their companionship 10 almost human.
Buffalo Bill Colonel w. +. Cody says
we have the finest cavalry force on
earth, and he is an authority from ex-
perience and observation.
In the artillery the recruits advance
ment is in proportion TO the ability he
displays. After learning how TO handle
a musket he is instructed in the art of
manipulating fieldpieces. Then by de-
grees he Is taught how TO work mortar
batteries, siege guns, the modern 3, 10
and IL inch rifles and magazines and
the Gatling, Maxim, Hotchkiss and
other fieldpieces. In few months a
man of ordinary intelligence is ready
for active service at any of the great
seacoast Notifications or on the field Of
battle.
To become skilled artillerists men are
required to possess some knowledge OF
arithmetic, they must know how TO read
barometers and thermometers and must
also have some information regarding
the force and effect of the velocity of
the wind. This detail enters into the
sighting and firing of heavy ordnance.
There are today In the ranks many
very bright men who enlisted as pri-
Yates and who by industry and perse-
verance have become experts in the
handling OF the great modern guns.
Some OF them are still in the ranks. but
they will soon be promoted to the grade
of noncommissioned officers.
Discipline In the army is not so Sc
we're as is imagined. although In rare
instances martinets have rendered mis-
erable the lives OF some OF the enlisted
men in their command. The relations
between officers and privates are, as a
rule. of the most friendly nature. So
cial intercourse Is necessarily impossi-
BILE. In the volunteer forces there is of
course more freedom OF speech between
the rank and the file.
Athletic sports have been widely en-
couraged in recent years. and at nearly
every army post there has been foot
ball team or a baseball nine. In fine
weather the afternoon is generally de-
voted TO sports. II the garrison or
camp be near a town. many OF the men
visit 1t. being given passes 10 do so.
One is never allotted Co soldier, how
ever. unless his record Is good, the stop
page OF pass privileges resting with the
captain and forming a powerful lever In
favor OF discipline.
There were a large number OF for
eigners. soldiers OF fortune. In the
army during the civil war. several no.
blemen from European countries hold
ing commissions and serving as aids 20
the commanding generals. but today the
ranks are q good representation Of na-
tive born Americans, and all must by
law be citizens.
General Miles has for some time been
contemplating important changes I'm the
army uniform At a White House re-
ception only q ehort time priop 70 the