Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-01
ARMY CRITICS IN EGYPT.
What the Germans Think of Sir Garnet
MnIseleY,s Enrces in Eevnt

Wolse1ey's Forces in Egypt.
The campaign just ended stands unique
in British military annals az atfording
the best opportunity yet offered for study
ing the Queens army and the diverse types
of its officers. POnderOus Life Guardsmen
have been riding and fighting side by side
with the active, wiTy hOrsemen from Ben
gal. Pensive engineers and artillerymen
sometimes a little priggish in their way.
but downright good fellows when you come
to know them-sturdy lnesmen who have
won their way without protection" re-
served but courteous riflemen. proud and
fiery Highfanders, and dashing hussars
and dragOOns-I put these two together,
for there is scarcely any difference be-
tween them in the British service-have
been hobnObbing with red-legged zOuave-
clad Beloocher and dusky mOuntaineer
from the Punjaub.
With such variety to feed upon / was
rather surprised that only two countries
took the pains to send military attaches
to watch and criticise the campaign,
These two countries were Germany and
the United States, and, oddly enough both
attaches-Captain Baron Won Hagenau
and Commander GOOderich-arrived in
Egypt after the battle of Tel ell Kebir,
"We are waiting impatiently to see your
report upon usf'
1hlo 1uCobAOh W 90 pun ttI a ltSlIOIldDlc
cafe by tall, handsome guardSman to an
equally handsome and still taller officer of
the Prussian General staff. The reply
was: "Our reports are strictly confden-
tial in their nature, and aresneYer made
public.'' From the nature of the special
information sought by this officer, and
from my own knowledge of the German
army gained from experience with it in
the field as well as in garrison, | cannot be
c1If Aft a.
points of unfaYOrahle criticism in the
Prussian report are about as follows:
First. General carelessness and negIi-
gence in the performance of outpost duty.
A shOrtcOming, encouraged by the alb
sence of any legitimate outpost duty ON
the part of the enemy during the present
campaign, and which in the face of
wretched, uncivilized Egyptian army
proved harmless, but which would lead to
perhaps fatal results in campaign
against an American, German and Aus
trian or Russian army.
Second. The general want of military
dpIOmb and "get-up" throughout the ser
vice, and especially among the Younger
officer of the Guards, as well as of the
line.
Third. That company officers, especial
ly in the Guards, are too dependent upOn
their nOn-commissiOnedO officers for their
grill instruction ana ulSclpllne of the
men, as well as for the internal economy
of their companies,
Fourth. That commanders OF battalions
are in the same way dependent upon their
Adjutants.
Fifth. Unnecessary inattention on the
part of private soldiers in reference to
saluting officers, especially those belong
ing to other corps or regiments.
Sixth. The fact that when a British
army, with the sole exception of the I'm.
dian contingent, takes the field everything
becomes at once in an abnormal condi7
ton. Officers are suddenly called upon to
perform special duties in which they have
had no practice or instruction in peace.
and to which they are wholly Iinaccus,
toned. Moreover, uniforms are EXCHANGED
for nofdescript jackets, where all distinc-
tiOns of regiments and sometimes even of
rank are lost. y
seventh. That the merits of the ..sbort
service system Instituted by Sir Garnet
Wolseley, and for which praise has been
claimed by him and accorded bv the atl-
thorities in England, has not been tested,
because as matter of fact the average
length of service of the sOldiers-incIuding
the marines, who actually took part ia
the campaign-was seven and ane-half
years,