Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-08
NAVAL OFFICERS
Take Physical Tsst on
Horses, AwheeI and Af0ot
Accordance With the
Presidents Orders.
Feats Must Be Performed In Three
Consecutive Days.sa lai

Washington, July T. Sailing, sailing,
not over the bounding sea, but over the
rolling plain, up the hills, and down
again, are the commissioned officers of
Uncle Sans navy. They are perform
ing the little athletic feats prescribed
| for them by former President
| Roosevelt, which consist of either rid
ing 90 miles on horseback in three con-
secutive days, walking 81 miles in the
same length of time, or riding 100 miles
| on bicycle in three consecutive days
Every naval officer on the active list
either "ashore or afloat,' according to
the executive order must take the test
The first relay of officers to start on the
contest from Washington left the Navy
Department Thursday. July l, when the
| order became effective
This order was issued by former
President Roosevelt, January last, but
he specified that it should not go into
operation until July 1. Appeals have
been made to President Taft by Sea
dogs, who couldn't figure out the naval
use Of it, but President Taft has been
adamant.
| He has pointed out that they ought
| to be able to use their sea legs on the
walk, if they select rolling round, and
that the motion Of the horses on trot
greatly resembles that of a torpedo
boat in a cross sea.
The bicycle test puzzled President
Taft for time, but he finally decided
| that man who can pace a quarter
deck at an average argyle of as degrees
| can maintain his equilibrium on a
lat
order stand too.
Already large number of the en-
signs, lieutenants. lieutenant COM
| manders, commanders, captains, and
| rear admirals stationed in and about
Washington have begun the test. Many
of them begun on the walking feature
of the program thinking that they
would more readily become accustom-
ed to the hardships of a landlubber
by going at it in easy stages.
The big State, War, and Navy build
| ing, which has sheltered many admirals
| since its erection. seems to be the
starting point. Here almost an hour
| of the day or night blue-clad persons
| may be seen starting out on hike
1t is a hard matter to distinguish
them from the the ordinary run Of
pedestrians who emerge from the old
| building in the course of "a hours, but
| the old guards employed in the Navy
Department know them, and point with
pride to them, saying, Those fellers on
the other side have no copyright on
| the walking habit"
Some of the younger men have be
gun the horseback test. They generally
a in, no i,I,o
riding clothes or navy-blue knicker-
bockers. The coats of this latter garb
| usually are made up in the norfolk
jacket style. All gilt has been dis
penSed with
1t is whispered in naval circles that
| many will comply with the order after
the sun does down, when there is Just
small bit of the moon to be seem
Friends of the officers say this will be
done to prevent the too curious from
criticising their horsemanship or ability
to keep a bicycle in the middle of the
road, and that the officers will also es-
cape the heat of the day.
Officers stationed in the office of the
Secretary, at navy yards, weather bu-
reaus, and recruiting stations will be
affected by the order. Preparations for
the test have been going on for many
months.
Liverymen are grooming up their
best and gentlest mounts, while the
bicycle shops are finding it hard to fill
the orders for rental machines. 1t is
said that the signal corps, the original
bicycle brigade of the army, has been
draw on for nearly all the machines
in use by the corps.
SO the sailing goes on not cheerfully,
but doggedly. Most of the officers say
that while they do not relish taking
the test, they will be "blowed'' if they
will let the soldiers beat their records