Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-14


Ell PAsO, Tex, July 14-Phiadelphia
showed its citizen soldiers to the regular
army today in the first military spectacle
to be staged since the National Guard as
sembled here. Philadelphia scored a tri-
umph.
To the rapid.nre music of it's bands, the
first brigade paraded from Camp Pershing
to Fort Bliss and back again while the
crowds lining the roadway cheered Briga-
der General Bell, U. S. A. district com
mander, reviewed the long line of khaki as
1t swung past at Fort Bliss.
II was triumph for Brigadier General
Price, commander of the Philadelphia
forces who rode at the head of his troops.
II was remarkable exhibition of disci.
rline on the part of 5000 miltiamen under
him, A scant week i'm camp, they marched
like veterans. Up and down, up and down
swung their legs, like so many pistons
conncd by mechanism.
Small wonder that the coldly critical eyes
of the regular army officers and privates
waiting at Fort Bliss for the test quickly
were supplanted by mods of approval and
the impusive clapping Of hands. The first
ordeal, more terrible than the ordeal of
battle, was passed with colors flying.
Regulars were the tanned soldiers march,
Ing by to all appearances and to all in
tents and purposes.
The gallant 2d Regiment, it's battle
streamers flowing from the regimental
standards, had the post of honor as the
men that marched to recognition as real
soldery.
Headed by its band, the regiment fol-
lowed close behind the staff of General
Price General Price and the brigade field
officers were mounted on capering police
horses, which sensed the challenge and
responded to 1t.
The generals stecd. Handsome Dan, OF
Chestnut street fame. never arched his
glistcning neck moro proudly. The black
beauty was conscious of the honor Of
leading the way for the applauded troops.
Colonel Turner, Of tho Cd, senior COL
onel of the Pennsylvania troops. rode at
the head of his regiment with his staff.
One battalion was missing. 1t was the
Cd down somewhere in the Big Bend
country on border patrol. The I'd was
followed by the 1st Regiment, under Col
onel Allen. and the Sd Regiment under Lieu
tenant Colonel Kemp.
All the brigade and reglmcntal staff Off
GERS were mounted on bay horses The
three regiments, shouldering their brown
rifles like old campaigners. tramped brsky
out Bliss street to Alamogordo street, lead
Ing to the low.lying buildings of the fort.
Barracks were cmptied in trice as the
head of the column, with brassy music,
approached. General Bell and his staff in
full field uniforms were waiting at District
Headquarters. Time and again salutes were
heard as a particularly welldrilled COM
pany marched past, kicking up the yellow
dust to the strenuous "Hep.hep.hep.hep" of
its captain. And honestly approving We're
the smiles of the bronzed regulars who filled
balconies and open spaces,
1t does not dctract from the glory of
Philadelphia's troops to say that they were
drilled, practced and rehearsed for the
display. 1t does not subtract one leaf from
their laures. Rather it adds TO their tri-
umph to say that the supposedly raw SOL
diers. fed on armory drilling and week
of camp here and a week there, were put
through their PAGES like so many automa-
tons even until late yesterday; that they
went to their cots last night with thoughts
of the test on the morrow uppermost in their
minds and that when reville summoned
them this morning it was the parade and
not mess that popped into their heads.