Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-01
HIGH SCHOOL cadets
Arrangements for Spring
Military E. onts.
DATE OF COMPETITION
ANNUTL PARADE AND SHAM
BATTLE EARLY In MAY.
Effort to Make the Exhibition Second
to None-The Separate Bat
talon Drills.


panies of the High School Cadet Corps will
take place June 1 and 2. The companies
will drill according to the program pub
isbed in The Star some time ago. Lieut..
Col. Burton r. Ross Of the District Ma
tioral Guard, military instructor for the
high schools in announcing these dates to
reporter for The Star. stated that the
judges have not yet been selected, but the
board will be, as usual, composed of three
regular army officers on duty in Washing
ton.
The arrangements for the competitive
drill are being made along the old lines. 1t
Will be held in the base ball park at the
head of 18th street northwest, where the
American League ball games are to be
played this season. At the conclusion of
the company drills, the second day, there
will be short parade, with the regiment
in line of masses instead of in line, the
latter formation being now impracticable
on account of the increased size of the
command. Music will be furnished by a
local band The regimental parade over
the judges will announce their decision and
the winning company will march to the
fore and receive the prize flag.
There will be not less than ten numbers
this year in the supplementary impromptu
program, which it has been customary for
some years to hand to each captain on the
field.
The Regimental Drill.
Another coming event in high school mil
itary circles which will take place within
the first ten days of May. is the annual
regimental drill on the White Lot. including
a sham battle. in which every company
and officer will take part, and during which
the maneuvering will extend over all the
space obtainable from the War Department
between the river behind the Washington
monument and the southernmoSt fence OF
the White House grounds.
This has long been the most spectacular
exhibition of each year. The occasion is
always graced by the presence of persons
prominent in the official life of+W ash1ngton,
and thousands of persons annually gather
to watch the interesting field maneuVerS
and witness the review. "a.
Year before last President Roosevelt was
present and inspected the regiment. Il Is not
thought to be probable that he VIII accept
an invitation to be present this spring, for
it is stated that he held last year that once
in four years was enough for visit from
the chief executive However, 1t is not yet
certain whether or not he will attend IT Is
known to be the desire of Lieutenant Colo
mel Ross to have among the guests OF
honor in the reviewing party General Chaf-
fee and the members of the general staff OF
the regular army. General Chaffee is one OF
the most enthusiastic friends of the youth
military of the country, and is regarded as
special friend of the local National
Guard.
Before marching to the White Lot the
regiment will assemble at some point to
the north, where the boys will be supplied
with blank cartridges. From this place the
command will proceed to the scene of the
drill After the sham battle the regiment
will march from the grounds to a point OF
dismissal.
The Sham Battle.
According to custom the first part of the
afternoons exhibition on the White Lot will
consist of the ceremonies of parade and re-
view on the oval north of the monument
grounds, after which the sham battle will
take place. The mimic attack and defense
will be made as realistic as possible. The
alta cking party will be given the most men,
and will advance according to the most i'm
proved methods of warfare, throwing out
scouts, and, when closer to the enemy"
pushing ahead firing line, supported by
the main force. Both sides will use large
guns, which General Harries has offered
for the occasion from the National Guard
armory. Among the pieces will be the new
battery of field artillery, in the operation OF
which detail of officers of the guard will
instruct squad of cadets.
These field maneuvers will be conducted
entirely by the cadets, who will have only
two preliminary drills about week before
the main event
By courtesy of the Secretary of the Navy
the Marine Band has in the past furnished
the field music for the review and parade
and it is believed this courtesy will be ex-
tended again.
Wednesday afternoon at 4:3O o'clock Colo
mel Ross drilled the commissioned officers
of the cadet regiment in the manual of
the sword in order that this part of the
program may be near perfection as pos
sible. Another of these drills will be held
next week
Hopes for Good Showing.
The High School Cadets of Washington
have always been regarded as one of the
finest drilled military bodies in the country,
and their efficiency will be shown at the
two annual events soon to take place.
Colonel Ross said yesterday afternoon that
he hoped to make the showing this year
second to none that has ever been given
here which is saying a great deal, the
cadets having been under his direction for
many years. He desires to give citizens,
and especially the parents of the youthful
soldiers, a good chance to be proud of
them.
From this time on interest and excite
ment among the pupils will increase and
school enthusiasm will be ON the RISE until
the grand elimination of military things for
this year, the afternoon of June 2.
The arrangements for the regimental drill
on the White Lot and the competitive drill
do not apply to the separate battalion
which will have It's annual company COM
petition June 3, at the same place and I'M
A:z-I l..