The Washington herald., 1912-05-28
COMPETE
IN ANNUAL DRILL
Six Companies March and Counter
march Before 10000 Spectators
at American League Park.
WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED
AFTER T0-DAY's EXHIBITION
Five Companies Will Strive for
HOnOrs This AftsrnoOn-Pretty
Girls in Stands.

Ten thousand persons, with an over
whelming alloy. Of pretty girls in gala
raIment. transformed the stands at Amer
lean League Park into a Kaleidoscope
crescent Of mammoth proportions yester-
day afternoon, and beneath gay festoons
Of brilliant husd bunting. cheered them
selves hoarse and applauded themselves
weary while watching six companies Of
the pink of youth Of the National Capital
strive valiantly to win the coveted hon
ors in the twenty-fifth annual competitive
SEIu Of the High School Cadet Regiment.
Trainsd~to the last word in condition,
eager, whiteSfaced, and nervous, with
shoulders thrown back, heads erect and
eyes severely fixed forward, the COM
panies in regular turn, marched from be-
hind the stands before the gaze of thou
sands Of eyes, and as they never drilled
before on the Greensward OF the baseball
diamond, utilized every second OF the
thirty minutes allotted them in manly ef-
forts to gain the trophy OF the competi-
tion-the nag which goes to the winning
company.
Six Companies Compete.
Two companies representing Western
High School, and four companies repre-
senting Mckinley Manual Training
School. made their try at the flag yes
terday-the first day OF the drill-and to-
day the companies representing Central,
Eastern, and Business will drill The
real thrill Of the competition comes to-day
in the climax arising from the announce
ment Of the winning company.
Companies K, NJ, c, L, H. and D
drilled yesterday in the order named,
while three Judges, Capt. A w. Bjorn-
stad. General Stan: Capt. D. T. Merrill,
Twenty-eighth Infantry. and Capt. J. B.
Allison, Seventh Infantry, stood by and
noted every movement, every command,
and made notes on pads OF paper ac-
cordingly. The same Judges Will to-day
watch the drills Of Companies G. B, I,
z, F, and A, make more notes, and
then begin compiling totals. To the COM
pany gaining the best mark will be
awarded the flag.
Although, in accordance with an old
established custom, the judges made no
comment on the drills yesterday, Il
seemed from the STANDS that Company
c, commanded by Capt. r. z. Coughlin,
representing Mckinley Manual Training
School, made the best appearance, the
least number Of errors, and the ALL
around best showing, but predictions as
to the winning companies have never
been fulfilled in years past. Dark horses
have always won the competitive drills.
Company D. OF Mckinley, commanded
by Capt W. lie r. Saunders, set the
stands in q frenzy when It marched out
upon the field OF grass with the flag won
by the company under Capt. King last
year floating in the breeze from the
rife held by the sergeant.
Stay Within Time Limit.
In the thirty minutes of drill allotted
each company forty-eight movements
were supposed to be executed. and the
captains had to use their wits to COM
plete the drill in the time limit No
company was forced to leave the field
without the drill being completed. as has
been the case in several drills in the
past
The drill included dismissal and for
nation Of company, inspections, forma
tion in platOons. marching in columns Of
squads, marching by right and left
oblique. and a number OF other move
ments, ending with the manual OF arms,
firing two volleys standing and two
kneeIing. and inspection OF arms. Cheers
and applause followed the roar and
echoes Of the voIleying.
Prominent among the spectators were
Capt James F. Oyster, President OF the
Board Of Education, with the members
Of the board and Superintendent Of
Schools Davidson in the boxes Secre-
tary Of War Stimson was not able to
attend because of an enforced absence
from the city. Gen. Leonard Wood, Chief
Of Stan. U. S. A, will attend to-day to
present the flag to the winning company
and make a brief address Of congratula-
ton to its captain.
Among the crowds were many anxious
fathers and mothers, big sisters and lit
tie brothers, but the majority Of the
spectators were girls, pretty, becomingly
attired. and brimming with enthusiasm.
No event in Washington attracts so
many pretty girls as a competitive drill.