The Washington herald., 1908-04-04
GIVE FANCY DRILLS
Fort Myer Soldiers Entertain
the President.
EXECUTIVE GREATLY PLEASED
Asserts Ii Was the Best Display of
Skill In HOrsemauship and Diff
cult Maneuvers He Has Witnessed.
Accompanied by Mr., and Mrs. Long
worth and Others of Prominence.

President Roosevelt, Mr.. and Mrs.
Nicholas Longworth. Secretary and Mrs
Loeb. and others prominent in the affairs
of the nation witnessed the exhibition
military drill at Fort Myer. yesterday. for
the benefit OF the army branch of the
Young Mems Christian Association and
Soldiers Athletic Fund. and which proved
the most successful Of the series Of drills
given this season.
The drill which was also an artistic and
social affair. served 10 swell the funds OF
the associations. Nearly $1,000 was real
lied from the sale Of seats. Eighteen
hundred persons purchased seats. among
them being Perry Belmont and George
Vanderbilt. Neither. however. was pres
ent.
President Roosevelt became enthusiastic
over the exhibition Of horsemanship and
The equine intelligence shown. While re.
ceiving the staff of Col c. A p. Hat
field, at the latter's quarters, after the
drill, the President said:
1T was the finest drill I ever saw. I
have heard about the skilled horsemen OF
Germany. Italy. and France. but right
here in Washington we can show them a
thing or two
Enthusiasm Is shared.
The Presidents enthusiasm was shared
by the big crowd. From the time Troop
G. Thirteenth Cavalry. dashed into the
hall. and rode abreast TO the President 5
box, where the riders drew sabers and
saluted. until Battery f. Third Field Ar
tillery, with four carriages. drawn by six
horses each, passed through the stakes
only slightly farther apart than the
wheels OF the vehicles. the troopers were
vociferOusly applauded
The first number. a saddle drill by
Troop G. Thirteenth Cavalry led by
Capt Thomas II. CorcOran. and with w.
T. Nichols, trumpeter, was productive of
thrilling feats Rushing into the hall
one at a time. the twenty-eight troopers
in the squad rode down the han 20 the
Presidents stand. where they drew up
at attention. Then they rode around the
hail in single file. then double and final
ly in a row. Waltzing. rapid backing.
and evolutions not found in the manual.
were cleverly done by the squad. The
horses were thrown: they were com
manded 10 get up. and the part of Troop
g in the drill ended with a wild dash
down the hall 10 the President stand
Here the squad drew saberg;. stood az al
tention. and then gall0ped from the hall
BY many the exhibition by Troop G was
considered The most skilful Of the after
noon. Troop II. of the Thirteenth Cav
airy. commanded by Capt Erwin f Phil
lips, followed in a Saber driu. and as the
ne. i
air. the troopers showed how sword
could be handled by an expert 10 the tune
played by the Thirteenth Cavalry Band,
led by Chief Musician Angelsburg.
Troop F. Thirteenth Cavalry. in a bare
back drill. gave an attractive exhibition
Each rider was mounted on a chestnut
horse, spirited and well trained. Vault
ing. standing. hurdling. and forming pyra-
mids of four men each on three horses
abreast. resulted in the clever troopers
being literally applauded.
How the COssacks Ride.
One of the best exhibitions was by
Troop f, Thirteenth Cavalry. commanded
by Lieut. James Goethe. The troopers
showed how the Cossacks ride Papers
were picked up from the ground while the
riders were dashing at full speed. OBJ
structiOns were vaulted. and the riders
displayed what men with nerve can do.
Battery and stake drills by Battery D
and Battery E. Of the Third Field Artil-
lery, commanded. respectively. by Capt
T. y Horn and Capt. Arthur F. Cassels
were the concluding events. Each Of the
field pieces was pulled by six horses. and
in spite Of the size Of the hall. clever
evolutions were executed as the drivers
were carried rapidly about the hall by the
galloping horses.
All the evolutions were what are known
as fancy movements. They are not in
the manual. but are developed and prac-
ticed by the different squads Not once
was there a blunder. The horses seemed
10 enter into the spirit OF the drill once.
when one Of the horses drawing the car
riage fell the other horses in the hitch
pulled up as quickly as possible The
horse was soon on its feet and galloping
with it's mates.
Following the drill, President Roosevelt.
escorted by a squad Of troopers. repaired
20 Col Hatfield's house. where he met
the staff OF Col Hatfield commanding
officer at the post In the Presidents
party were Mr.. and Mrs. Longworth.
Major and Mrs. Austin Wsdsworth and
Capt. Mccoy, aid 70 the President.
Meet the President.
The following members Of Col Hat
fields staff met the President:
Capt. Cassatt. Lieut. Jones. Veterin-
airy Gage, Capt. Horn, Capt Corcoran.
Chaplain Brown Capt Hennessy. Mai
Winter. Lieut.. Miles. Lieut.. Huntlev.
Lieut. Shepherd, Lieut. Randol. and
Surgeon Bailey. Third Field Artillery:
Mai Dickman. Col. Hatfield. Capt Cas-
satt. Lieut.. Winters. Lieut. Bull. Veterin-
airy Fraser, Capt Hyer, Capt. Phillips.
Capt CorcoTan. Capt. Preston, Lieut..
Davidson, and Lieuts. Heaton. Goethe.
Deiterick and Merchant, Thirteenth Cav
airy.
Others present were Mrs Hatfield and
Miss Helen Hatfield, the President and
party
Among the members of the Washington
Young Mems Christian Association were:
S. ". Woodward and Mr.. Smith. who has
charge of the soldiers branch of the asso-
citation. Others in the reserved section
were Civil Service Commissioner Nell
benny and Mrs. MeIlhenny. Mrs. Edward
CaSsels. Mrs. Hennessey. daughter of
Surg. Gen. O'Reilley; Mrs. Harry Ball,
wife Of Lieut.. Ball. Of the Thirteenth
Cavalry; Representative Fulton, and Sen
ator Smith.
Credit for the Drill.
To Chaplain H. A. Brown, Col c. A p
Hatfield. and Secretary Smith. credit is
given for making the drill not only So
nial but a financial success. The money
raised will assist in making the associa-
ton headquarters at the post one of the
best in the country.
President Roosevelt's words OF commen-
dstion pleased the troopers greatly last
night. when they heard Of his remarks
They know they pleased their Comman-