, 1870-08-25
WAR IN EUROPE,


4 LIE sA4AAAG5 "a I1@A4aCS 2ARN a13EInu nFs
The reports hitherto published concerning
the vast armies sent into thu field by the two
contending powers have been mostly confined
to compaIi Iison OF figures as to their numet-
ical strength. Tho following extracts from a
series Of letters published in the Gazette Of
Cologne bE julius ron W1ckedc, one OF the
best military writers in Europe, enter more
full into the detnils Of organization, equip
ment. and armament OF the two armies
We commence with the infantry as the most
important brunch Of an army. The equip
mert Of the FrenuI, introduced for the cam
paigus IN Algeria and Italy. is very light and
especially calculated for field service in 4
warm climato or during summer campaign,
60 that the Germans, with their right, heavy
coats, will be under q disadvantage, unless
they leave their costa at home or On the Dag-
gage teams, and fight either IN blouses or in
ehirt-eleeves. The overcoat, uaed for protec
ticn against tie raiu and cold nights, Is the
came IN the French as in the German army.
The military cap of the French, while
undoubtedly lighter and more conf
fortaele than tine German helmet,
dots not afford equal protection against rain
and wind, ano againss the sabrecuts OF the
cavalry. AZ regards the armament, there is
tot may be superior at long range when care
fully handled, it bears no comparison with the
needle-gun in general engagement at shorter
di=tauce. In fact, it IL generally conceded
that tho Prussia1,s have had out and out the
best Of it in shooting go far. The French are
generally bad marksmen they hardly know
how to take good aim, and appear to tak.par-
ticular pleasure III wasting ammunition. They
advance rapidly upon the enemy, fire into the
air to no purpose whatever, and when suf-
ticientiy ncar may be ea'ily routed By we'll
directed fire from strictly disciplined enemy,
especially when followed by a firm charge Of
tho bayonet. The Chasseur7-a- pied form de-
ciGedly the hest part Of the French infantry,
and arc decidedly preferable in any serious en-
gngement and in open battle to the much
vaunted Lancers and Turcos. The four light
infantry regiments of the Imperial Guard, and
The twenty battalions Chaascurs-a pied consti-
tute the flower OF the French infantry, but
even they cannot compete With tho German
Chasseurs and Fusiliers in rapidity and accu.
racy Of fire.
much lately, ID found to be of hut little
practical use in tbs field, and it Ii already an
nounced that the French will renounce it be-
! fore the campaign is over. 1ts Transports
| ton across the county is difficult and it ia
not eaeily brought into position. Wherever it
artillery does much better service.
The French infantry are. generally good
| skirmishers, especially tue Veterans who have
served in Algeria. They likewise excel in the
rapid bullding-up Of camps, striking Of tents,
and their peculiar adaptation. to camp life.
/
in all movements in closed columns, and, al.
though apparently swift in motion, they are
in ali Their eYolnhoIs decidedly inferior to
their German antagonists. The ont-poat ser.
vice is but imperfectly and neglgensly at
tended to, aud French infantry can be bui
very little relied upon in all night attacks.
Tie French artillery forms, beyond all
doubt, the best disciplined branch OF the
uimv. The officers are almost without ex
ptiou men Of Theoretical knowledge and oi
fair practical experience, while the rank ani
file are composed Of robust. picked meu. Tht
them 10 be worthy antagonists, with whom il
will be an honor and delight to vie in skii
and daring en- the battlefield. France ha:
undoubtcdls brought into action 3 heavy
force Of artillery, and it is more than ptoba
ble that fully two-tAi:ds OF the entire contin
gent Of tie iegu]ar army Q57 batteries, Will
$50: field-risces) is nov laundering forti
against the P1rssian lines. The French have
nearly all rlaed canncn, made after the mode
invented hy L. Hitte- Tue brcechloadin:
F1ercA a1tille,y7 they use e1clusivel,
L. Hitte's four ard tWelre-ponnd muzzls
leaders. Experience will show whether thes'
+ gups will hear comparison with the German
titled breech-loaders. A material drawhacl
10 the movements Of French artillery IL th
tnfe1io1ity and insufficient trimming Of thei
horeee they arc strong, but clumsy and slow
II il the common belief ,l,at the German,
p1useian fying-aitillery maEGuvras will
greater aexteritv and rapldity than the French
md that they easily pass over obatEactions i
their way where French ct1vers would b
compelled to halt. It is = wcll-knovu fac
that horsemanship is still but Indifferent
understood in France, although reuarknbl
| progress has been made siuce the advent o
the Second Empire Ne confidently nntici
pate that one-holf Of the holses of the Frenc
, artillery will be unfit. for service before tn
first Of next month.
Tie weakest point Of the French army
I the cavalry, although The present Empe1o
, has made indefatigable efforts toward its in
: p1oyement. The soldiers do not lack Gel
tain Wild courage, aud are apt to hurry on
} tho onslaught, Lrandishins their long sword
| and uttexing terrible cries; but, when nea
the enemy, half Ct them havo lost all contrt
. + Of their horeee, and are carried to and fro .
random. =. The Prustian cavalry manen 7rs
:. ten fines better, aud, whenever it comes to
copcussion with the enemy, it can utterly di
a organize the latter and bring him into cor
!. plete confusion by one or two sda1teror
eyplutipna. We must not forget that this
a tie same Cavalry which vanquished and q
most appihilated tho famous Hungarian ca;
T. alry during the campaign OF 1866, which 1att.
had Ieen, up to that time, considered invinc
a Bic. It canuut bc denied that the Frcnch ii
excellent swordsnen. but they are so d
= | icieut in horsemanship that they hardly fir
q chance Tor tho proper use OF their weapon
The Chass.urs d'Afnque are almost the on
/. good horsemen in the French army. Th'