The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-14
Three 9O-klE
TEST ON HORSEBACK
WORRIES OFFICERS
Army Desk Men Are Limbering
Up Their Muscles In
Preparation.

Washington. Special: There IL no.
denying that the army is badly worried
over the prospect OF complying with!
the presidents order for a thrce-day
90-mile Workmanship test this sear.
Mobilization" of h president's
original hgysemanship test is being:
worked out by General Bell, chief Of
modification that the president wants.is
going to make the test vastly .Worse4
than even, according to army officers,
Instead OF n 15-mile ride, 1t Is going to
involve the proposition Of Eding 80
miles in three days-72 hours-and TO
include. according to present plans, a
stunt i'm trampiDg and leading tho
horse several miles daily. The officers
are sustained by one considerations.
!hey don't believe such an d sNilt be-
present administration, apd, so are get
ting themselves IN shape to meet the
requirement as we'll as possible.
In opposition TO tho presidents dif1-
cult test. it is urged by army people
first that there is no good reason for
staff men to be put through such a per-
f%orlnance. and second that 1t will be-
very expensive. Already. officers on
desk duty-the roll-top soldiers-are
being given two hours a day for exer-
themselves In condition for the tests.
Provision OF horses, grooms. etc, must
be made at many places In order to
keep up these exercises. It is ,stated
by a high military authority that tho
lowest estimate which has been made
indicates that 1t will cost, this year,
$lO0, 600 TO carry out these tests. OthfN
! officers put the figure "a good deal
higher h this. They ado that "
! will cost the service Il good many vat
liable men who are needed though nn.
able ard not equipped for this kind or
u trial.
Fer First Time.
The 9o-m!les-in- three-days test will
come of this year for the first time.
The greatest concern Is Admitted
aInong army men about II conditlon?
which will be arranged by General
Bell and his aides, for much depends
ON this. Thus far it is not known for
instance at how many place the test
rides will be made, OF under what sore
Of conditions as to roads, weather, etc.
Ii ia pointed out that for such a severe
stunt the difference in roads. Temper
aturc, horses. etc, might near the dlf-
ference between success for an INFER
Tor rider and failure for the best ore In
the service. The organization OF such
II project so as TO assure Il squQr
deal for everybody is declared to .bo
next to impossible.
None the less. the president Is de-
termined to have II, and the army pco-
pie sadly admit that the country thinks.
| ne is TlKlL hDcut u lHdL S,OIlC Nl.lssO
great gricfs of the ofncers. They
haven't been able TO convince the cOn<
lnunity at large that the presidents
idea is all nonsense.
Marches All Runcombe.
In the practice marches for the tn4
eantrN. the public seems willing to nd
NIT that there is "a good deal OF bum
connie. The soldiers object to these.
and claim no good is accomplished
while great physical discomfort is often
inflicted. People in general size with
the soldiers. But when 1T comes to the
officers nobody has any sympathy. by
ervbody seems TO suspect them OF be-
ing fat and lazy. Of having tobacco
hearts and more capacity for dancing
thar for campaigning. So the public's
thumbs are down for the officer. but up
for the private.
The army men are Of the opinion that
the real thing needed to improve tho
army ia not Craftsmanship tests, but
the passage OF the Legislation to In
crease compensation OF officers amt
men. They could work for this bill
with n good heart If they We're not dis
couraged about the horseback orders.