Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-22
A Grand Military Review.
GERMAN ARMY MANEUvERs AND SHAM
FIGHT IN SEPTEMBER

Having been invited by one of the high
officers of the German Army to attend the
review and great "sham fight that came
active troops engaged in it, Prof. Marshall
Livingston Perrin of Gottngen University,
Germany, tells what he saw.
II never in my life had such expe-
riences. We started off at 6 A M-took
the same train as the Crown Prince out
toward the ground We walked an hour
in the sun, which already began to burn
At 10 O'Clock the action began There
was mock battle-or rather battles
against portion of the army, which
served as the enemy. The battle ground
covered miles and miles OF country. over
hills and valleys, woods and bushes. Just
think! In the action $4,000 men took
part. infantry, cavalry, artillery, etc.
! Everything was precisely "a in war. ex.
cept guns and cannon had no cartridges ;
and that in the attack the columns went
past instead of dashing against each other.
We knew that no men were being slaugh-
tered. but the tremendous roar of cannon
and guns. and rolling smoke, the rapid
fire OF infantry attacks, the fierce gallop-
ing OF hundreds and hundreds of cavalry,
made it all very real 1t was tremendous
" exciting, for it was not simply play. 1t
was like an examination of he officers.
and many promotion followed the day
work. Ii was tough work too. Many a
soldier fell exhausted Ambition to show
military training and skill took the place
OF loyalty to ones country and spurred
many a charge.
! The spectators, of course, had to rush
| from hill To hill. from barricaded village
| to demolished cornfield. not only to get
new views. but often to get ont of the
way of charging cavalry or artillery. 1t
was often very exciting to be in the midst
OF the fire We followed pretty close on
the emperor's heels, Judging that he
would generally be nj the best point of
view. We were often very near him. and
overheard the Crown Princetell him about
the brillianev of a cavalry attack. He ex-
pressed his delight that it went
off so well. Very seldom one has a
chance to see so many celebrities at
once. and even then one generally sees
them sitting or standing like statues; but
here. on horseback and excited with in
terest. and often in bunch together. a
few feet from me were the Emperor
Wilhelm and the Crown Prince. and the
King of Saxony, the Grand Duke of Baden,
Prince Albrecht, Regent of Brunswick.
Prince Carl of Sweden. the King of
Portugal, Prince William of Prussia,
Field Marshal Won Moltke. Prince Ludwig
OF Bavaria. Prince George of Saxony and
quantities OF very famous Generals from
Russia. England and Turkey. and two
from France
The Empress did not come out. but
many carriages full of court ladies.
Queens and Princesses stood on hillside,
and drove about during the encounters.
Regiment after regiment swept by, fired
with desire to show pluck and training.
OF course judges were appointed, and
stood all over the country to declare that
under such and such circumstances this
or that side must win and the other fall
back. There seemed to be nothing short
of real battle except death. which must
make real war tremendously exciting. /
could hardly speak for minutes together
as it was, and could simply hold my breath
as hundreds and hundreds OF brilliantly
uniformed dragons and lancers dashed
up into a storm of cannon fire to take
some torhication. amidst trumpet blasts.
beating drums and waving banners. The