, 1880-10-03

THE GERMAN AUTUMN MANEUVRE5.
The London Times Of the 18th to the 18th
inst. inclusive, contains the details of the
annual maneuvres near Berlin, evidently
written by military man, which in their
way are quite as significant as the proposed
naval maneuvres off 'Dulcigno, besides
throwing some new light upon the wonder
full perfection Of drill and the immense
strength OF tho German army. I'VE have al
ready devoted one article to consideration
Of some of the general results arising from
these maneuyres,, and once more allude to
them for the purpose Of bringing out some
of their more interesting details.
The first day was devoted to sham battle
against an imaginary enemy, supposed to be
located at the villages OF. Britz and Buckow,
on the plain south Of Berlin. It would be
impossible to give In brief the details Of the
movements SO that they would be compre-
hended, but some Of the results may be
pointed out that bear upon the changes made
by the German military leaders during the
past ten years, especially in the steady and
perfect drill Of the barrack-yard. The FIRST
days operations particularly developed the
wonderful rapidity with which the troops of
all arms could get over the ground and the
silence and sureness with which they moved,
and US a special result that upon broken
ground cavalry can attack infantry and even
artillery in loose order.
On the second day the maneuvres were
continued, but the great feature Of the day
was the parade Of the Guard Corps, number
ing in peace q, 900 men and in war 10000
THE correspondent writes that no such large
mass of troops in the world could show such
even symmetry. such steadiness Of move
ment, and such perfection of drill. 1.-THE
men are OF large stature, being picked from
all parts Of. the Empire. Their ranks are as
regular as if ruled by the hand of giant
mathematician, and their movement as
rhythmical as Ii one single mind animated
the whole mass" Upon this phase Of the
parade the Times correspondent comments
as follows:
solidity, as preliminary to the rnptdity of
movement requisit in modern war, cannot be
too strongly Insisted upon. Every experience
of the German army confirms more strongly
the justice 9f the views expressed many years
ago by the Duke ct Cambridge as to the neccs-
sity Of constant steady drill, and points out how
much success In modern var depends iu the tirst
Rfe On the a n v of fne
lin, where 1t Is gladly allowed that the skill of
Moltke or the Organization Of Rom would hare
been Of little effect bud not each battalion, each
company, and each squad been long, patiently,
and thoroughly practced In the most elementary
principles Of the barrack-yard-
The horses of the cavalry of the Guard
Corps are described as strong, muscular, and
we'll up to weight, a result owing to the care
which the Government has given to re-
mounts aud the studs Of breeding-chargers 1t
has made, in which are stationed some Of the
best sires that the English turf has produced.
As specimen of the, endurance OF these
troops, it is stated that some of them had to
march eighteen miles TO- the place Of as I
sembly. n1aneuvre four or five hours, and |
then march eighteen miles back to their !
biilets. Evidently German musters are not |
holiday picnfcs. :
Tie maneuvres Of the third day were con-
fined to an advance Of the Guard Corps to |
attack Berlin from the south, the advance /
being disputed by skeleton force covering
the approach to the Capital. The advance /
was led BY the scouts of the Guard Corps, /
riding as single troopers, supported BY two
half sQuadrons, followed in turn by the
whole of their respective regiments, and !
these in turn by two regiments Of cuirassier
The scouts, coming In contact with the
enemy's sQuadrons, which had been sent
forward to protect their pfckets,' were
not strong enough to force them back. They
:ell back and the two regiments Of cuirassiers
prepared to charge, The correspondent
writes: ut was grand sight Twelve hun
lred horselnen, armed with cuirass and hel-
net, at sharp t1un,pet call sprang forward
o the attack, and rushed like an avalanche
# steel upon the toe. The pace at which
hey went was marvellous, for each horse
.arries weight Of at least eighteen stone,
md the ground was deep and wet with rain.
3ut the horses are well bred and veil chosen
" means Of the Government studs, and it is
doubtful whether any troops in the world
.ould have stood the brunt of that assault"
The charge was supported by all advance of
JhJans and Dragons, and these in turn by
he horse artillery, :" the horses galioping
Ike greyhounds, although the soil was
ticky." The Times correspondent was par