The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04
SAN ANTONIO zOUAvEs DRILL.
The Texans Give a Remarkable Ex-
hibftiOn.

One of the most remarkable mill
itary drills ever witnessed in
Savannah was given yesterday af-
ternOon in the Park extension. 1t
was an exhibition by the San Antonio
Zouaves, Company G, of the First Texas
Regiment. The drill began at O'Clock
and lasted half an hour Ii was wonder
ful in the swiftness and uniformity of the
movements and the apparent ease of ex-
ecution.
The Zouaves were under command Of
Capt. Eugene J. Hernandez. who is their
captain in time of peace as well as war.
One Of the features of the drill was the
continuous flow Of the commands he gave
One followed another without break,
and, to those accustomed to the ordinary
infantry drill, it was matter of wonder
that the men were able to execute as
fast as the commands flowed out.
Sixteen men formed the rank of the
company. First Lieutenant G. F. Cazell
acted as left and sergt. John J. burst as
right guide. Second Lieutenant John A.
Jackson was a private in the first four.
These were picked men of the company,
and they gave an exhibition that looked
as if 1t would have been a prize winner If
1t had been in a competition.
The Zouaves were dressed in the regula-
ton zouave attire. The striking colors
made the drill all the more attractive.
Yellow jackets and dark red trousers
showed to advantage. These uniforms
were ordered from Texas while
the regiment was at Jackson
Vile The Zouaves then gave
an exhibition drill in honor of the Misses
Lee, who were in Jacksonville on a visit to
the general. On a subsequent occasion
they used them for drill that was given
as a compliment 10 the ladies of Jackson
ville just as that of yesterday was in
tended as a compliment to the ladies of Sa-
vannah.
Capt. Hernandez saws that all Of his men
have been impressed by the kindness of
the ladies' since they have been here, and
that it was a pleasure to all of them to
have been able to do anything that might
afford them amusement and entertain
ment. That they did so was evinced by
the large number that crowded around
him and his men after the drill to COM
pliment them upon its excellence.
The weather was not as pleasant as
could have been desired, and 1t was
thought that this would interfere with the
attendance. This may have been the case,
but there was, nevertheless, a large crowd.
A circle was formed about the Zouaves
as they went through their drill, and all
had fair view. A number of movements
were executed, all with the swiftness,
grace and ease that characterize the drill
Of the best zouave companies. Marching,
The manual, loading firing and fancy ma
neuvers were all given. Frequent APP
plause repaid the soldiers for the ex-
celence of their drill.
The San Antonio Zouaves were organ
lied July 4, 1896 From its organization
the company has been popular with the
people of San Antonio, and no trouble was
found in securing a fine class of men to
bring the ranks up to the number required
when troops were called for. Is
The movements executed by the Zouaves
were conceived by Capt. Hernandez, who
has devoted a great deal of time and la
Dor to his company. He takes justified
pride in the men, and his efforts to main
tain the standard of excellence they have
reached are untiring He has had the
company IN one competition. This was in
Galveston. They went down in noble de-
feat, having been beaten by the fraction
Of a point by the crack Memphis Zouaves.
Capt. Hernandez and his men desired to
give an exhibition of wall scaling, but
could not do so on account Of difficulty
that was experienced in getting the wall.
Formalities through which they would
have had to go in order to secure permis-
sion to build the wall made it impossible
for them to give the exhibition.
The desire has been expressed for the
Zouaves to give another exhibition, but 1t
is a difficult matter for them to keep up
their exercises and, al the same time, go
through their ordinary infantry drills and
attend to their military duties.