Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-07
President Orders 50 nIIss Of
Riding As Test Of Officers.
THE Joke" RIDES ANNOYED HIN
Chiefs Fear That Extreme Measures
WIN Drive officers on, Of Army
Long Practice Marehoo on Card
Presidents Letter in FuI.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Dec. c.
{ Army officers threw up their hands
when they read The letter OF The prosi-
dent to the Secretary Of War prcscrib-
/ ing Il more rigid test in skilled horse.
manshlp for the entire army. except
the Coast Artillery. This follows up
his recommendations to Congress-.
and calls ror a general and more rigid
test of officers Of all grades
Tho cavalry piactico marches to
which nearly all general officers o.j.
ject are cited by the President as.
good TO follow with all field officers.
except tho Coast Artillery. which
means all majors. observation-disclosures
and coloncls. Tho test is 30 he held
annually ana is to constitute ride
OF 80 milns Il day for three consccu-
tive days.
Too many practice marches and i'd.
ing tests is attributed in the recent re-
ports Of the acknowledgement and otherI
officers rs n leading cause for deser-
ton among the enlisted mon and
drawback to obtaining recruits. Tho
question now a,scs as TO whether /,
VIII net discourage young men FROM
entering the Military Academy and
lead officers reaching the field grade
To resign rather than TO pass through
what those who are not absolutely cor.
tain OF themselves physically vii! re-
gard as unnecessary hnrdships.
Surprised Army Officers.
War Department omcIals express
surprise that the President should
carry the riding test to such an en-
tremc in the face OF tho great dim.
Guilty in obtaining n sufficient mum.
her OF officers. Increased pay Ia one
Ereat need Thcre is no dosirc to
evade any necessary hardship looking
10 the proper military training of Of
liccrs aud men TO the end of inc cas.
ing the general efficiency OF The army.
but Il Is doubted by many whether
90 mile ride year can he con.
sirncd MS necessary to demonstrate
what men are 1T for morntcd pcrvice
Ie-1. wnS are not. scd That the
recent l5,miIo teat was really no test
at all. and It regins to dawn unon
some that. ne that test was generally
regarded rs n Joke on the President,
H. may have inspired the further nc
ton on his part such as may we'll be-
calculated to cause thcm 20 cry
"Enough!"
In the meantime the preparation OF
the gcnc'al ordc. for carrying on;
the 90milc test is under way.
Presidents Vigorous Letter.
The Presidents communication on
which the order will he based was in
corporated in general orders today,
reading rs follows
ITO the Secretary OF War:
Il desire due notice given to all
Officers concerned that hereafter suit
ahlc physical tests todetermino their
ntness for active operations will an.
jnpally be mnde OF all Held officers of
| the army, unuer such regulations rs
You may prescribe a sufficient num-
bcr Of The practice marches OF cav
lalry occurring III the fail of each
Wear. might he takon advantage Of to
test tho ability of all field officers, OK
cept those OF seacoast artillery to
make q daily march OF not less than
| 80 miles, fo~ three DAYS in succession
under conditions suitable TO tho maxi
| ing OF. forced marches in active field
generations. Tests suitable TO The
character of service required Of them
should alsa be prescribed for field Of,
acers OF saacoast artillery.
| Annual reports should also he We
| qutred. under such conditions as will
llnaure accuracy and thovoughnesA,
upon every Junior officer of the army,
| setting forth whether physically quail
| !led for active operations
Except wien excused ~ higher au.
thority, all Offices should accompany
thoir commands oil the menthly prac-
ticn marches, and reports should he
rsquired. nnminG in eycry case any
who are unable or fail TO do so or fall
out on the march,
| ''Approprate action should bc taken
in the cases of nll officers found not
qualified physically Ia nc,iye service
i . is just as much the duty of all
officers os tho army to adopt such
measures and puprsue such habits as
| VIII maintain a physical condition at
for active se'yicc as to cultivate their
llninds In nt,ing themselves for the In
trllcctual duties Of their prclession,
~ should also like rs much oncour.
: ascment given to the cultivation OF
horsemansip IN the amy US NAV be
practicable mler the law, and Ike
i wise to have rs many facilities FOR
lrlding horseback as pcsihSle afforded
20 Infantry cantairs on government
horses, until they have been made
lmounted Officers rs in FOREIGN a,mies