The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-29
by an American.

human machine upon the continent would
find. / think. an impregnable barrier be-
tween il and a desired goal Without the
assistance OF one or two allied powers It
would be impossible to damage the hu-
man line OF defense to the fatherland.
Day with the Garde de Corps.
Receiving an invitation to participate IN
the drill OF the Cuirassiers OF the Garde
de Corps. IT was. of course. most accept
able 10 me, as it gave me excellent OPP
portunity to watch a small feeler Of the
German war octopus at work. The cav
alrymen were quartered in roomy bar
racks al one end OF Berlin, where there
were no slums and where the Buildings
abruptly terminated. At 8 IN the morning
found them all ready for active duty
each with a well-grOOmed three-quarter-
bred horse: a long lance. a carbine IN a
leather case, a sword. and a pistol Their
dress was white. Tall. black hip boots
encased their lower extremities. to which
were fastened stout. curved spurs A
small cap was~set jauntily to one side OF
the head, some OF which were with visors
and some were without The men looked
young. business-lilIe. serious, and stocl1y
The captain, a hne-locking fellow IN a
blue coat soon had them moving over
the cObbled streets IN fours OF company.
and II was not long before we trotted out
upon sandy plain, upon which small
squads OF infantrymen were maneuver-
ing. The air was crisp. and at the order
to trot the horses started of across the
level piece Of ground at an excellent pace.
As we pressed onward upon every side
could be seen cavalrymen and infantry
men seriously practicing the art OF war.
Here was group behind a sand hill re-
pelling an imaginary assault At another
spot was a second body OF foot soldiers
moving out 10 the attack In extended or
der and crOuching behind whatever cover
the ground afforded. Still farther off
small squadron Of cavalrymen were
wheeling their horses around their lances,
stick upright into the sand. while a sig
nal corps was busily tapping some sort
Of news 10 another body OF signaIers
about q quarter OF a mile away One
could easily imagine that war was IN
progress and that great campaign had
begun against some foe to the country.
officers in light blue coats went galloping
about. while the rattle Of small arms
sounded from many points Of the great
drill ground. It was a thrilling spectacle.
Horses Frightened by Attack.
But II was not as thrilling a spectacle
as what was about 10 occur, FOR, al the
sharp word Of command, the horses had
been left in squads OF four. while the
cuirassiers advanced 20 the attack on
foot. Creeping over the rolling ground.
they soon had formed a skirmish line
had taken aim ar the enemy. and when
the word Ito fire" was given let 20 a
volley which made my horse buck like
an Indian pony in a Wyoming corral.
Some other animals were soon loose and
were galloping ri6erless across the plain
while the cuirassiers were pumping
blank cartridges into the imaginary foe
with clocklike precision
AS they fred a white flag was seen ad-
vancing. which we were told was the
enemy. The bugle blared and in mo-
ment the cuiTassiers were again ahorse
and were trotting in the direction OF the
foe by fours. A sharp command and
they had spread out across the plain in
one long line. with lances forward for
the charge, and as the bugle gave one
long. shrilling scream the horses sud
denly jumped forward in a gallOp and we
were OF in mad attack upon the hidden
foe. With a hoarse cheer and strange
German cries the fair-haired Teutons
raced wildly on. jumping bitches. dashing
across hinOcIS. and still keeping their
line IN fairly good order Suddenly there
was commOdon IN the center Of the
line. A whitecOat rolled from his steed
upon the ground and the air resounded
with laughter from his companions in