The Washington herald., 1911-08-16

things which excited the admiration OF
the regular army officers. Comparisons
are invidious. but they intimated that II
would have been a difficult matter for a
battery of the regular army to handle af-
fairs as they were handled yesterday
morning. where every horse was a
green one, and had never before been
hitched to a gun carriage or a caisson.
When Capt ]. Harry Shannon raised his
right hand at the stroke of 10 and let II
fall as a signal for the march to begin,
each section of the battery took its place
in line without confusion or accident, and
from the site of the old Pennsylvania
railroad station moved into Pennsylvania
avenue. up the west side of the Treasury,
again TO the Avenue. and up Seventeenth
street to Massachusetts, avenue
Capt. o. c. Terry, commanding the
Signal Corps Company, had his two
mounted sections, with the escort and
instruments wagons and two reel carts
ready for the march an hour before the
appointed time of 10 o'clock His COM
mand fell in behind the battery and
although the horses ridden were unac-
customed to military formations, a per-
feet conlumn was maintained The or
der was such that there was no con-
gestion of traffic along Pennsylvania
avenue as the parade, watched by thou
sands of spectators along the curb. made
its way to the Treasury.
Puppy Causes Excitement.
Some little excitement was created
among the crowds in front Of the Mu-
nicipal Building when a puppy, SPELL
bound by the unusual sight to him, was
run down by a street car and mangled
to shreds.
Just before the column turned into
Massachusetts avenue, halt was called,
and one of the horses, attached to
caisson was taken out and replaced by
n substitute. The animal was too high
strung. and, although under perfect con-
troll, was wearing himself out from his
tingling nerves. He was foam f1ecked
an. his coat was covered with perspira-
tion.
While the halt was on, Stable Sergeant
Long, of the battery, who was accom-
panying the column in a carriage,
backed up on the curb in order to turn
his eQuipage about. In doing so a rear
wheel caught in a small tree and was
torn off. The carriage hit a bicycle
standing at the curb and slightly dam
aged il.
When Tennallytown was reached at
1890 p. m, another halt was called and
fed. The artillerymen also ate a light
lunch by the roadside. The Signal
Corps Company also watered and fed
their hoses, but pushed on toward Rock
vile before halting for substantial
lunch prepared by Commissary Sergeant
Charles Williams They had passed the
District line before l o'clock.
Storm Passes by March.
At that time. a heavy storm was
Where the battery had
halted was not touched by the subse-
quent downpour, the edge of the storm
passing them about 100 yards distant
This storm, which deluged Washington
at the noon hour. also was considerate
Of the District officers at Fort Myer.
No rain fell there. but a decided drop in
the temperature cooled the brows Of the
officers just in from their exhausting
tactical walk
The officers yesterday expressed their
appreciation OF the unexpected visit and
ecture of Maj. George o. Squier, acting
'hief signal officer Of the United States
army, at their Fort Myer camp Monday
hight. He described the revolution in
he conduct OF warfare worked by the
of the Signal Corps.
No longer does a commanding general,
- uuTlnS lHe CIVIL war, SallOp over Inc
leld equipped with telescopes and &C
ompanied by orderlies and aids; he now
Establishes himself at a table in the
louse he selects as headquarters, and
eceives and sends messages by telegraph
nd telephone from and to all parts of
he field
The cavalry is equipped with wireless
Biography apparatus, Maj. Squier ex-
lained. and other devices make unneces-
airy the presence of a directing officer |
n the field. The lecture was especially |
Interesting as an exposition of the latest |
of the Signal Corps in a big |
amp working under highest development. |
Col. Richard D. Simms, N. G. D. c., re- |
lred. who was for a long time con- |
ected with the District National Guard, |
isited the officers camp at Fort Myer |
esterday. Surgeon Gen. Torney, U. 8. |
=; Lieut.. Col. Birmingham. chief sur
con of the maneuver division. and seven |
ther officers visited Gen. Harries at the |
amp.
In the evening a band concert was
iven, after which the officers held an
Normal reception for the large dele
alton Of visitors at the camp from
Thirty horses, which had been supplied
Y contractor for use by the artillery,
ere rejected as unsatisfactory, so the
tart Of the artillery was somewhat de-
Iyed until horses meeting requirements
ould be secured.