The Washington times., 1913-10-07
CAVALRY TROOPS IN
PRACTICE OF DRILLS
Crowds Of Spectators Fall Back
Before Fierce Swoop of
Thousand Troopers.

With d wild cavalry whoop. 1000
troopers with drawn sabers charged
the length Of Potomac Park this morn
ing, striking terror into the hearts Of
the crowds OF spectators who had drawn
too close and forcing them to make
wild scramble for places Of safety
across the driveway.
This was the first exhibition Of the
cavalry maneuvers by the large body
Of troops temporarily stationed at Fort
Myer, and gave a foretaste Of the
magnificent spectacle wsshingtonians
will view when the three regiments OF
cavalry, forming brigade, are seen IN
their maneuvers following the review
By President Wilson, Secretary OF war
Garrison, and officers Of the general
staff of the army Thursday afternoon.
The maneuvers this morning. which
Will be repeated late this afternoon
xsre held on the polo field, and the
large section Of Potomac Park north
of IL. and near the place chosen Tor
the site of the Lincoln Memorial, II Is
here that the review and drills VIII De
held Thursday, instead Of at the White
House Ellipse and the monument
srounds a. first planned. as there was
not enough room at the latter <place 10
accommodate nearly 5000 moun.eo
troops. :.
romorrow morning and afternoon II IL
~ r.,anned to drill the cavairymen at
Pocouaac Park, in order TO famiiiar1e
then, with the ground where Tnursoas
they will give the first public exhioat'on
os tho drills they have been working on
Al sumuner at the cavalry camp al VIM
chester. Va
See Practice Drills.
An inspiring sight was witnessed oy
tina hundreds Of washingtonfans VINO
rent to Potomac Park by automobile
and on foot this morning to witness tne
psactiee drills.
One thousand troopers. composing the
entire Eleventh Regiment. commanoeq
by Colonel Lockett and q squadron OF
the Fifteenth Regiment. commanoeo oy
Major Howe, swept down the heid.
With clanking sabers. then swerved ano
formed into the various new caNaiIy
formations at sweeps OF tne Arms ot
the commanding officers. Not wofo
was spoken during the drills, until the
Command Of charge was given, wnen
nabefS were drawn with the WIG ~hoop
which always accompanies the onrusn
Of the mounted troopers.
The four squadrons make up one on
the provisional regiments formed for the
purpose of these maneuvers. The oeher
REGIMENT, composed Of the Tenth cav
airy Of colored men. and the other tWS
eousdrons of the Fifteenth Cavalry, Will
Be seen in drills this afternoon from
$50 until o'clock. Thursday afternoon
the twu regiments will be formed into a
brigade for the review by the President
and Secretary of War.
on the reviewing stand, which Is to
be erected at the extreme north enc OF
the maneuver ground. just about On
line with the Washington Monument and
the Capitol, there will be accommoda-
tons for thirty people. and some OF the
foreign military attaches probably, VIII
with the President, Secretary Garrison,
General Wood. and the other army
chiefs from this point Of vantage.
- IL Serious Work.
e.. Il was serious work the cavairymen
were about today. and the men went
about 1t as if II were real war con-
ditions they were facing
There was one incident that sent a
chuckle down the line Of cavalrymen
until II reached almost a roar when
big white bulldog. answering to the
name OF Michael" went tearing dow n
the field as Lieutenant Colonel Foltz
dasned down the line Of cavalrymen.
and az the colonel struck al the dog
with his whip at every jump Of the
horse, q small boy, owner OF the dog.
brought up the rear. !mploring Michael
to desist.
There were several hundred people out
to see the morning maneuvers, and they
witnessed a sight that WAS well worth
going miles to see.
At the close of the maneuvers the
cavairymen rode across the Highway
bridge, recalling to the minds Of some of
the civil war veterans among the spec
tators the earlier days when other
cayairymen rode over Long bridge, near
the point Of the Highway bridge. when
eominr to the defense of the Capital.