The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-25
NEW TEST FEARED
BY ARMY OFFICERS
Ninety Miles in Three DAYS
May Cause Re-
tirement.
Infantry Privates Object
to Long Practice
Marches.

There is no denying that the army is
badly worried over the prospect of com
plying with the Presidents order for a
three-day, ninety-znile horsemanship test
this year,
Modification of the Presidents orig
inal horsemanship test is being worked
out by General Bell chief OF staff, and
the general staff. But the modification
that the President wants is going 10
make the test vastly worse than ever,
according 10 army officers. Instead of
ffteen-mile ride, it is. going to involve
the proposition of riding ninety miles
in three days-seVeuty-twO hOurs-aud
10 include, according TO present plans, a
stunt in tramPing and leading the horse
several miles daily. The officers are
sustained by one cOnsideratiOn-they
don't believe such an order VIII be con-
tinued in force after the end OF The
present Administration, and so are get
ting themselves in shape to meet the re-
quirement as well as possible.
Say Test Is Unreasonable.
In opposition TO the Presidents diff
ferent test. it is urged BY army people
first. that there is no good reason Tor
STAFF men to be put through such per
Torrance. and, second, that it will be
very expensive. Already officers on desk
duty-the roI-top soldiers-are being
given two. hours a day for exercise OF
various sorts in order 10 keep them
selves in conditions for the tests Pro
visions Of horses, groOms, etc, must be
made at many places in order 10 keep
up these exercises.
II is stated by a high. military author
ity thar the. lowest estimate which has
been made indicates that it will cost
100000 this year, 10 carry out these
tests Other officers put the figure a
good deal higher. They add that II VIII
cost the service a good many valuable
men who are needed, though unable TO-
not equipped for this kind of a trial
The ninety NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. test
VIII come on this year for the first time
The greatest concern is admitted anon
army men about the conditions which
will be arranged by General Bell ana
his aides. for much depends on this
Thus far it Is not known, for instance,
at how many places the test rides viii
he made, or under what conditions as
10 roads, eather, etc 1t is pointed out
that for such a severe stunt the differ
ence in roads, temperance, horses etc
might mean the difference belWee sue
the best one in the service. The organ
izatien OF such a project so as 70 assure
a square deal for everybody Is declared
10 he next to impossible
The President is determined 10 nave
the test, however. and the army people
sadly admit that the country thinks ne
is right about il. That IS one or ne
great zriefs of the officers. They
haven't been able to convince the con-
munity at large that the President
idea is all nonsense.
Soldiers Oppose Marches.
In the practice marches for the In
fantry the public seems willing 10 ADMIT
that there is a good deal of buncombe
THE soldiers object 70 these, and claim
no good is accomplished and great phys
iical discomfort is often inflicted. But
when it comes TO the officers. no
rbodv has any sympathy. Everybody
seems to suspect them of being fat and
lazy, of having tobacco hearts, and more
capacity for dancing than Tor cam
ipaigning. So the publics thumbs are
down for the officer, but up for the pri-
waite.
The army men are of the opinion that
the real thing needed to improve the
army is not craftsmanship tests. but the
Tpassage of the legislation 10 increase
Compensation of officers and men. They
could work for this bill with a good
heart, IL they were not discouraged
-abClt the horseback orders.