Evening star., 1917-05-23
SHORTEST CADETS WIN
IN HIGH SCHOOL DRILL
Company c of Mckinley Manual
Captures Flag; Company L Second
and Company B Third.

| Company c, I'd Regiment, of McKin-
ley Manual Training School yesterday
| won the annual competitive drill Of the
High School Cadets of Washington. With
a score of 9O.33 points out of possible
| 100. the company, led by Capt. Edmund
K. Ellis, the smallest captain in the
| cadets and the leader of a company
| which probably averages the lowest
stature. was victorious over nineteen
other companies, representing the five
white high schools.
Company l.. 1st Regiment, of West
ern High School. was awarded second
place with a score of 39.6S. 1t was led
by Capt. c. E. Leasure.
Company B, I'd Regiment. Mckinley
Manual Training School, won third
honors with a percentage of ss.5S. Its
captain is John G. Byler.
With twenty companies taking part,
the drill which was ended yesterday is
generally conceded to have been an un-
given out show that the best company
was separated from the third best by
only about two points.
Gives Dramatic Touch.
The fact that Capt Ellis is the small
est captain in the cadets, standing
just feet 1 inch, and that the boys
dramatic interest yesterday when. after
considerable maneuvering, Company C
was ordered to the front. The maneu-
vering. executed by staff officers, may
drill regulations. but certainly it helps
to make a tense situation tenser and
gives the winners little greater thrill
of joy-if that be possible-than they
otherwise would enjoy.
Maj. Gen. Barnett, commandant of
the United States Marine Corps, pre-
sented to Capt. Ellis the trophy flag.
which has been presented to nearly
you are on the right track" declared
Gen. Barnett in making the presenta-
tion. 81 hope you will continue doing
as you have done today. 1 want to con-
gratulate every man in your company
Gen. Barnett then pinned the Allison
Nailor medal on the chest Of the young
cadet leader. This medal is the pos
session Of the captain only temporarily.
Mr.. Sinclair Presents Replica.
A. Leftwich Sinclair, president of the
then presented to Capt. Ellis a replica
of the medal. the replica being the
permanent possession of the young
man.
"For the last seven or eight years
1t has been the annual custom of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce to
show its appreciation of the splendid
work and training required to bring
the cadets to their high standard of
excellence by presenting to the cap
tain of the winning company this
souvenir. This we know will long be
remembered as one of the brightest
and happiest moments of your career"
said President Sinclair. May that ca
reer, so happily begun. be one of in
creasing honor to yourself and your
country"
Each member Of the winning COM
pany received a red ribbon; each mem
Der OF the company winning second
place received a purple ribbon, and to
each member Of the company gaini<n
third place white ribbon was given.
First Lieut.. j. S. smylie, Engineer
Corps, U. s. A.. chairman Of the board
| OF judges, spoke highly of the drill,
saying the task of determining the
winning company had been a difficult
| one.
| "I was really surprised" he said.
| ''The boys certainly did well. 1t was
ever a question of determining which
was the best company
| Members Of the board of education.
officials of the schools and others
| on the field with Gen. Barnett and his
| staff when the presentation was made.
| Following the drill the companies
| returned to their respective schools to
| celebrate. The most enthusiastic, of
4 course. was at Tech, where the win
| ners OF both first and third places are
| located
/ Victory Celebrated at McKinrev.