Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-16
BATTLE OF WHITE LOT
Annual Field Exercises of High
School Cadets.
VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE
Dense Mass Of Spectators Surround the
Ellipse.
SCENE WAS AN IMPOSING ONE
Meeting Of Two Hostile Forces-Com-
ment by the Judges-Jets
Of Flame.
VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE
SCENE WAS AN IMPOSING ONE

OF Flame.
regiment of soldiers Of tomorrow, as
the High School Cadets have been termed,
gave a splendid exhibition Of military ma
neuvers and mimic warfare yesterday af-
ternoon before delegations Of the grim old
fighters Of the sixties, veterans Of the
war with Spain and soldiers OF today-mem-
bers of the National Guard Of the District
of Columbia and the regular army. The
scene of the martial panorama was the
beautiful greensward ampitheater, the
White Lot ellipse, with its background Of
trees and foliage, respondent in their garb
of springtime green. The event was the
annual drill and exercises by the High
School Cadet Regiment, under the direction
of Burton R. Ross, commandant of the
cadets.
Surrounding the elipse was dense
mass of spectators, while inside of the
circle chairs had been placed for the spe-
cially invited guests, the judges and off,
Gals. The reviewing officers were sta
toned just in front of the guests, their post
being marked by a large American flag.
The scene was an inspiring one as the
regiment of cadets marched, company
front, and entered the ellipse from the
west the Marine Band, under Lieut.. Ban
telmann, playing a military march. Hearty
applause greeted their appearance on the
field.
Marched In Review.
After massing by battalions the regiment
swung around into company fronts again
and marched in review before the review
ing officer Brig Gen. William Crozier, chief
Of ordnance, and his staff; Col NJ Emmet
Urell and Maj GIendie B. Young of the
National Guard of the District Of Columbia;
Lieut.. R. D. Carter, U. 8. A.; Commandef
Newton Ferree of the Department of the
Potomac. g. A. R., and his staff and Capt.
j. Walter Mitchell, department commander
of the United Spanish War Veterans ana
his staff; Col. Ross, Commissioner Macfar-
land, Commissioner Morrow, Capt Oyster,
W. ". Cox, Superintendent Chancellor. r.
M Hughes Barton Everman, Mrs. Justina
Hill and others.
regiment was passing In review. AS the
color company swung past the reviewing
party the officers Of the Grand Army or tne
Republic and those OF the ineS spa an
Ferree. arose, stood at attention" and gave
with soldierly precision the r1ght-nano So
Lutte to "Old Glory" This action OF the Ve.-
Grams was heartily applauded by the spec
The day was an ideal one for the battle
of the White Lot. A breeze from the SOUTH
tering while great masses Of clouds formed
a picturesque canopy over the military PIC
ture with it's setting of verdure ana the
flashing of swords and bayonets as tne ga,
diets performed the several movements Win
the precision of regulars
Formed for Fight.
After inspection and review the cadets
formed for the fight that followed. The
problem of the battle was that Lieut.. Col
LASER. conveying a supply train to Vir-
e1nia. found his passage Of the Potomac, by
way of Long bridge, cut of by superior
hostile force, another force of cadets under
Col Thiele.
The bridge at Georgetown having been
reported clear. ne assumed deaen s,oh d R
position of his force as to hold the enemy
until the train could effect the crossing ~
Georgetown. ,,,hr,on+a
If the main position Of defense had been
made, and that the territory west OF I4tn
street and 18th street and martin OF street
on the east side OF l4tn s..ee' - We" "rscaII,
and no firing was permitted between oooles
or individuals within fifty yards OF each
other. Col. Thiele's command, having IN
tercepted the passage Of the Long brldge
by the supply train and convoy, attacked
with a view to the destruction OF the con.
WOW and the capture of the train BEFORE II
town. It was assumed that the enemy was
occ,1pying a hastily intrenched position
north of the WASHINGTON Monument' 1n1
that territory east Of 18th and nortn OF
street on the east side of 14th street was
impossible.
Snapped War Stories.
+ The civil war veterans swapped war stor-
leo of the sixties as the cadets on the ellipse
were spread over the greensward as Skin
mishers In open order while the scouts dis
appeared like phantoms in the shrubbery
and trees southwark toward the Washing
ton monument. The scene recalled to their
memories the days when they participated
in similar movements In the real CONNECT
more than forty years ago, and the stories
of those days of fire and smoke and death
were retold.
Suddenly the popping of the rifles told
that the two forces had gotten in touch
Col. Thiele's men, in open order, got down
close to the grass. Then followed a voliey
from the defenders under Lieut. Col. La
ser, and for time the action became gem
eral and the firing at will and by volleys
was almost continuous.
The defending party, as stated, was sup
posed to be the escort Of the convoy which
the Chain Bridge blocked they were forced
to retreat toward the Aqueduct. Between
these two points the attacking army. under
the command of Col. Thiele cyan firing and
a rear-guard action was begun.
Alive With Jets Of Flame.
The volleying continued and the ambus-
cade which had been formed by the at
lacking force was alive with jets OF flame
as the cadets emptied their rifles with ra-
pidity While the fight was hottest, and
there was continuous roll of musketry
as the blue-coated forms Of the defenders
and the attacking force darted hither and
thither, and quick movements were made
on the field by bodies Of troops, the bugler
sounded the recall and cease firing" and
the fight was at an end.
AS the attacking and defending forces
marched upon the ellipse preparatory to
participating In dress parade, which con-
cluded the maneuvers, they were greeted
| with a great ovation, while the High School
girls waved their favorite colors and Joined
in the chorus Of cheers.
When the command Officers front and
center was given and the company COM
manders had assembled before the colonel
commanding Col Urell ACCOMPANIED by