The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-22
EUROPEAN ARMY NOTES.

NC Ntuul cABCllSeS OI pIlt II TtHcn
infantry soldiers have steadily de-
creased in the last few years. In 1869
each soldier cost the government ST.
In 1878 this had risen to $50. Now,
however, the figures have been brought
down to $40. The result has been ac-
complished by economic and admins
trativc reforms, although in the mean
time the daily pay Of the soldier has
been increased three confines. his meat
rations have been augmented, and SUI
gar and coffee have been added to his
diet, all of which together make an in
creased expense of SlJ per capita an
nually. The annual expenditure OF the
French government on Il cavalryman is
$3.50.
The new imperial law for increasing
the size of Gcrmany's standing army
went in operation on October |. Under
this law the army is to contain 4SG, 9s3
men, 20,2S5 officers, 5000 onc-year vol
untcers, $50 military surgeons, as we'll
as humorous paymasters, gunsmiths,
military officials, saddlers and vctcri-
nary surgeons. Since 1875 the size of
the standing army has been increased
by ST. 2+ men. Since April / +. 1887, the
increase has boon 1874, OF whom IL 500
have been included in new regiments
The remaining 6,G7I have been used to
straighten old formations. Seventy now
batteries of field artillery are to he
formed, as we'll as four infantry and
three train battalions. The Ercisnnigc
Zcitung calculates that the number Of
recruits on next November will ex-
coed the number of that date last year
by l,500.
~.
Recent improvements in small arms,
the lntrO(luctiOO pf cu,nl. ,,rv,inr
and the conscqent possibility of battle
between far distant forces, have directed
the attention of military men on the
Continent To the necessity of clothing
soldiers IN less conspicuous uniforms.
The reform in question has been dis
cussed ut length i'll France, although
the comparatively modest shades OF the
French uniforms give far less cause for
apprehension than the classically bril-
liant garments of the German military.
The polished helmets, tho scarlet and
blue of most German soldiers, the white
collars OF the Cuirassiers, and the rain
bow tints all over the IIussars. make
the wcarers so remarkably distinct to
the eye at long distances that the de-
structive work of hostile infantry or ar
tillery is greatly facilitated. Even
when behind an earthwork or in trench
the infantry is betrayed by the long
prOtruding spikes of the helmets. Rus
sian and French infantry are almost in
visible when they lie on the ground, and
when marching at Il distance are ex-
ceedingly indistinct targets. In com
bat with either, therefore, the German
infantry would be at great disadvant-
age. With the exception of England.
Germany is the only great power that
still clings to tho perilous primcval
showiness of uniforms. The present
agitation in Germany is in favor OF
blackening the helmets, abolishing tho
rainbow uniforms of the Cuirassiers and
llussars, and limiting as far as practical
BILE the wearing of scarlet.
x@~
striking feature of the recent
mannuvrcs of the German army in Sile-
STA was the great masses OF cavalry in
all engagements. In addition to the
cavalry of the Fifth and Sixth Corps,
there were present eight cavalry regi-
mcnts of the guards, making all together
three full divisions of calvary to two
army corps, although the usual proper
ton in the German Army has been one
cavalry division To two or three corps.
This state of affairs has led to a consid-
cradle cutlery from German military
critics against the prevailing tendency
in Germany to assign cavalry to new and
impossible duties. In the last Franco
German war the German cavalry won Il
great reputation for it's invaluable SER
vices in determining in advance the no
sition of the opposing forces and by its
perfect messenger" work. Without its
aid, as has often been said, all the plaus
of the German stratcgists would have
been vain. Up to 1880 the cavalry was
handled as if still confined TO the limits
of these services and to striking quick,
decisive blows at critical moments on
the battlefield. Recently this system