The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-12
CADETS PRIZE DRILL
o~r OF INTERESTING MILITARY
EVENTS OF THE YEAR.
TAXES PLACE TUESDAY NIGHT
,,rNRERs OF SAVANNAH CADETS
WILL COMPETE FOR MEDAL.

,--hibitton VIII be Held mt Guards
uaII-AdmissiOn is by Invitation.
competition Will be One of the
Last which Will be Held With the
Springfield RifIe-DriIl Necessit-
.tes concentration of Attention
and FauItIess Execution of Com
mands.
The first prize drill of the year will
bA given Tuesday evening by the men,
hers of the Savannah Cadets at the
Guards Hall. An interesting pro-
gramne has been arranged. Admission
= nv invitation, and those who have
raceived invitations to the drill con-
s.5er themselves fortunate, since the
drill of the Cadets is always one of the
Military events of the year.
More than usual interest is attached
81 this drill because of the fact that 1t
will probable be one of the last of the
rrize drills to be gone through with
the Springfield rifle, the one now in
use In a very short while the Krag-
1orgensen rifle will be in the hands of
the troops and it's manipulation will be
knewhat different, particularly in
regard to the loading and firing.
The regimental prize drill of the
First Regiment, which takes place on
the evening of May Is, will be with
the present rifle, and the steady prac-
tice which the Cadets have had in
incarnation for the event on Tuesday
evening should make them well pre-
pared for both events.
Few of the persons who witness the
prize drill of a we'll drilled company
realize how many things must be re-
rembered by the man who would
win. He must not only handle his
rife with the precision of an auto
nation. but he must set his whole mind
on the task before him and forget his
surroundings for the time. The drill
ing is done with the numbers" and
without the numbers" and men of ex-
perience always assist their memories
at this point by some oft-practiced
habit the tongue is frequently used
for the purpose, being held between the
teeth in one case, and against the roof
of the mouth in the other. When the
audience see a man making faces it
can set it down that he is biting his
tongjA to win the drill.
In some drills the men are allowed
three mistakes before they are thrown
out, but the practice of the Savannah
companies is to throw the men out on
single mistake. and this rule will
prevail Tuesday evening.
A large crowd will probably attend
the drill, and will enjoy the music and
10
for the occasion will be furnished by
the First Regiment Bands orchestra,
under the direction of Mr.. Scott Came
ron.
The medal which will be presented
10 the winner of the drill is now worn
by Private N. Mel. Coney, he having
won it after close and exciting compe-
tition last year. The medal is a very
handsome one. The members of the
command scarcely cease practiong
from one years end to another, SO
much do they prize the wearing OF
the coveted medal. AS soon as one
prize drill is completed, the men begin
to practice for the next.
The Cadets have the distinction OF
being about the best drilled company
in the state. In addition to this they
mold the palm as rifemen, there be-
ing Few companies in the United States
IN which there are more marksrnen and
sharpshooters. This excellent record
IS largely induced by the incentive Of
Tered the men by Capt West in the
PRESENTATION annually of attendance
medals. There were sixteen members
OF the command who did not miss one
Oh the fifty odd drills held last year.
mere are several in the company who
nave not missed a drill in nine years
al khA
years attendance without missing a
drill.