The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-10
2sD.C. TROOPERS
REORGANIZATION
Men Understood to Be Given
Preference for Cavalry Com
missions Here.

members Of Troop
A, First Separate Cavalry, District
militia, have taken examinations for
commissions In Troop b and the other
two troops to be organized In Wash.
ington to form q squadron.
The names OF the successful candi.
dates viii not be known for several
weeks, es Capt. James washburn,
tenant Langdon, who conducted the
examination, Will take month or
moro In checking UP the papers.
Mes Given Preference.
II II Understood by the officers and
men in Troop A that the members OF
the District cavalry Organization here,
who have already had more than Ave
months actual field experience, will
have the call over other aspirants for
commissions In Troop b and the
others TO be formed.
The examination was ordered by
J. G. Cashier, adjutant general OF the
District militia. Although the mem
bers Of Troop A have heard that the
has already been selected, they are
inclined TO doubt this, In view of Ma
tor Cashiers order for the examina.
tiop here.
n Men DesiGnsted..
The twenty.three men designated
by Captain washburn to take the ex-
animation are Private simon Allen,
Private Henry p. Ames, Private Frank
Daughman, serGt James ID. Bebout,
sergt. George A. Bell, SerGt. James =.
Birmingham, Private Henry NJ.
Brown, Private Joseph l.. Brooks.
Private Maurice X. Colbert, sergt
Kenneth W. Cugie. Private Henry ].
Dean; Private Alexander N; Hitz' PIT.
n. Lawrence. Private Victor G. Ohm.
sted, First Sergt. Samuel II. Ray,
eergt Herbert e. Rickard, sergt. John
A. Roth. Private Frank r. Selleck;
Corp. Harry. ~. .semmes, Corp; lowell
W, Squier, Private Robert G. Watson.
and Private Jesse II. Wilson, .jr:
the examination was divided into
practical and theoretical tests- All
were allowed n brief time In which
to bone up and the men put forth
their efforts.
Ysrty osessis.s Pat.
Forty questions dealing with cavai-
~ drills and other duties, including
the care OF horses and harness. con-
struction OF picket lines. etc. made
up the written examination. while
each OF the candidates was given an
opportunity TO drill the troop mount
cd 10 enable the examiners to pass
Judgment on his practical ability.
The three officers confessed that
hey were amazed at the ability OF
the nonscommlssioned officers and
buck priyates from the rear rank TO
command the troop. Several OF the
high privates from the last squad
maneuverp the troop through intricate
squad and platoon movements and a
few even went so far as TO order
sabers drawn and n charge made.
The regulations governing exam
ination prescribed that upon taking
charge OF the troop the candidate
:soI h sye sSs%nsSd s sns .na
the members OF the first squad what
was expected OF them
Gsyer.s Fsr.s Cem.s.ds-
This regulation governed the first
two commands. the idea being 60 let
the examiners Judge how much the
wouid-be officers knew about the drill
movements. None OF the candidates
failed TO give the proper explanation.
After the first two commands the
candidates were allowed 20 drill the
troop without calculating the mechan-
Ism of the movements.
The practical examinations was pro-
yocative OF considerable humor. tho
prtNhtcb hNhiiuk tnsnobNtr OF tuo
opportunity 20 ''bawl but" their non
commissioned officers and fellow
troopers on the slightest proyocatlon
for their personal appearance, the
looks OF their steods and harness and
imaginary diiatoriness In executing
commands.
The examiners watched the .candi-
dates very closely while the latter
were drilling the troop to estimate
their soldierly bearing. their force OF
the distinctness of their
commands and also To see IL the as
pirants were shy, embarrassed hesi-
tant or non-piussed.
Defects Are Missing.
None OF these defects were obser-
vAbis. Tho competition for honors
among the twentythree candidates
was keen. Each OF them watched the
other during the drills and when his
turn came To command the organiza-
ton he strove TO Guido his predeces-
sor In all departments.
The examiners said the ratings
would be difficult TO compile as all
the candidates did much better than
was to have been expected. I