Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-02

Reeent Improvemenfs In Arms aud
Taeties-iIow England Has PROFIT.
ed ny ths Experience OF Recent
Wars.
In the last three years the improve
ments in the British army have been
marked. Tho English are slow TO
change, believing their own way TO DO
the best; yet they have, since the late
war on the Rhine, made several changes
not all for the better, however. New
ideas do not often originate at the Horse
Guards, but some ideas have been
adopted and believed to be original. The
loose order" in attack is one Of the
things that have been adopted and are
being practiced. No longer are lines in
close order TO be used against an enemy
well.provided with artillery; and the use
OF squares is considered necessary in
only few cases. The infantry are now
equipped more lightly and armed with
the Snider breech.loader. 0fthe three
arms the
INFANTRY I.IU
are the best, being steady and iAtelli-
gent, with plenty Of pluck. The arm
is organized into one-battalion regi'
ments, except in the case of the house
hold troops, the infantry Of which are
organized into two and three battalion
regiments; also in the case Of the Sixti.
eth rifles and Rife brigade, each Of
which has four battalions In this army
the battalion has twelve companies,
eight of which are called the "service
companies" and the remaining four the
depot componies." The battalion SER
vice is recruited from the depot. This
organization is good, eight companies
being the best complement for a battal-
ion in the field. The infantry are now
exercised in advancing in lines at loose
order" and in skirnishing in large
bodies. The one-rank system has been
tried and considered better than the two.
rank. Some military men, however,
prefer the action in files Of two men, as
the men can thus cover each other while
loading. The North German army is
taken as model for everything, and
aptly copied. The uniform Of the line
infantry is a red tunic, with dark blue
pantaloons and cloth chacaut. The
pouch is suspended by buff belt over
the left shoulder, and the bayonet by a
waist belt. The appearance of a line is
very regular, and the movements are
very steady, the lines marching as one
body, owing to the men being we'll drilled
to take the same length Of pace-thirty
inches.
The rife brigade is among the elite Of
the army. All the men are young and
active, their uniforms being a dark
green tunic, with black facings. They
are now drilled to execute every move
ment at the double-quick pace, in imita.
ton of the Italian Bersagliere. The
men are steady and active, and there is
no doubt of their pluck, but they do not
equal the French or Italians in this
branch of tactics. For defense they
would outdo the two others, being more
steady and cooler, but certainly they are
not gymnasts. There are four battalions
in the brigade, and finer body of able
bodied young men could not be found.
The Sixtieth rifles are as strong as the
brigade, having four battalions. The
uniform is gray, with red facings. This
corps was originally formed of loyal
Americans" )" and is still designated the
"Sixtieth rifles, or loyal Americans"
The gray color is by some considered
the best for rihemen, as it is the same
as the trunks of trees, or as a road or
plowed field, stone-wall, etc.
CAVALRY.