The Washington times., 1910-06-02
BRIGHT SKIES SMILE
UPON HIDSHIPME
Battle Drill and Physical
Exercise With Rifles to
Music Mark Day.
FORCE IS DIVIDED
IN MIMIC WARFARE
Spectacular and Attractive Fea-
lures of June Week Are
Presented. D.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd, June THE last
day OF the drills and exercises which
have filed June week were marked by
bright skies. warmer weather, and con
seduently so large an increase of at
tendance that the crowd of visitors was
fully as large as those on the big days
of former years.
The program or the day is a full and
varied one, and began this morning
with two most attractive features.
battle drill in which the brig was
formed into detachments of both in
fantry and artillery and a physical drill
with rifles TO the music Of the Academy
band. The battle drill has always been
the most attractive Of the exercises Of
the week, while he physical drill to
music is an entirely new feature and
AFFORDED a beautiful and interesting
spectacle
The midshipmen were attired in their
white canvass uniforms for the rough
work of the battle drill. II took place
on the new parade ground which afford
ed much more room for rhe movements
than the field which was used prior TO
the completion Of the new grounds
Attack and Defense Exemplifed.
The movements today were shor,.
snappy. ard simple. rs the bare field
afforded little opportunity for taking
advantage Of natural objects as pro-
lection for flanking parties and other
strategic movements which have here
tOfore formed part Of the exhibition.
The drill C,.empiiied the different
movements Of normal attack and de-
Tense Of IN infantry force with artil-
lery supports. The brigade was divided
into two battalions. commanded by
Iieutenants J.. 3. POrtertield and j. NJ
IL,
was under Lieut. g. ". Steele, jr. The
hattalions approached each other from
opposite sides Of the parade grounds
and threw out advance guards in the
most approved form. After a prelim-
mary encounter. the advance parties of
both sides were driven hack upon the
main body. the firing lines were form
I'd and gradually the combat came on
and the fire became hotter
As more men were Ditted into the
hrlne line. the carnage began every
now ana then a white uniformed war
rior throwing his rifle in the air and
cropping 10 the ground to take no fur
ther part in the conflict
Both Sides Lose Heavily.
While the guns covered the move
mentsr well ordered advances and To-
treats were carried out, until at last the
fuI force of both battalions were
massed in easy range directly in front
va III AN nc ~ ms Sl1LlNl- ne TEllr lasted
until each side had achieved a percent
age Of loss which passed BY far the
point which justifes a withdrawal from
action, according to the formal princf-
pies of combat, but the midshipmen-s he
naNlor illustrated the tradition that
Americans don't know when they are
beaten Finally, the recall blown on
6aorleIs trumpet apparently, rs il sum-
moned the dead 10 life, brought tho
STRIFE to an end, with hOnors very ever.
Inc br-Gade. then assembled and took
interval in front OF the reviewing stand
extending oyer frontage Of 200 or more
yards, While the Academy Band
played, every midshipman went through
graceful EymnastiC movements with hfs
rife, In fine rhythm and as one man TO
some extent. however. the wonder of
Inc audience at the perfect unanimitv
or the whole 200 was lesseHed to those
who looked behind them and saw 2 lone
mloShipman on the portico Of Bancroft
ran VINO was giving the movements to
ne others, and upon whom the men I'm
Inc ranks had fixed their eyes How
ever, the exhibition was extremely good
and formed one Of the most Interesting
events Of the week