The Portland daily press., 1891-09-18
IN THE SHADOW OF THE WAR CLOUD.
German Army Maneuvres Show
That Lives Are Held Cheap.
British Blue Jackets Likely to DO
some Fighting In China.
That Picnic at Mitylene May Have
Been a Warning.

| LONDON. September 17.-An English offic
er, describing the German army man@uyres,
SAYS: 1.-THE method of infantry attack called
'swarming' differs from the English style of
| advancing In extended lines. The method
| of the Germans is simpler. They advance
line upon line and shoulder to shoulder.
| This formation gives great strength. though
| there is a heavy expense In life, which shows
| that infantry is still held cheaply, and that
victory goes to the biggest battalions."
In describing flank attack ON a strong
| position In the village of ofSimmershausen, the
same officer says that the defenders were
| strongly intrenched In cornfelds, and that
| line after line of the attacking party seemed
| to spring out of the ground suddenly and In
most unexpected positions, and in crowded
masses were halted 30 yards distant from the
defenders. The officer thinks. however,
that In the face Of heavy rifle fire few of
these attacks would have survi we'd to cross
bay0nets with the defenders.
lnstead OF the English style OF volley fir
Ing, the Germans praeticed independent fir
ing. the officers, judging the distances during
the stages OF the enemy's advance. Each
man was supplied with 150 rounds of Mauser
small bore cartridges fhe recOil was ex-
tremely light. The expenditure of ammuni-
tlon was large. and the officer thinks it
would be dificult to keep the men supplied
with cartridges with such incessant individ-
ual firing. Certainly in an open country the
ders.
The Berlin correspondent of the Standard
.eiegraphs that the German foreign office
China within the last day or SO. China. ac-
corulng 10 these advlces, is unable to fulfill
ner promises made to the representatives Of
tne fowers that she would punish those who
were implicated In the recent outrages upon
foreigners and their property, and that she
would In the future protect foreign residents
from injury.
1t Is added that the rumors circulated in
several quarters to the effect that France and
tion hnsSia a. would not take part in any joint &C
lion on the part Of the combined fleets,
should 1t be decided that such step is nee
essary, are pronounced to be untrue. 1t Is
also asserted that there is no doubt that
germany will increase the number of her
war SHIPS now in Chinese waters. and that
she Will be prepared to take strong measures
should they be needed to protect German
sunJects or their property, or should she be
called upon to take an active part in naval
demonstration against China.
M, ,,Conssantinople dispatch says that Sir
MIlllam Whlte, the British Ambassador, has
demanded from the Sultan either that the
russians be prohibited from passing the
Dardanelles. or that British naval vessels be
admitted to the Sea of Marmora. The Nifty
iene incident continues to be obscure; but it
IS not denied that a British naval force ia at
Lne Island, landing and recalling men at will.
II has not been the custom heretofore for the
BRUSH to land their blue jackets for drill at
Mltylene, and the drill explanation Is re-
garded at Constantinople as simply a guise
1or the TACT that the British are at the island
ana prepared to occupy it should events at
Constantinople make it necessary.
SHANGHAI, September 1.-THE Ichang
riot was planned at Kalashui and executed
Dy disguised Human soldiers. Catholic and
Protestant missions and the residence prop
erty OF members of the foreign settlement
have been looted aud burned. The British
consulate, the Custom Houses and Chinese
property inside the city were protected BY
tne populace. Tho civil and tire military
authorities are helplessly inactive. Tney
iear s 70 seize the leader Of the outbreak. A
detachment of British sailors has gone to
ichang on chartered steamer. The sitna-