The morning call., 1893-08-17

mans are very fond of the word. ..iren" In
Its sense OF rude tirmpess, of harsh endur-
ance. OF severe teDacity. They have ap.
piled it to their greatest historical charac.
ter-the Iron Chancelior-to his policy OF
absolute iufipxibility; and TO their most
priced reward-the Iron Cross-of which
there is but one degree. and which can he
earned only by actual bravery on the
field. They have used the word to. desig-
nate the treasure ut Spandau, and they
have also adopted 1t to characterize an in
stitutiou in their minute and com prehe
sive scheme of military organization to
which they attach great Importance.
Wien the German army is transformed
from a huge reserve of precautionary
power into massive Instrument of ag-
gresslve force, its units, the individual
soldiers, are put into absolutely new uni
forms. The purposes of this step are
numerous It. makes the operation of
mobilization more simple and systematic.
ana with che contingent of prolonged Wa r:
fare 1t makes the continuance of military
operations more economical. There is a
sentimental issue involved-the personal
pride of the soldier is stimulated and his
zeal in service increased.
+ In equipment and acconterment a SINH
Jar SYSTEM is followed. The results that
the soldier starts out in the condition
practically that he should he theoretically.
His equipment is heavy one, but the
knowledge that every pound of weight he
carries represents something useful%to his
occupation and his comfort and con.
venience while engaged in it ligitens the
load; He realizes that he is provided for
every emergency: ln his knarsack are
his clothes and his store. of cartridges.
Each one of his pockets has a particular
purpose. The lining of the one on the left
Of his tunic is medically prepared, to be
used when; necessity arises as an, anti
septic bandage. In his haversack is his
loaf of bread-the staff of llfe-and the So
called Iron ration" =.
This is the institution to which refer
ence has been made. It is the reserve
fund of the soldiers food. his sustenance
when deprived of all other resources of
mess, commissariat and forge. There is a
huge factory in Mayence devoted 40 the
packing OF these iron rations." In small
bags in a preserved and compressed shape
these rations consist Of coffee, rice, hard
tack and tobacco in quantity sufficient tn
provide for three days use.
The cavalry receives in addition sim
fairly prepared rations for its horses con-
sisting OF hay and oats sufficient for five
days.
These rations are to serve only in cases
of extreme necessity. They are sacred
whenever the trooper is provided by tbe
conmissary department with the neces.
sary food, or when be can procnre II III.
requisition or forage. The iron rattan,
cannot be touched except by command Of
a superior officer.
!. In the preparation of these rations
chemical science has been atwork. and II
is believed i'll the articles provided the
greatest amount Of nutrition has. been Sc
cured IN the most compressed aud endur-
able shape. 81
:. In the grand maneuvers which annualtv
take place in Germany, and in which the
soldiers are exposed to every contincencv
save that of an enemy's. death-deaiing
powers, the s.ron :rations,' are carried,
and their purpose: made clear to the. me n