Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-20

Lieut.. Col. II. X. Ross,
Military Instructor.
Investigation brings to light the fact that
the annual competitive drill of the regiment
of High School Cadets is close at hand. The
ribbons are the colors of the respective
companies. and the wearers are loyal and
enthusiastic rooters for the boys who are
to strive for the coveted designation, prize
company"
The annual parade and exhibition drill of
the regiment is great event for the young
soldiers and their friends. but the competi
tive drill eCl-pses the parade by far. and is
unqucs tiOnably the climax of all the events
of the school year From the date of or
garizatiOn of the regiment each year about
the LIST of October. until the companies de-
part from the drill field in May. the chief
purpose of every cadet is to carry off the
prize flag. The boys work faithfully and
diligently for about eight months. at the
end of which time seven companies must
necessarily suffer disappointment of the
keeneSt type, while not a member of the
winning company, for the time being pre-
sumably, would exchange places with the
chief executive of the land.
Takes Place Next Week.
The competitive drill of the cadets this
year is to occur at clock Thursday and
Friday afternoons. respectively. of next
week. In the event of rain either of the
days specified Saturday will be utilized,
Companies A, b, c, d. constituting the 1st
Battalion of the regiment located a the
Central High School, will face the judges
in the order named the first day of the
competitiog. The four companies of the
I'd Battalion will compete the second day
AT the conclusion of the contest. and while
the Judges are comparing notes. an exhibit
ton dress parade will be given by the regi-
ment music being supplied by the Mount
Pleasant Field Band. The judges will then
appear direct the winning company to
march to the front and center, and award
the prize flag and ribbons 1t is unneces-
sary TO remark that this feature of the
CasiOn will be the signal for tumultuous
applause and cheering from the adherents
Of the winning company. Headed by the
Mount Pleasant Field Band, the regiment
will next march from the National Base
Ball Park, where the competition is to oc-
cur, probably as far the Central High
School building, on street. where Col
Gunnell will dismiss the command for the
Year.
The appearance of the regiment in the
hlte lot. recently, on the occasion OF the
annual parade, demonstrated that it has at
tanned high degree of efficiency, and for
this credit is in large part due to the pains
taking endeaVOrs of Lieut.. Col. Burton r.
Ross of the LIST Regiment, District of Co.
ms tructor of the cadets
prominent officials who will be invited to
attend the drill Thursday and Friday win he
the Secretary of War, heads of bureaus of
the =" ar Department., the District Commits
sl0ners the board of school trustees off
GERS of the army, Gen. Harries, command
ing the District of Columbia militia, and the
members of his staff and officers Of tho
National Guard ~
A departure has been made this wear In
the matter of selecting the judges Hereto
lore the judges have been invited to serve
by Col. Ross and Director Lane of the Hia,
Schools. For the composition tho Iattar -
OF the week, however the adiutant general
OF the United States army has bean ra
ques'ea TO designate three officers to de-
clde the question of superiority amone ~
companies special effort is hainar 49, . &c
nave capt. Cons tant.ne Chase 4th I-ni+aJ
states Artillery who is now stationed AZ
New London, Conn. ordered here to serve
IN connection with the drill For = nuTnhar
of years past Capt. Chase has officiatad "a
CHAIRMAN or the board of judges
The Program.
Each company must follow a program
arranged by Col. Ross, as follows:
Open ranks. present arms, order arms
port arms, order arms, right shoulder arms
port arms. present arms. port arms. right
shoulder arms order arms, fix bavonets.
charge bayonets, order arms right Shout
DER arms, charge bayOnets, port arms
charge bayonets. order arms, unfix bayo-
nets, tight shoulder arms, present arms,
right shoulder arms, left shoulder arms
right shoulder arms, rifle salute trail arms
order arms, close ranks, stack arms take
arms.
Load. fire one voliey at an object 800
yards distant; fire another yolley at thu
same object with 400 yards elevation: fire
another yolley AT an object 800 yards dis
tant and GO degrees to the right; cease fir
ing, kneel, load and fire voley at an
object 600 yards distant and cease firing:
lie down, load and fire one voley at same
range and object; cease firing raise, align
company two PAGES to the rear.
March by the flank in column of fours.
a fnIIr No
file closers: from line execute change step
mark time, right and left step, without
hating execute short step and back step,
without halting; oblique to the right in
column of tours in double time: mark time
and continue oblique; marching In line,
turn and advance; marching in line, turn
and halt; pass obstacle, covering left four:
reform line; being in column of tours exc
cute right oblique in double time and halt;
being in column of fours, form left front
into line without hating; marching in
column Of fours fix and unfix bayonet:
march in column of tours. form on right
into line in double time; marching in line.
files from column of tours; marching in
column of files, form column of fours:
marching in column of fours form column
of twos form column of fours form line
march to the right in column of files march
to the right in line, march to the original
front; marching in line, in double line ex-
ecute ITO the rear, march," marching in
line in double time, march to the original
front; marching in column Of tours in quick
time, form line to the front and halt:
marching IN column of fours, form line
toward the file clOsers, march to the orig
inal front, wheeling tours. form column of
tours, form column of platoons to the left
front without hating. form line to the left
front without halting, form column of
tours from the left to march to the rear
form on left into line platoons in column OF
fours. form column of platoons to the right
and move forward. form on right into line
form column Of platoons to the right and
halt, form column Of tours to the front
form the right, form left front into line OF
platoons in columns of fours, march to the
haIang, march TO the rear, form columns