Evening star., 1905-10-11

eral War Department details in this city.
the greater part of his work has been in
the field, and it is in field service that he
excels. Capt Corcoran has recently COM
pleted a tour of duty as regimental ad-
jutant and in that difficult position made
the unusual record of keeping on friendly
terms with the various troop commanders
and managing the affairs of the posts to
which he was assigned without friction or
difficulty. Capt. Corcoran made an ideal
adjutant. and is highly thought of as a
troop commander. Capt. Philips, like Capt.
Hyer served with the 9th Cavalry when
it was stationed at Fort Myer ten years
ago. He was associated with Capt. Walter
c. Short and Capt. Hyer in training the
rough riders who gave exhibitions in the
riding hall at that time. He is a native
of New York and was appointed to the
army from civil life in 1891. Capt. Whit
man is also native of New York and
came to the army second lieutenant
In the I'd Infantry as a graduate from
West Point in 1891. He was transferred
to the 1st Cavalry two years after joining
the army, however, and has served in the
cavalry branch of the service ever since.
Capt. Whitman has recently been assigned
to the command of a troop in the second
squadron Of the 18th, after serving the regi-
years.
Col. Hatfield intends this year to work all
of the troops of the ID Squadron in the rid
ing hall alternately. The feats shown at
the exhibition drills are all products of the
work done in the training of the soldiers
when they enter the army. While the work
is of the most spectacular character, 1t
must be remembered by the spectator that
1t is simply part of the regular routine
of army life, a development therefrom.
1t is not intended that the public should
believe there ever exists a military ne
cessity that would require a man to leap
from the ground over three horses and
aHght, facing to the rear on the back of
a fourth horse or that the time would ever
come in the field when it would be neces-
sary for a man to ride standing on a
horses back at gallop, jumping hurdles,
etc. But this work is put in the army
formula of exercises in order that the en-
listed man shall become accustome to rid
ing under all conditions and to enable him
to keep control of his horse at all times
and places. The exigencies of active serv-
ice require the performance of duty under
the greatest possible difficulties at frequent
intervals. and to prepare the men for this to
give them confidence in themselves and in
their ability as horsemen a series of exer-
cises has been designed that is calculated
to fill all requirements.
The horse. too. is put through a course
of training before he is adjudged a perfect
cavalry mount. When the men and horses
have reached the required state of efficiency
they are encouraged 10 perform more diff
cult feats, In order to stimulate interest
among the men and awake sense of COM
petition. For this reason exhibition drills
are given that the men can show their
friends just what they do. When COM
pared to the feats performed by the army
horsemen in the riding hall exhibitions at
Fort Myer antics of slender ladies and gen
tlemen in pink tights and rosined feet on
the broad backs of fat circus horses in
the greatest shows on earth" seem
like child's play and the work of the
broncho' busters on the trained wild
horses of the wild west shows has all the
appearance of work of the rankest anna
teurs. The American cavalrymen have
been adJudged the best horsemen in the
world, and the work they do is convincing
Capt. Preston's Troop.
The troop which will give exhibitions for
the bankers tomorrow and next day. and