The Washington times., 1902-05-18
TIE REGIMENTAL DRILL.

HG CtttGGs
The annual regimental drill and sham
battle OF the Washington High School
Cadets, which was held on the White
Lot TIM sday afternoon, proved mag
nihceni success in every respect.
President Roosevelt was present TO re-
view The cadets, and made n brief but
earnest speech to the lads in a manner
that went straight home to every officer
and private on the field. II was day
that the soldier boys will remember as
long as they live. for the President of
The United States heartily congratulated
them upon their work, and showed them
plainly that he was their personal friend.
Mr.. Roosevelt. as he stood before the
officers and men drawn up in regimental
front, said:
Il can scarcely find words to tell you
how l appreciate being here today and
seeing you go through your maneuyers
so splsndidly. Ii gives me the most sin
cere pleasure to tell you that | think
your work is excellent, and that you are
in every respect worthy OF the uniforms
you wear. 1 thank you deeply for hav
ang invited me to be present.
worth doing is worth doing WELL You
have certainly convinced me that you
have done your work well, and that your
hearts are in it,
Congratulates All Hands.
81 wish the officers to say to their men
that l congratulate them most heartily"
The President arrived at the White Lot
at 1880 o'clock. He drove down to the
north side of the ellipse, where he alight-
ed and walked out upon the field. With
him were Secretary and Mrs. Cortelyou,
and Miss Emily Carow, a sister of Mrs.
Roosevelt.
Gen. II. V. Boynton, of the Board of
Education. met the President and those
accompanying him. and escorted them
Through the passageway that had been
made through the dense throngs to the
seats that had been provided upon the
field. Here he was met by the reviewing
staff, the District Commissioners. and
many other prominent Government and
milit-ry officials and business men.
Cheer the President.
AS MIR. Roosevelt passed through the
crowd to the field. the pupils of the Busi-
ness High School, who had taken up their
stand at either side of the passageway,
gave their school yell in a rousing man
ner. winding up by Justify cheering the
President. The latter responded to the
hearty ovation of the ribbon-bedecked
young people by smile and the lifting
Of his hat
The whole throng soon became aware of
MIR. Roosevelt's presence, and cheer after
cheer rent the air All the school yells
and songs that were ever devised by the
local students were shouted into his ears,
until the roar became almost deafening.
The President took a keen interest in
the maneuvres Of the cadets. anad asked
numerous questions concerning them of
those who stood about him. He watched
the lads closely as they passed him in re-
view and time after time remarked upon
the straightness of their lines and their
firm, snappy tread He characterized
them as maaly-looking lot of boys, sons
of whom the citizens of the National Cap
atal might well be proud.
staff Officers on Hand.
The reviewing staff consisted of officers
of the District National Guard. and com
prised Gen. George H. Harries, Col Theo-
dore Mosher. adiutant general; Major
James E. Bell. Major Davidge. Major Par
ker, Major Parmenter, Major Henderson,
surgeon general; Captain Cook. Captain
Riggs, Capt. P. A. Robbins, and Major H.
II. Orrard
Among the special guests who were
given seats upon the field were the three
District Commissioners Mrs. Henry B.
F. Macfarland and sister; Mr. Allison
Nailor. Mr.. John Joy Edison, DR.. Francis
r. Lane, director of the Washington High
Schools; DIR. kingsman. Mr.. A. p. Pardon,
General Boynton, MIR. and Mrs. A. F.
Stuart. Colonel Urell. Major w. E. Har-
vey, Major L. II. Reichelderfer, Senator
Burnham, Col Burton R. Ross. military
instructor of the Cadet Corps; the Guate
malan minister and several members of |
his family, Col. W. c. Farley. of New |
York: Mr. WI Ting-fang, the Chinese |
minister. and several members of his |
family; Mrs. West, of the Board of Edu- |
cation, and the principals of the five |
high schools.
Cadets Were Pleased.
The cadets and their friends were par !
ticularly pleased by TIE presence of Mr. |
Allison Nailor, as ne is extremely popu- 4
lar with the youthful soldiers on ac- !
count of the interest he has eyinced in |
their welfare. It was he who presented 1
IUe IebiIneHl Will iHe uleudl
which is awarded to the captain OF the |
winning company at the competitive drill
each year.
Never before since the regimental drills
and sham battles have been in existence
has such vast crowd assembled to wit
ness the event. So dense were the throngs
that the e,iipse had to be strongly roped
OF and a large detachment of policemen
put duty to prevent the crowd from
overrunning the field.
Students of the various high schools and
graded institutions were there in full
force. literally wrapped up in ribbons
and armed with megaphones and nu-
merous copies Of the school songs and
yells. Their parents and the general
public also turned out in great numbers
to witness the drill. and the grown-up
folk Joined In the roofing"
The attacking party, consisting of five
formed south Of the Monument
and advanced upon the defensive party,
Of three companies. which was stationed
behind an imaginary fort on the north side
Of the ellipse
The fight a brisk one and brought
into play 4-inch Gatling gun of the very
latest type. The field was sharply CON
tested for quite a while. but the defensive
party finally succeeded in routing the |
enemy and chased them of the White Lot
DIICIMCCC ulHu CnunNl