The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

Captain Foote has not been hampered
to such an extent by reason Of the dis
charge Of his men. and mas had the op
portunity to work UP a feature never
before exhibited in a drill hall in this
country-the horse artillery. Twice in
the history Of the United States mas
horse artillery been employed in actual
service-during the Mexican and civil
wars. 1t is now regarded as certain by
army men that it will again take its
place in the regular formations. IS it
viii be necessary to keep pace with the
cavalry arm. The horse artillery. as its
name indicates, is the cavalry branch of
artillery. In ordinary mounted ar
tiIlery. the cannoneers ride either on the
Iimbe- boxes. or on the axle seats: IN
the horse artillery. they ride on horses
behind the gun. From a service point
Of view this means a lighter and more
active form Of artillery. such as can
keep pace with the rapid movements OF
cavalry: from the point of view Of the
indoor show. It means a more spectacu-
lar style Of the always attractive heavy
gun drill.
Some Artillery Stunts.
The drills take place in the large rid
ing hall of the fort In the case Of the
saddle and bareback squads Of the cav
airy troops they are Of daily occur
renee in the morning. On Fridays, eN-
hibition drills are given. fer the benefit
of invited friends of the officers. and
would be for the general public to view.
were # not that there is practically no
accommodation for the public-a defect
now being remedied by an addition TO
one end of the hall. Before the men 90
to New York. and after they have be
come more proficient and have donned
the handsome new uniform. they win
be inspected by Secretary of War Taft
and the officers of the General STAFF.
The things done with and by the men,
horses. and guns. is none short Of re-
msrkable. Take any one drill-for IN
stance the mounted artillery driu The
three guns are hauled into the hall at
a gallop. the cannoneers riding behind
furnishing a striking picture. After a
round Of the hall. the cannoneers rid
ing three abreast, the guns circle IN one
direction. and the cannoneers in the op-
posite. Double figures eight. and other
/ intricate devices are executed. when the
guns are fired in line. The skill shown
! in the handling Of the heavy guns N
such close quarters. is stiu further ex-
! ercised. when they are deployed in ecne,
| lon so that they can be fired in every
| direction without shifting positions. and
/ still more so when three arches are
brought into the arena. and the men
! and guns deployed through them with
the narrowest margin Of movement. In
/ the final act. men and gus are formed
| in a solid line, at one end Of the han.
! There are some thirty-fve men eus-
ployed in this drill Captain Foote is az
/ sisted by Lieutenant Weisel.
The Musical March.
! The composite cavalry troop is divided
/ into the saddle squad. under Lieutenant
! Cameron, and the bareback squad. un-
der Lieutenant Burnett. The former Is
composed Of thirty men, the latter Of
twenty. The saddle squad goes through
a musical march. side stepping, backing,
and performing innumerable figures, all
to the time Of music. Precision and
grace Of movement are the striking
characteristics Of the work OF this
squad the most spectacular stunts be-
ling the crossed stirrup act, when the men
ride standing in the stirrups shortened
by being thrown across the saddle. and
the charge at full speed, sabers drawn,
down the hall This squad is composed
Of the following troopers, selected from
Troops f. F. G. and H. Fifteenth Cav
| airy:
First Sergeant McCay. Sergeants
Weaver, Hall. Hyllcn, Swope and Cox
/ Corporals Stevens. Lewis. Smith. Ryan,
Ray. Border. Feland and Young: Far
rier Hoddy; Saddlers Dupiee and Ny
then; Wagner Dorenberg: Privates
Range. Bassett. Cooper, Kirchenerbrod.