Army and Navy Review 1915 Panama-California Edition - Balboa Park

Troop M left Tecate, California, on December 21st, and marched to
San Diego, California, to prepare the cavalry camp for the temporary duty
at the California Panama Exposition. Troop L left San Ysidro, December
26th, Troop D on December 28th and Troop B on December 30th, all
by marching to San Diego, California, for temporary duty at the Exposition.
SPECTACULAR E X H IB IT IO N OF CA VALRYM EN AT FAIR T H R IL L
MANY W AT CHERS
The review of an entirely different arm of the service from his own by Admiral
Howard, was perhaps the most distinctive feature of Admiral Howard Day. Troops B,
D, L and M, of the First cavalry, encamped at the Exposition, presented a motion picture
which caught the popular fancy and created unbounded enthusiasm on the part of the
thousands of spectators thronging the Tractor field.
Admiral Howard as well as officers of all branches of the service, paid closest attention
to all the difficult and beautiful evolutions of the more than 250 men and horses
in the review, and accorded them the highest praise, at the conclusion of the exercises,
as well as bestowing generous applause when some particularly effective manuever was
being staged.
The admiral and his staff, with President Davidson and his aides; Col. J. H. Pendleton,
grand marshal of the parade, with his staff; and Captain Moseley, senior cavalry
officer, composed the reviewing party, while a number of the officers’ wives occupied
automobiles in close proximity.
Silent Signals Used
The four troops passed the reviewing party on a walk, then at a trot and then on a
gallop; after which they they were put through the new drill, by which orders are
given with blasts from a whistle and a semiphore-like movement of the arm, no commands
being given other than these almost silent signals. The drill was a thorough
demonstration of the feasibility of handling large bodies of cavalry by the silent signals.
The most thrilling event of the drill was when one or other of the troops was given the
signal to charge, and, with a yell, and with sabers held aloft, spurred their splendid
horses to full speed and, lowering their swords to an effective horizontal, thundered onward
into the the ranks of the theoretical enemy.
Clouds of dust completely shrouded horse and rider, while spectators held their
breath in suspense, conscious of the risk which the mock charge involved, should any
horse go down, but at the signal “halt" the line came up in fine formation and every
man and steed stood erect and unscathed.
Volleys Quickly Fired
A dismounting skirmish drill was a realistic bit of the proceedings, when the cavalrymen
turned their mounts over to the care of certain of their comrades designated
for the purpose, and with rifles in hand, double-quicked to an advanced position, drop
ped to the ground and fired a volley at the supposed enemy, then by squads advancing
to another advanced position. The rattle of guns lent a touch of realism only second
to the thrilling charges which had preceded it.
During one of the exciting assembles of the troops, a pretty piece of horsemanship
not down on the program was exhibited by Sergt. C. Vogelious of Troop M. His horse
had ideas divergent from those of its rider as to a certain evolution, and in the argument
became so excited that it reared up on its hind legs, much in the manner familiar to
and admired by young readers of the circus bills. The sergeant was a guidon bearer
for his troop, and with great coolness sprang from his mount, holding the flag aloft and
still retaining hold of the reins. In a very few seconds he had remounted and was in
his proper position.
in addition to the usual evolutions, some very pretty fancy riding was done, which
was quite as good in its way as a grand march at a ball, and showed up sharply how
intelligent the well trained and well matched horses were.
Admiral Howard, when asked after the review for his opinion of the spectacle, declared
it one of the finest cavalry drills he ever witnessed. ‘‘You know,” he said, “sailors
are proverbially good judges of horsemanship, and I would not appear as an exception
to the rule. I was particularly impressed with the charges, of course, but that
little sideplay by the trooper who was unhorsed was very pretty, too. But. everything
was fine, so that it would be. hard to say which was the most impressive. The Coast
artillerymen and the murines made a showing in the earlier parade that was most
creditable.”
Mrs. Howard gave her verdict, so far as the cavalry maneuvers were concerned, in
favor of the “dancing” horses.