Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
GREETED WITH CHEERS
Exhibition Drill at Fort Myer
Yesterday.
EXPERT HORSEM EN-
REMARKABLY PROFICIENCY OF
18TH CAVALRY RECRUITS.
Under Great Handicap They Have Ac-
quired Unusual xpertness-Thrill-
ing Display by the Artillerymen.

The 18th Cavalry and the Sd Battery of
Field Artillery gave a remarkable exhibit
ton in the riding hall at Fort Myer yeSter-
day afternoon before crowd of spectators
that tested the capacity of the hail. Yes
terday's drill was the second pubic appear
ance of the men of the 18th Cavalry in
the riding hall, and their work was a cause
of wonder, even to their own officers. To
the average spectator with little technical
knowledge of the purely military elements
of the drill the exhibition yesterday was as
good as was ever given there, as far as 1t
went The program was not as long nor
were the movements as difficult of execution
as those that have been seen there, but the
general effect was excellent in every way.
Work of Recruits.
1t is hard to believe that the men who
rode yesterday are recruits with only few
months service, and 1t reflects great credit
on Col William M. Wallace, the regimental
commander, and the other officers in charge
of the squad that they executed the various
movements so well. Capt. Francis ]. Koes-
ter the commanding officer of the detach-
ment, is to be congratulated on the work
of his men, but it Is understood that TO
Second Lieut.. Charles Burnett, Who had
charge of the training of the bareback
squad, the greatest credit is due. Lieut..
Burnett came straight to the 10th Cavalry
from the Military Academy in February,
1901, and has served with his regiment in
the field under most trying conditions. He
was placed in charge of the bareback squad
when it was first determined to make Up
an exhibition troop from the squadron of
the regiment stationed here. He went into
the hall with his men early last fall and
worked faithfully and aSsiduOuSly with
them. In considering the exhibition by
this section of the troop it must be borne
in mind that the men who We're assigned TO
the squad had first. in many instances, to
be taught to ride, and the evolutionS and
acrobatics on horseback had to be taught
them only after the first elementary prin-
ciples of army horsemanship were learned.
The result has been Inuch better than
had been expected, and is as much tri-
umph for army methods of instruction as
it is to Lieut.. Burnett personally.
The work of the I'D Field Battery appealed
to the spectators also. There were some
movements which have never been seen by
the public and which were heartily applaud
ed. First Lieutenant Edward P. Nones
commanded the battery, and is said to be
the originator of many of the intricate fig
ures shown in the drill yesterday.
The Composite Troop.
1t was promptly o'clock when the 18th
Cavalry Band stationed in one corner of
the great riding hall, struck up stirring
march, and the first section of the COM
posite troop trotted into the hall with Capt.
Rooster and First Lieutenant Francis H.
Cameron, jr., at its head. This was the
saddle squad, and it marched into the hall
in column of files or by trooper, as the.
drill regulations call it. The column trotted
to the end of the hall and then by flank
movement Captain Rooster brought his men
into line and rode to the center of the hall,
where he presented sabers and the exhibit
ton
1t was noticed that there were but twenty
two men in the squad three sets of tours
il. one platoon and two sets of tours and a
set of twos in the other. In column OF
twos the squad marched about the hall to