New-York tribune., 1915-11-16
ROAR OF GUNS
FILLS GARDEN
Tournament of Military
Athletic League Opens at
Madison Square.

IudulSOli IN Siti"i
as America ready for war; lhls
is a question which a military tourna-
ment. continuing all the week at Madl-
son Square Garden. under the auspices
of the Military Athletic League, pro
poses to answer. The opening exhibit
ton last night was extremely inter
esting, and was convincing at least 10
one of the 1000 present. who was over
heard to remark: After seeing TINS
am positive we are prepared for war
in Madison Square Garden!'
Twelve events were on the pro
gramme for the opening night, and reg
ulars and militia from every branch
of the service helped to make the en-
tertainment diversified Without ex-
ception .he events were run off with
precision, and to Judge from the ap-
plauss the programme was well re-
ceived In the absence of Mayor
Mitchell, who was TO have opened the
tournament. the drills were reviewed
by Police Commissioner Arthur Woods.
The number which apparently aroused
the most enthusiasm was a saddle
drill by Troop K, 5th Cavalry, L. S. A.,
a detachment Of fifty men from Fort
Myer, Va, under command OF Captain
Frederick d. Kilgore. This troop OF
highly trained regulars moved about
the tanbark in a maze Of intricate
figures with astonishing rapidity and
accuracy, and the educated animals
displayed grade Of intelligence which
seemed to the audience nothing less
than extraordinary. They wheeled and
circled with precision, and when they
finally dressed" in four lines before
the reviewing stand, while the strains
of the band completed the martial ef-
feet. even the soldiers from other COM
mands broke into an enthusiastic up
roar.
Field Gun Drill.
A l-pounder field gun drill by the %
Battalion, New York Naval Militia, ex-
cited much interest. Four groups of
sixteen men each hauled in a gun and
maneuvred them about on foot. Clad
in white, the militiamen nevertheless
did not hesitate q moment when the
order came to advance fiat on their
stomachs, as small boys on sleds. This
detail of preparedness was quick to be
noted by the crowd. and each addi-
tional flop in the tanbark was greeted
by a round of cheers.
Company G., list Infantry, y. q. y.
Y, with Captain Henry Masln com
manding, gave an extended order drill,
the men being exceedingly deft at dis
charging their rifles while reclining on
their s.omachs. Lying thus in the soft
tanbark, suddenly a whistle would
blow, and they would get up and ad-
vance ten yards, only TO lie down again.
In the course Of several minutes they
traversed the entire arena in this fash
ion, and seemed none the worse for
the experience.
A military athletic contest between
two men next occupied the attention of
tha spectators. The contest consisted
in removing rifles, suspenders, coats
leggings, then shoes, then hats. and
placing them apart at distances Of ten
yards. At this point several women in
the audience were seen TO become agi-
tateG, but evidently the requirements
of the contest were fulfilled, for they
did not remove anything more. At the
report of a gun the men started to re-
clothe themselves. and Private Faugh-
nan, of the list Regiment, won as the
speeoiest dresser.
To wind up the evenings entertain
ment, the 22d Corps OF Engineers, Ma
tional Guard of New York. constructed
a pontoon bridge and then demolished ID
it with the same sort OF stuff we
found over in Jersey" according to
Owen Egan. Inspector of Combustibles.
who was on hand to Sc that no sol
diers smoked near the gunpowder.
In Commissioner Woods box were
First Deputy Leon 0. Cooley and Mrs.
Cooley, Colonel George Wingste, Colo
mel Frank Norton and Captain Dewitt
{. Weld. jr.
A detail of twenty-nine officers and
men of the Old Guard, commanded by
Colonel Ardolph l.. Kline. acted as spe-
cial escort TO the officers of the Mil
itary Athletic League and their guests
of the army. the navy and the national
guard. There will be a detail of the
Old Guard present every night during
the snow.
An armored motor truck. with a
wicked little gun on top. stands in the
middle OF the room. with several ar
tillery batteries around IT. There is
also sample Of the standard whale
boat OF the United States Navy. owned
b. the lst Battalion. Naval Militia.
FRIENDS OF SHUT-INS TO MEET