Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-06-21
A GREAT MILITARY MACHINE.
The Wonderful Organization Which Err
- rU,Ilin.,n Han ~ Elia and.


The Wonderful Organisation which Err
perOr william Has at Ais Command.
The uncertainty and mystery which
surround the policy of the young EN-
peror of Germany, the innovations
which are being made by him in his
army, the changes in the uniform of the
soldiers, the introduction of smokeless
powder and the new rules promulgated
with reference to eligibility to certain
subordinate offices, all give special in
!erest lust now to the subject of the
general character and efficiency of tue
military power of Germany. The world
was astonished when, now nearly score
Of years ago, the Germans marched into
the very capital of France and exacted
not only the territory of Alsace and
Lorraine, but large tribute of cash be-
sides.
The army of France had been re-
garded as the ideal army of the world,
as Napoleon had been regarded as the
ideal soldier of the world. The out
come of the Franco-Prussian war was,
therefore, q great surprise to those not
aware of the changes which had been
going on in the armies of the two
nations. The fact is that during the
last quarter of century no country on
earth has given such practical assent as
has Germany to the wisdom of the in
junction, In time of peace prepare for
war" 1t is doubtless safe to say that
to-day no other nation so nearly APP
proaches perfection in its military or
ganization and in its preparation of de-
tails for every possible sort of cam
paign as does Germany. Two days
after war had been declared between
France and Prussia in 1870 an Am
bassador met General Won Moltke
leisurely strolling in Friedrichs strasse
in Berlin and looking in the shop win
dows. The diplomat, after exchanging
a few words with the General, excused
himself, remarking that military man
must be very busy Just then. "Oh, no,
1 am not busy at all, was the Generals
reply. "Our orders have been given.
A few years ago, when the autumn
maneuvers of the Hanover and
Schleswig- Holstein army corps were
held, it was learned that in the bureaus
of the General staff letters were ready
stamped and addressed to every depart
ment and commanding officer of the
several army corps, and that all the
horses of private ownership were as
signed to the regiments or batteries to
which they would be attached In case
OF requisition for war. %
The whole country is organized for
war, and every individual capable of
bearing arms knows where to go and
what to do in the event of call for
his services. All the railway officials
and all the telegrsphers are in the mill
tary service, and the heads of those de-
partments are general officers who or
ganiZe them to meet exigencies of awar.
All the railway lines in Germany can
be requisitioned for military service in
the time it takes to dispatch half a
dozen kilograms and every superior
officer knows exactly to what locality he
must betake himself. Information on
this subject is furnished in printed
manuals which are issued at the first
indication of a coming war with any
countr-. Every regiment has its depot
OF service outfits, which can be dis
tributed at an hours notice, and every
corps has its depot of general stores,
ambulance wagons, field telegraph APP
paratus, and baking-cars in condition
of complete efficiency.
Plans for every conceivable sort of
campaign are kept in the archives of
the war Office and of the Emperor's
palace. These plans have all been
carefully prepared as the result OF
councils held by the leading generals.
In the event of the prospect of q war
which may demand modification OF
the ready made plans, the changes are
made during the diplomatic period"
which always precedes active hostilities.
and which may be prOtracted by the
ambassadors from Berlin for the pur-
pose of giving the generals time to ar
range for the campaign.-NelU York
Star