New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-14
WAR.pI.!AN.
General Meigs' Description of the Prussian
Military Maneuvers at Leignitz.

General NIeigs' Description of the Prussian
Military Maneuvers at Leignitz.
The following graphic report of the au-
tumn military maneuvers of the German
army has just been received by the Secre-
tary from Quartermaster General Meigs,
who witnessed the campaign:
BERLIN, Prussia, September %, 1875.
Hon W. W. Be!knap, Secretary of War, Washing
ton:
GENERAL-After spending few days
in England, / proceeded 70 Switzerland;
thence | came to this city, in order to wit
ness, if possible, the great autumn maneu-
vers in Sileeia.
These were this year to be on larger
scale than ordinary, and those in Silesia
were to be carried on under the personal
direction and supervision OF the Emperor of
Germany. l called upon our minister to
this country, Hon. j. G. Bancroft Davis. and
made known to him my Instructions, and
my wish to be advised of the exact time and
place of the nlaneuvers, and to be permitted
to witness them. He was kind enough to
GO with me to call upon the Ministers of
War and of Foreign Affairs, and upon Field
Marshal Count Won MOltke.
had letters of personal introduction to
General Won Kamecke, the Minister of
War, and to Count Won Moltke. Both
being absent in Silesia, IN att, ndance upon
the Emperor, We left our cards and the let
ters.
The Foreign Minister. Baron Won Bulow,
was at home, but being about to set out for
Potsdam, could not receive US at that mo-
ment.
Mr.. Davis wrote notes to the Foreign
Minister and to the War Minister the same
day, presenting my request and asking ad-
vice how to proceed. The next day Baron
Won BulOw cent courteous reply, regret
ing that he had not been able ~ place him.
self at our disposition on the previous day,
stating that he could advise nothing better
than the course already pursued, direct ap-
plication to the War Minister, and also say
ing that he had, in order to aid in procuring
speedily the favorable reply which he fore
saw, forwarded to the Emperor in Silesia,
the papers he had received from Mr.. Davis.
On the evening of the fourteenth of Sep
TENDER the reply to the application reached
Mr.. Davis from the War ministry. 1t was
to the effect that permission was granted to
General Meige, his aid, Lieutenant Macomb,
and his secretary, to attend and witness the
maneuvers of the Fifth and Sixth Corps,
then in Silesia, under the personal direction
of his majesty the Emperor. and those of
the Ninth Corps, in Mecklenberg, which
would occupy the week of the twentieth to
the twenty fifth of September.
That during the operations, these officers
should be considered the guests Of the EN-
peror The letter further requested that
information be autographed to Liegnitz as
to the time of our arrival at that place, in
order that we might be met by an officer
and all necessary dispositions made for our
accommodation.
Mr.. Davis sent tha necessary information,
and we reached Leignitz about 2 p. NJ. on
the twelfth of September. Major Won Lie
hermann, on duty with the foreign officers
attending the operations, received us at the
depot and conducted is to comfortable
quarters. This was Wednesday, a day of
rep0se for the troops, during which opera
tions were suspended.
The ordinary programme for the autumn
maneuvres occupies week. Monday, grand
review of the troops by the Emperor, if he
attends the operations; Tuesday, maneuvers
OF the main body Of the corps against an
enemy whose battalions and companies are
various arms; Wednesday, repose of the
troops; Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
marches, maneuvers, and battles of the
whole of the troops employed. They are
divided into nearly equal opposing bodies,
kept in ignorance of each others views and
intentions. In this case the preliminary
reviews and maneuvers were over, and
Wednesday, the day Of our arrival, was de-
voted to repose Of the troops who bivouack-
ed ON the field OF operations We received
Biographical information cards and maps
which gave the general scheme Of opera
tions for the next day, and the general
ideas of the situation, and also the special
ideas in relation thereto Of the commandere
Of the two opposing armies, and the orders
issued the night before BY each, making
known the dispositions ordered for the en-:
snins day, and the positions to Be occupied
ats = =, By the respective corps, divisionA
Ats 4 1--WE met ct the rendezvous il
tho Ruhlie sapaxe . large body Of of{ioers
German, English, Russjen, French, Italian