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

Guard Of the State Of New York, Col.
George r. Dyer, Of the Twelfth Regi-
ment, being at it's head. The annual
tournament is one Of the most popular
events in New York, enjoying the pat
rOnage Of the best society people and an
attendance which packs the spacious
Madison Square Garden.
Work of the League.
For a number Of years this league has
enjoyed the sanction and approval of
the War Department, which sends rep
resentative squads and troops from the
various branches Of the service. to par
ticipate in the exercises.
The reason for this official approval IS
explained as Of a dual character. In
the first place. the work done. while not
such as is required in actual service. is
yet Of a nature TO improve the men,
especially by putting them on their
mettle, melting competition in feats Of
a daring and hazardous character, and
affording those capable of winning a
place on a squad or composite troop a
pleasant outing, and the delights OF
standing for their comrades in those
stunts which win popular applause. An
other benefit seen by the army in this
tournament is that IL is one of the few
methods whereby the general public can
be made acquainted with what can be
and is accomplished in the ranks.
1t IS for reasons such as these that
the greatest interest is always mani
Tested by the heads Of the army in the
New York show. At last years tour
nament the Secretary Of War. the Hon.
Elihu Root. opened the military fea-
lures, and was escorted to his place
on the reviewing stand by the full corps
Of cadets Of the Military Academy Of
West Point. which then gave an exhl-
bitiOn drill This is the first time in
the history Of the country that the ca
diets Of the Academy have ever been seen
at a military tournament, and the
fourth time in twenty-five years that
they have entered New York as a body.
Besides Secretary Root a number Of
distinguished generals were in attend
ance. and took nightly turns in review
ing the troops and detachments.
The tournament lasts one week. with
nightly performances and matinees
The program consists in competitive
athletic feats, participated in by repre-
sentatives Of the National Guard and
various military schools. Following this
comes the military exhibition proper.
and It is in this part Of the program
that the representatives Of the Eff
tenth Cavalry and Fourth Artillery
/ participate.
Training the Men.
When. in December last. Col. w NJ
I Wallace. commanding the Fifteenth
/ Cavalry. received orders to send to the
/ league tournament a composite troop Of
/ horse, and a Detachment Of artillery, he
I transmitted the orders TO Captains
/ Rooster and Foote. respectively. Cap
tain Rooster in turn intrustad the
| training Of the two squads composing
4 the troop 10 Lieutenants Burnett and
| Cameron, and on them devoIved the
/ work Of the whipping in of the men
/ into teams with a fun repertoire Of ex-
hibition stunts. AS has been mention
ed. they had to do their work twice.
as, just when they had their respective
! squads well trained. the men compos-
/ ing them were discharged, and they
/ had TO start all over with new mate
rial. 1t is conceded by their superior
officers that great credit attaches both
20 the junior officers and to the men
I under their command for the degree
! Of proficiency already obtained, and the
/ promise Of startling and clever per
formances at New York in May