The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-30
The Readiness of the German Army for
Wnr.

A couple of days after war had been de
clarcd between france and Prussia, In 1870 an am
bassador met Matshal tthen goncraD Won Moltke
saunterng In the Friedrich str1sse at Berlin, with
his hands tehd hls back, and his eyes roaming plac-
Idly dnioug the shOp windows. Tie dlplomntlst
stopped to exchange few words with tho soldier,
hui soon broke OF Saving: ~ VIII not detan you
further, general as YOU must he very busy NJ this
moment ".oh, NO, I'm not busy at all, y, an
swcred the chief OF the stan. - Our orders have
been given, and as soon as the army Is modified
shall 90 to my duty. -
when Napoleon mrs armies were already In full
retreat after RelsChoffen aud forbach scores OF
Freuch railway stations wore encountered with tons
Of stores which had been boughtat the last moment
and had no time to reach the front. Many Of these
goods were subsequently pundcred or DESTROYED In
vln1ctye spite by the mobiles. The mobiles Of cha
Ions hearing there were barrels OF brandy for the am
balances at Chnlons station, made raid upon the
goods depot aud destroyed kegs of chlorofor atnlca
iaulanum, besides scattering several thousand
pounds worth Of drugs, tea, coffee sugar and rice
There Is pedantry in the prudence which consissl
In utilizing the time OF peace to make ready FOR al
the necessities OF war.
such prudence saves many lives, much money, aud
goes far toward nsurlng Victory. When Marshal
Lcbmuf told the French Chambers that they could om-
bark war without fear, everything had been pro-
words which ought to have been literally tttle which
were true In Germany, and arc trtie to-day. There
every regiment has Its depot Of service kits which can
be served out to the men at an hours notlce and
every army corps has Its depot Of general stores am
bulance wagons, field telegraph apparatus, and bank
ing cars, In complete state Of efficiency. Practically
the army can be mobillzcd ustantaneously. for the
calling out VI the need not delay the departure
Of the men In actual service. As fast the reserves
Join their reglmental dcpots they are equipped In
kits ready aud waiting for them. They receive con-
densed food erbwurst aud biscub enough to yictual
them for days, and sentafer their comrades
fast as possible by train. An the railway trains In
Germany can be rcqusltnned for military service IN
time when IT may require TO despatch half dozen
kilograms, and every general and colonel knows ex-
acly TO what locality In the seat of war he must be-
take himself. Information on this subject Is fur
nished on printed manuals, clearly worded which
are issued at the first signs of coming with any
State.
Wars never break ont without few weeks prelude
OF diplomatic negotiation, and this period Is employed
by the German war office In issuing the manuals Just
mentioned and In distributing maps of the country
to be invaded TO all the onlcers AS for the plan OF
the campaign, II Is ready, like everything else.
Among the most secret archives OF the oice and
Of the emperor palace arc plans for every possible
sort OF campaign with any natlCn the continent.
They have all been naturally conCoctcd In councils
held by the leading generals, and though unforeseen
circumstances may cause them to be modified In some
particulars, yet the general outlines of them remain
available. And In any case what changes have to bt
introduced are all made during the 90 diplomatic
pefiod,' while the ambassadors from Berlin are
spinning out negotiations In order to give telr gen
erals time to arrange tactics. When is declared
the cry Is FcItlg - CReahy y the army starts int
motion as II touched by spring. and the chief Of tn,
staff quite well aforl to take cool aud Cheerful
stroll down the Fredrcb's strasSe rs Marshal VOL
Multke did. II London NelCS.