New-York tribune., 1907-10-09
ARMY OFFICERS RIDE.
STAND THE ORDEAL WELL
Department Nen Take Fifteen-MHe
JauRt Under Orders.
From The Tribune Bureau. l

Washington, Oct. S.-Twenty-eight army officers
mounted on lively cavalry steeds and headed by
General William p. DuvaIl, rode 157 niles to-day
over the roads surrounding Washington In the test
OF horsemanship prescribed by President Roose-
welt for the coonels lieutenant coloneIs and majors
on uuty at the War Department Not an officer
le'l oy the wayside few complained of fatigue
ana the ride was pronounced complete success.
Inc greater number of the officers who have not
seen active duty in the field for some time showed
themselves thoroughly fit, despite their long con-
nleinent to departmental desks They left the
war department at 1 o'clock. and all met at Fort
~ dt l:So o'clock There General DuvalI super
intended the selection of good mounts
Accompanied by few newspaper men tho
o'cers lett the fort at promptly o'clock circIing
~rouhd over the rather muddy Virginia roads am,
T Turning 10 Fort Myer at 4:30. One-third of the
distance was covered in a walk another third in
trot and the final third of the fifteen miles in a
last gallop All kept well up with General DuvaIl
VINO mad become quite used to the Virginia and
Maryland roads by riding every day
neiore the start and on the return the officers
participating in the ride were examined bv
Majors Arthur and Winter. of the board of army
surgeons While the report the examina ton
after the ride has not been submitted TO the War
Department, General Duvall believes that it will
physical condition.
The ride proved a decided success" declared
General Duvall after his return to his home II
am entirely satisfied with the first days experience
4o-IhorToW some twenty more will be taken over
the same road, and when about ten officers who are
away on leave in Europe and elsewhere report for
duty they will so through the same experience as
those who rode to-day
The test amply proved that the men in the de-
partment able to ride we'll and without serious
fatigue. None of them complained of being tired
or sore when they returned to Fort Myer at 4:3O
o'clock to-day. but perhaps they may feel it little
more tomorrow at this time.
In ordering the ride II was the intention of the
President 10 whether the officers could ride
and also to inculcate fondness for riding for
its own sake. l am inclined to think this latter
purpose will be realized.
But II you want TO know sometbinp about tho
ride just ask some of the newspaper men who
went along with US" said the general This
thrust was directed at the little band OF reporters
some Of them representatives of New York papers
who had been poking fun at the fat colonels"
While all the officers passed through the ordeal
with flying coIors the writer's fell by the
wayside.
The following took the ride: General STAFF corps
Lieutenant Colonels Todd and T. W. Jones and
Major $. n. SturGis; adiutant generals DEPART
ment-Colonel H p Mccain and Lieutenant Colonel
J. b. Hickey; judge advocate-Najor J. B. Porter:
inspector general-Major ]. @. Galbraith; subsist-
ence Observation-Disclosures W. II. Hart; engineers
Lieutenant Colonels Smith S. Leach T. l.. Casey
and Walter S. Fisk and Major S CARLY: ordnance
department-AIajors George Montgomery and Jaw
L. Hofer; pay department-Colonel c. II. Whip
pie Lieutenant Colonel II. l.. Rogers and Major G;
Z Pickett; medical dcpartment-Mator NJ w Ire
land and Paul r. Straub signal cOrps-Major Ed
gar Russell; District of Columbia MIltia-Maior
l. NJ Brett; coast artilery-Iieutenant Colonel
H. NJ Weaver; quartermaster's department-Ma-
jors l. W. Lttel, J. r. Knight. T. II. SIavens NJ
g. Zalnski d. 5. Stanley and ]. 7. Crabbs