The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03
MARCHING.
The Pace in Different Armies and the Effect
of Music.

curious report of the marching capa-
bilties of the different European armies,
drawn up at the German Ministry for War,
has, at the moment, a special interest. The
figures are these of the established "regua-
lions of the several services, and it appears
that the length of the Russian soldiers pace
is II centimeters, of the German 80, while
the French, Australian, Italian, Belgian,
Swedish, and Swiss soldiers all tread pnce
of rs centimeters. The Italian soldier takes
100 steps in minute, the French from 112
to 116, the German 115, the Austrian 118,
and the Belgian 10 steps. An Italian regi-
ment marches at the rate of 80 meters In
the minute, German regiment at 80, an
English at 90, and q French regiment at sc
meters per minute. The meter is equal to
about 39a inches, and in English measure,
therefore, the rates Of progression of the four
aforementioned regiments would be about as
follows: The Italians, SO yards per min
ute; the Germans, So; the English, 95;
the French SO yards per minute. 1t may
be mentioned here that by the regulations
of the British service our slow march con-
sists of rs 30-inch PAGES to the minute,
this measure being used only on parade and
for occasions of solemn pageantry. The
quick march, in which all evolutiOns are
performed, increases to ITO PAGES, while the
"double" rises to $50 PAGES in the minute.
1t is now generally agreed that as athletes
the moderns are stronger and liable to obtain
more results from their exertions than the
ancients." Whether this may be justly said
in reference to military proves is, perhaps,
not quite SO clear. The standard pace OF
the Roman soldier was the same as our
own-3O inches-the length of five feet
he mt of off
or the space from the place where either foot
was lifted up to that on which the same foot
was again set down. The Roman mile of
1000 PAGES was equal to rather more than
ne-tenths of our own statute mile and the
legions usually marched at the rate of 20 of
their miles (say, 16 at ours) in five hours.
But this was often exceeded on emergency,
and to estimate the true quality of this per-
Torrance it must be remembered that the
Roman foot soldier carried load of some 60
pounds weight besides his arms. JOsephus
says that on the march he was "but very
little different from q beast of burden"
Lord Wolseley tells us that a division can
march two and half miles an hour if very
well managed, but that, as a rule, time
should be calculated at two miles an hour,
| including ordinary halts
The rationale OF cadenced marching is too
obvious to require analysis, and all modern
| marches are, as far as possible, made to some
kind of music Sounds" said great mas
| ter of military SCIENCE" have secret power
| over us, disposing onr organs to bodily exer
cises, and at the same time deluding, as it
| were, the toll of them" If the band is
broken up, Lord Wolseley counsels officers
to call upon the drums and bugles. The
troops "march 100 per cent. better than in
silence; and. this resource also failing, the
| men should be got to sing by companies
| All this was well understood by the ancients
| Plutarch describes the Laced@monians, when
| marching to the attack, as keeping pace to
the time of their flutes; their music leading
them into danger cheerful aud unconcerned."
Most of their actual Marches however, were
performed in silence. As Josephus also re-
cords: "When the Roman soldiers marched
out of their encampment they advanced in
silence" The Jews were accustomed to sing
psalms when marching out TO war.