The Washington herald., 1922-02-05
4CRACK TROOPS
AREN CAVALRY,
GENERAL SAYS
Maj. Gen. Holbrook Tells
OF Extensive Training
Of Cavalry Recruits.

CBy Maj. Gen. Willard A Hol.
brook. Chief of Cavalry.
The early Persians had just
three subjects in their educational
courses for young men. They
taught them to tell the truth:
they taught them to shoot straight
and WELD a weapon. and they
taught them horsemanship.
They insisted on a training in
horsemanship not solely because
their day did not know the auto.
mobile, but because mastery over
tne morse was known TO bring with
1t mastery over self and mastery
over men. 1t is to be feared that
we civilized peoples of today have
oeVitalized our educational system
oy falling to insure training in
these three important particulars,
But there are some schools in
which these three essentials are
sun taught. and among them is
army.
1t Is a great pity that more
young men cannot go through this
school. But its size has been c,,t
10 fourteen small regiments. More
over service has ever been So at
tractive in the cavalry that its or
ganizations have always included
large number of men who re-
main year after year. This in
sures crack troops. splendid regi-
ments: but it limits the oppor-
tunity for young men to obtain a
cavalry training. However, the
cavalry is training all the young
men it is allowed to enlist, and II
is training them ito beat the
band"
Our young officers are given a
thorough course in horsemanship
and cavalry weapons at the Cavalry
School. under the best instructors
that can be found. They, in turn,
brim full of enthusiasm, return to
the regiments to train their men,
and these young men, who come
to the cavalry from civil life, are
trained by such sound and positive,
yet kindly methods. that they
leave the service with regret and
remember IL with affection.
The cavalry recruit Is first de-
veloped in body and muscle and
alertness 50 that he is fit to be put
on a horses back. Then his train
ing in horsemanship begins, and 1t
never ends while he wears leggins
and spurs. In many of our cavalry
garrisons, the king of sports
polo-has been made available for
enlisted men as well as officers
There is no sort of training that
develops initiative, quick thinking
and prompt action so surely as
fnh
velops leadership in the player and
knowledge of the horse. his condi-
tioning and care. But the cavalry
man has many other things to
learn. He must learn to WELD ef-
fecttvely and easily the saber,
which the world war cavalry oper-
atoms clearly showed is still an
essential cavalry weapon; he must
learn to shoot accurately with both
rifle and pistol, to make use of
cover. to do courier work, to scout
and patrol. Finally. he must be
trained to be a part of his troop
in evolution and attack.
Our cavalry is scattered pretty
well all over our country; but
whether the cavalryman finds him.
self part of the smart squadron at
Fort Myer. that has the privilege
of escorting the highest dignitaries
of our own country and Of foreign
powers, or whether his task, as
one of a training center troop. is
to show the enthusiastic young
reservist how to saddle and mount
or whether il is part of his duty to
make bivouac on the border. where,
gathered with his comrades around
the camp fire. he swaps yarns of
daring and adventure. and cher
ishes thoughts of the perilous
trails, the picturesque canyons, or
the wide stretches of prairie that
the days march has covered - he
is always and forever alive and
alert, and he confides in his buddy,
'rOld Timer. this Is the lifew