Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-20
Considerable Criticism Heard.

Considerable Criticism Heard.
A great deal of criticism Is being INDUCED
in among those familiar with army prac-
tees anent the summary disposal of the
Fort Myer squadron of the 18TH The regi-
ment came here from the Philippines last
winter, after three years of the hardest
kind of service Those familiar with the
facts claim that the 18th saw the hard
est service Of amy cavalry regiment ever
stationed in the islands and bore up I'M
der the strain remarkably well. The Sec
ond squadron was selected for the post
at Fort Myer because it was believed to
be the best In the regiment and subsequent
events would seem to have proved that it
would come very near being the best in
any regiment. With all sorts Of difficult
ties against which to work, expiring en-
listments and few re-enlistments the off,
GERS OF the squadron went to work to make
1t worthy of the show cavalry post of the
country. With 20 per cent Of the men re-
cruts, having no training whatever, q fair
ly good showing was made by the men
In the riding hall during the spring, and
within the past few weeks at Manassas
the work of the regiment attracted such
favorable attention from the commander
of the blue division of the maneuyer corps
That special order was published from
the headquarters Of the brigade to which
the regiment was attached during the last
few days Of the maneuvers commendinc
the work Of the officers and men I'm the
highest terms.
1t is asserted that the work of the men
last year was simply preparatory and pre-
liminary. and that much remained to be
had been outlined for the coming WINTER
and 1t was the intention of Colonel Wal,
lace to make every troop in the squadron
stationed here as proficient as was the
composite troop last winter in all the f1nar
points of cavalry work, so that the eY
hlblt1ons before foreign attaches and dis
ons uisheo VISITORS could have the highest
possible merit. At Ethan Allen it will not
be possible for the drills to 90 an as boro
because good part of the time tbe
weather will be so cold as to preclude the
possibility of outdoor work and the 90
paclty OF the riding hall being limited. with
twelve troops waiting to take a turn the,a
VIII be little chance to carry out the nrao
gram. a. ZIG p'o
Fort Myer the Show CAVALRY Post
During the last five years there have haer
Just six changes of station at Fort ,s,,or
Each regiment has averaged eight months.
Some OF the troopers had more time there
out the average would bring the time down
to about eight months for each. Each ont
MT stationed here is called upon to mt IN
exhibition drills for the benefit of the for
eign military attaches who come here for
the purpose CT watching the army In eyerv
respect Fort Myer Is supposed to be the
snow cavalry post or the country lust as
Fort Monroe is the show artillery most
Inc american cavalry Is radically different
ana superior to foreign cavalry and the
foreign experts do not hesitate to saw So II
Is at Fort Myer that they have the hest
opportunity for studying It, and II ia here
therefore, that the army is expected to keep
a good squadron that will show the visitors
everything they desire to see in the hest
possible light. It is argued by officers who
have watched the troops here that to build
up an efncient organization, after foreign
Of ISL
end of that time only, under ordinary con-
ditions, is the Organization in condition to
serve as model for exhibition purposes. 1t
is claimed that II speaks very well for the
efficiency of the army in general and the
cavalry in particular that the troOps that
have been stationed here have been abIe
to make such credit eresdliittable showing. but the
officers desire 10 go further and mako a
much better exhibition When the Oh
Cavalry left here for the Philippines II is
said. there was no finer trained BODY OF
horsemen IN RE world, and 1t was simply
owing to the fact that the squadron of the
I'd stationed at Fort Myer had been able
to retain its station for a longer period
than any of its predecessors and had been
able to build up an excellent organization.
This is used as an argument for longer
term at Fort Myer.
Officers Not Directing.
The officers of the 18th are not Directing
to the change in the least. A station near
'oSniH6toh ~ CldiAicu Dy tneIu W Uo eii0
most expensive in the country. and In addi-
ton to this they are under a constant strain
while here. They rather welcome chance
to get away to themselves. although they
DO not relish going to Fort Ethan Allen ana
living In the open month or 30 In zero
weather. The medical officers claim tnat
such proceeding might result in all kinds
OF trouble for the troops. laying them open
to pneumonia and its attendant tls any
a Not t0u 4u {nR1yo 4
that there has been misunderstand-
ing somewhere. and unless change In the
orders Is made within the next month the
soldiers will suffer from the mistake.