Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-05-26
Mile RIDE
BY OFFICERS
BEGINS TODAY
Endurance Contest Scheduled
10 Star From Army Pos.
at s o'clock

Officers from up the Valley have
arrived ut Fort Brown. and every
thing is in readiness for the 5O-mile
endurance contest which is 10 start
this evening at 6 o'clock from the
road in front Of headquarters. The
contestants viii ride for loving cup
which has been donated by 1t. Col.
o. A. McGee Of the Fourth Cavalry.
Officers who have made application
up 20 this afternoon TO enter are;
Major Pendlcten, Capt. Rundcl, Capt.
Hawley. Capt. Palmer. Capt. Rieman,
Capt. Chrisman, Lieut.. Dodsworth.
Lieut. Jones and Lieut.. Cox.
The test win be over a triangular
course, not less than so miles in peri
meter. in an airline. the turning points
selected by 1t. Coils. MeGee and W.
M. Cooley. not to be located within
two miles Of a town or village. Al
each of the turning points there will
he stationed detachment 20 whom
the officers competing viii deliver a.
message. The turning points viii not
be known until the competitors are
ready 90 mount.
Each officer must ride his own
horse. or government mount which
ne has hshitaally ridden fer ut least
cne month prior 20 the contest. In
the route over the course Officers may
take advantage of such information
as 60 roads. watering ilaces. short
cuts. as a patrol leader would oh
tain from friendly in habita7tS.
The winner. 10 be judged by three
Judges. will he determined by con
dition Of his horse at the time of his
return 60 the starting point. and 8
o'clock Saturday morning: and the
time that II taken TO cover the cc"~~~.
At the start the competitors viii be
given instructions as 10 where To 20.
and viii be given man Of the court
~ ever which he will travel. OFF,
GERS competing may use any mili'ar~
~~~'nmerf. end nav wear any field
uniform they desire.
Thrs the test is one of headwork.
In addition to being one Of endurance
fer the horses and riders. was stated
BY Col. McGee when he offered the
cup.
1T win no doubt frequently ham
PEN. said Col. McGee. ''that during
campaign officers will be called upon
IT, take long rides through unknown
country, and over unfamiliar roads
and trails. either in charge of officers
patrols. in command Of scouting par
ties. or to carry dispatches.
''It II necessary, therefore, that
they should have some practise in
peace time. both in training and con
ditisning horses. and in finding their
way by compass and map. through
unknown territory and over unfa-
miliar routes"
In Speaking Of the value of the
tests in determining the best horses
for endurance. Col. McGce told of a
similar endurance contest which hal
been held in France in which COM
peted teams from Belgium. France,
Italy. England, and the United States.
The French team won the test from
the American team by a matter of
seconds.
A test on a somewhat more eX-
tensive scale Is TO be held in Vermont
this fall. according to word received
from there by Col. McGee. A GOO
mile contest, requiring contestants TO
cover a certain distance each day in
a given number Of hours is the plan
Of The test there. Its purpose is TO
the breed If horse best
adapted 20 hard travel.
In the future several more tests
will probably be held at Fort B.cwn,
as several Officers have already sig
nified their desire Of Offering culs
for endurance tests. Officers en-
tering the contest have been for sew
eral days exercising their mounts to
harden them for the long ride. In
terest in the event il very keen at the
post.