Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03
DRILL AT FORT MYER
LARGE GATHERING SEES THE IN
AUaURAL. EXHIBITION.
Troop G, Seventh Cavalry, and 4th Bat
terry, Field Artillery, Entertain
the Crowded Hall.

p. n
Every available SEPT was filled in the
drill hall at Fort MSer yesterday after
noon by those who accepted the invita-
ton of the commanding officer Of the post
to witness the inaugural exhibition OF
the series of drills that are to be given
each Friday afternoon during the season
by the cavalrymen and artillerymen sta
toned at the post
Troop c of the 7th Cavalry and the 4th
Battery Of Field Artillery had the floor
yesterday. Next Friday, 1t is understood,
Troop of the 7th Cavalry and the Sd
Battery of Field Artillery will do the
tricks.
The accommodations for spectators in
the. riding hall this year are much SUI
perfor to those ever offered before. An
ample force of enlisted men was on hand
70 show the visitors to their places. and
the assignment Of seats by coupon tick
cts was an improvement over the former
lack of system.
Reputation of the Cavalry.
The 7th Cavalry, which has recently as
sumed its station at Fort Myer, comes
mere with reputation that extends all
over the southern section of the country
Tor expert horsemanship and fine mounts.
The system of selecting the men for
the riding hall in the 7th is little differ
ent from that which prevailed in the I'd
and 18th Cavalry regiments, the two or
CARNATIONS that have been the latest
contributors to the entertainments here.
BUT this system does not prevail here. Col.
norton, the regimental commander, and
MAJ. Nicholson, commander of the squad
ron stationed here, desire to secure the
pest results, but they also recognize that
the purpose Of the training in the riding
nan Is to develop the craftsmanship of
the entire organization, and not a few
men, and they have therefore determined
that each troop in the squadron must do
It's turn of exhibition drilling. Therefore,
IN the exhibitions that are to be given
by the 7th Cavalry in the riding hail at
Fort Myer from now on it must be re-
membered that the method of selecting
the pest men has been done away with,
ana all the men are required to do their
turn. W.
The saddle squad of Troop C, under the
command of Second Lieut.. j. B. Mont
gomery was the first to appear in the
hall yesterday. This troop rides sorrel
norses, and the animals appeared to be
In excellent condition to the casual oh
server; The riding of the men was
ton. ' "'''n-
The saddle squad section of the drill is
sven Tor the purpose of showing the train
ing of the horses more than anything else.
A Sham Fight
This part of theaentertainment is brought
to close with an exciting encounter be-
tween the saddle e3sduad and the bareback
riders The men Of the former squad throw
their horses In the center of the hall and
the bareback men ride around them at
gallop, firing their pistols, in imitation of
an indian tight. 6 After riding about the
nan once or twice with crossed stirrups.
in the so-called Cossack style the saddle
squad ret1res and the bareback men have,
the arena to themselves. This is the most.
interesting part of the exhibition as a rule
as IL SHOWS the experiences Of the men.
Ihey ride standing on one and two horses,
mount and dismount at a. gallop as the
horses take the hurdles ana vault over one
and two horses, with ease. This section
of the entertainment is brought to a close
with the formation of pyramids of six
hurdles. ~ .N'-osAnf''-S geo > h9'' 7se
= The Battery Drill.
The exhibition of 1.-THE 4th Battery took
the form of a horse battery drill The
battery was commanded by First Lieut.
James P. Robinson and its work was ex-
cellent throughout, a.aithough several I'M
fortunate accidents fnterfered with the
movements at various times Several new
movements were shown in the drill, which
is one of the most exciting that can be
given. The artillerymen showed themselves
TO DE as expert on horseback as the cavaI-
rymen had been and one or two of the
movements shown were cavalry evolutions
pure and simple. The horse battery is
usually attached to cavalry command
however, and it is not out of place for it
to assume some of the prerogatives of the
cayalryman and show their expert horse
manship as well as good driving, in both
OF which the officers and men of the 4th
and Sd Batteries stationed here are trained
to high state of efficiency.
Throughout the cavalry exhibition the
9TH Cavalry Band played an excellent pro-
gram of music, but 1t was noticeable that
the music stopped after the artillery had
entered the hall Heretofore the artillery
drills have had musical accompaniments
as well as the cavalry, and this has added
greatly to the enjoyment Of the exhibition.