Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-14

Ci NdSC VI dSlIliS Oli
'All army officers may yet be order
ed to develop a certain degree of pro-
ficiency in tennis or kill given num-
Der of bears as an essential to promo
ton or qualify as marksmen by shoot
ing at mountain lions. The dangers
and possibilities seem almost limit.ess.
But let us consider this thing seri-
ously, first with reference to officers of
the line. We may pass over the caval-
ry and light artillery, for in those arms
of the service hard riding is merely in
cidental TO the daily work not only of
the field officers, but of the captains
and lieutenants. Excellent hOrSeman-
ship is required of them as a matter of
course
with the infantry it is another sto-
ry. Until he attains field rank an Off
Ger of infantry never has any opportu-
nifty to ride. OF course all the officers
have learned to ride in their cadet
days at West Point, and there, theOret-
ically at least, all had the same oppor-
tunities in the saddle. But even there
that isn't actually so. Good riding quail
not in others, and the average cadet
knows long before he gets his first
commission whether he wants to be a
cavalryman or an engineer, an officer
of infantry or of artillery, and very
naturally he has the most interest and
enthusiasm in that part of his cadet
work that leads particularly to the
branch of the service which he hopes
to get into. But the day that a class is
graduated from the academy all equal
ity of opportunity for riding, real OF
theoretical. ends for good
Through all the years that an in
fantry officer is a second lieutenant
lieutenant and captain he must march
afoot with his men. Then he becomes
a field officer and for the sake of con
venience is mounted. But the pace al
which he will go is governed by the
marching ability of foot troops His
service will never require any very
strenuous riding.
Take a colonel of infantry, for in
stance, 4 man somewhat heavy and q
little advanced in years. He can sit in
the saddle all day and move with his
command, but he can't jump hurdles
or ride like Il charging dragoon fol
fifteen miles. That would kill him.
General Shafter weighed 800 pounds
Down in Cuba they had to lift him
into his saddle. but lack of agility OF
his part did not prevent the army and
the public from making a hero of him
EOrfnnotnlV fharn iS in fhe
army today so heavy as Shafter was
but there are many who have out
grown their rough riding days.
ut is difficult to imagine when of
ficers of coast artillery, who are oil
course included in this test, will ever
have to ride. They will certainly never
have TO dash about their Notifications
like rough riders charging up a hill
| Think of a coast artillery officer doing
! equestrian stunts down at Fort Jack
son. Sandy Hook! The government
will have to develop n new breed o
horses fitted for fast going in sof
| beach sand.
so far as the staff officers are con
cerned, the order is even more unrea
soIable. Very few of the higher grad
! of staff officers are ever placed in pc
sitions in which they can keep up thei
horseback training or in which thei
work requires riding. Many of thei
must spend the greater part of thei
/ lives at desks. They need heads ratl
er than legs. In fact, one legged me
1 would do very well in many of th
places. There is, for example, you
ordnance officer at an arsenal. A ma
to preside successfully over such a
establishment needs an equipment a
together different from the hurra
qualities essential to following IL
hounds"
Some army officers seem to think
mans failure to ride to the satisfa
ton of the commander in chief of IL
army and navy or doctors certitica
! that he ought not to try it will be mer
ly a preliminary to an order SendiI
him before retiring board. There a
many officers no doubt entirely fit f,
the service for years TO come und
normal conditions, but who would di
cover at the end of hard fifteen mi
ride that there was something radici
ly wrong with their hearts or kidney
; Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup
, safe, sure and prompt remedy f,
, coughs and colds and is good for eve'
} member of the family. Sold by q
\ druppiStc