The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-02
Tribute From Spectators

Tribute From Spectators
After spectacular maneuvers performed
at a gallop Captain Shelley drew his
troop up before the crowd, which was
| banked along the inside of the race track,
and went through a sabre drill. AS Cap
| tain Shelley, In concluding the first part
| of the afternoons programme, brought
| his men to present sabre" there was a
spontaneous burst of applause from the
spectators. 1t was their first opportunity
fto manifest their approval of the spec
| tacle and it was hearty.
With two short intervals for breath,
Captain Shelley put his men through at
sharp pace, drilling them both mounted
and dismounted. The programme was
concluded by several charges which We're
| thrilling and an appropriate ending for
the afternoon.
The drill began promptly, as announced
| at 2:S0 o'clock The troop mounted at the
stables and was led through the gate to
the east OF the grandstand. The larger
part of the crowd had taken possession
OF the grandstand with the expectation
that the drilling would be done in the in
field. This was impossible, as the in
| field is entirely too small for cavalry
maneuvers. When it was seen that the
troop would drill on the far side of the
| space inside the race track the crowd
streamed across the trick and took up
| advantageous positions av'ng the rail. 1t
was large and representative audience
before which the soldiers performed. So
ciety was out in force, there being per-
haps % automobiles filled with people al
various points around the track. The
weather could not have been better, be-
ing just cold enough to stir the blood and
make the open air invigorating. There
was keen anxiety manifested by the spec
tators not to miss move of the soldiers
and the crowd was constantly shifting in
an effort to see better and follow the
maneuvers more closely.
Simple Drills at First
In the beginning. Captain Shelley, who.
1t should be said, Is an admirable Of
ficer with resonant voice and command
ing personality. put his men through only
the simpler movements. There were drills
''by twos' and ''by fours'' at a trot and
then at a gallop. Then Captain Shelley
took up by far the prettiest evolution of
the afternoon. With three platoons he
marched and countermarched about the
field, the men performing the movements
at a gallop seemingly with as much ease
as at a walk. The sight of the troop
galloping down the field in perfect align
ment, even the horses almost keeping
step, was both thrilling and inspiring
Perhaps the most enjoyable movement
of the afternoon was the deployment of
the command as skirmishers while mount
ed. Proceeding at a gallop In three
platoons. Captain Shelley swung the troop
into line and gave the command 'as slSir-
mishers.' The rifles sprang from the
boots and the men spread out across the
field, there being about 10 feet between
each man. In this formation they gall
loped down the field, and at the com
niand ito the rear each wheeled his horse
almost in his tracks and back they came
Then came the dismounted drill. The
troop was dismounted, every fourth man
holding horses. With rifles, the men ad-
vanced, deployed as skirmishers, lay
down and fired an imaginary voley at
an imaginary foe. In the meanwhile the
horses had been hurried to the rear out
of the firing"
Spectators Mingle With Troopers
After a short sabre drill the men were
given rest apd the spectators mingled
with the troopers examining the horses
and rifles and asking innumerable ques-
tions. Many had brought cameras with
them and all were in action during the
afternoon.
After the rest there was more platoon
and skirmish drills with another short
interval before the concluding evolutions.
These were in the nature of a sabre drill.
Following the drill Captain Shelley
marched the troops to the end of the
field and wheleed it about. Then came
the command "charge." Every man drew
his sabre and gave vent to wild yell,
putting his horse at his best speed. Down
the field they ran. wheeled and came
back. AS a final movement the platoons
We're swung into line and charged down
the field abreast with sabres glittering In
the sun and horses straining every nerve
There will be drills each afternoon dur
ing the week to which the public is cor
daily invited. Next Sunday there Will
be a monkey drill or trick riding by
the troopers Captain Shelley and Dr.
Robert Duenner. first litutenant, medical
corps, Y. S. A., are much pleased with
their reception in Birmingham, and state