The Washington times., 1902-02-09
American MILITARY Academies.

| where they secure q taste of actual cam
paigning. When in camp there is an aver
age of three cadets assigned to each reg
ulation army tent. The young men are
| not allowed cots or mattresses, but the
tents are provided with floors, and each
cadet is allowed n pillow and two pairs
! of blankets. Each tent is provided with
camp stool for each occupant and one
pail and dipper. together with one basin.
During this interim of life in the open
the cadets receive instruction in pitching
and breaking camp, and are taught to
raise or lower tents simultaneously at the
sound of the trumpet The corps remains
in camp for about ten days, usually in
juno at the close of the regular school
year. \ guard is mounted daily about
twenty strong. Each relief is on duty for
two hours and then has an interim of four
hours off duty before again taking up the
routine. The guard being maintained all
day and all night. visitors are not per-
mitted in the company streets except on
one gala night. when there is a band CON
cert and the camp is illuminated.
During an encampnent the cadets par
ticipate in battle exercises, line OF ac
tivity which is generally regarded as a
genuine diversion. particularly if the ca
dets are provided with plenty OF blank
cartridges. During these exercises en-
bankments and fortiGcations Of various
kinds are thrown UP. scouting and sig
mailing operations are conducted ard there
is some bridge building. As a rule. the
bridges constructed are Of single lock
type, and are constructed with ropes and
spar5. Prior to every engagement certain
cadets are designated to fall. in order
that transportation Of the wounded
drill and hospital corps work may be in-
dulged in at their expense.
A marked tendency which has recently
been noticeable in the private military |
academies is found in the great popularity |
OF the cavalry instruction. In most Of |
the institutions this is comparatively |
new feature having been introduced only
during the last few years. In some of the |
schools former members of the Rough !
Riders are acting as instructors, while |
in others veteran officers of the United |
States cavalry are serving in similar
capacity. The natural fondness Of young |
men for horseback riding has been made
manifest by the avalanche of applications
for admission to those schools which have !
introduced the. cavalry adjunct and the
overcrowded condition of the classes in
this branch OF the service.
One of the leading academies has
BLACK Horse Troop the memDefs OF
which are mounted on the Kentucisy-bred
horses which were ridden in the inaugu-
ration parade at Washington by the troop
ers who acted as a personal escort to the
late President Mckinley. In all the
schools government saddles, brides,
sabres, and accOutrements are used. The
boys become familiar with all the intri-
cacies Of rough riding as practiced IN the
cavalry service OF The United States.
The instruction is first given without
saddles. With merely a blanket and sur
cingle and devoid of any support from
the stirrups. the recruit must learn how
to balance himself on the horses back
and so grip with his knees that he may be
enabled to retain his position no matter
what the actions OF the horse.
a very interesting collection Of state
ments bearing upon the value OF military
drill in school work has recently been
obtain by the Interior Department at
Washington. The Bureau OF Education, in
the course OF an investigation of this sub
ject which has recently been in progress,
asked each principal of school or pri-
yate high school in the State of New York
to give an opinion as to the results. bene-
fetal or otherwise. attending military in
in schools. 1t is significant that
the replies were almost unanimous in the
contention that this form of exercise is OF
genuine benefit in the physical culture of
the student and also contributes to his
intelligent and moral welfare.