The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09
THE MODERN ROLE OF CAVALRY

| THE MODERN ROLE OF CAVALRY.
| The cavalry arm has been aptly termed the
| "eyes ana ears of an army and the express
sion indicates its principal modern employ
ment. THE distinctive character OF cavalry
| is its mobility The horse is the troopers
| principal weapon.
| The great function of the cavalry is to fur
| nish Information OF the enemys numbers,
positions, plans and movements In doing
! this it scree MS the army and thus prevents a
knowledge of our own movements from reach
! ing the enemy. At the outbreak of war it
| advances boldly into the hostile territory and
| hinders, ii possible, the mobilization and con-
/ centratfon of the enemy's forces.
| So important have these duties become that
| the fate of war may easily depend on how
well and faithfully they are performed. The
| first example of such use of cavalry on large
scale was by the Germans in the war OF 1870,
and the easy confidence with which their
/ armies advanced through French territory
was due to their cavalry service. No sooner
| was war declared than the German cavalry
| pushed across the frontier in squads OF five
and six, cutting telegraph lines gaining in
| telligence and terrorizing the Inhabitants.
This incurson is thus graphically described
| by well-known French writer: Every day
| the same thing-like irritating fly. that is
| driven away only to return the next moment,
the enemy's cavalry could not be laid hold Of
| In sucn reconnaissance of three men Ii two
| are killed, no matter as long as one escaped
| to tell the tale"
However, the success OF the German cavalry
was due very largely TO the improper use of
! the French cavalry and a lack OF knowledge OF
| its true functions. In future war this sue
cess will no be repeated.
With the increased range and intensity of
| fire from infantry 1t wes easily seen that a
| cavalry charge, having a much greater dis
tance to traverse and depending almost en-
| tirely shock action, would have little
| chance of success against mistaken infantry,
or even artillery in position. For a time many
| predicted that the day of the employment OF
| cavalry masses was over and reduction of its
| strength was looked for. These predictions
| have not been fulfilled. Relatively to in
| fantry, the cavalry and field artillery have
vas tly increased in value OF late years, and the
next large war will see them employed in
| greater numbers than ever before.
Consequently much attention is now be.
| slowed by European powers on their cavalry,
and large masses of horsemen are kept con-
| stantly on the frontiers ready to advance at
| the first note OF war. The mounted arm re-
! quires time for training, and as 1t is the first
| to take the field its strength must be kept up
| constantly during peace. Cavalry maneuvers
are now held annually, and Russia keeps 30,-
! 900 horsemen in constant readiness on the
| frontier of Poland.
! AS in the next campaign similar masses OF
| cavalry will be advanced by both sides and
| pushed boldly forward with the same object
! in view, cavalry engagements on large scale
| may be expected before the hostile armies can
arrive upon the field of action. The future of
the campaign may easily depend upon the out
! come of these engagements.
| During the advance of an army the cavalry
will spread itself out like q screen, benin
which the commander-iu-chef can maneuyer
his forces and make his dispositions for action
at his leisure, The cavalry is pushed forward
| in small detachments, followed by larger
| bodies, until it comes in contact with the
| enemy. Once this contact is made 1t is never
! lost Everything of Importance in front is re-
| ported TO the commander by chain of
mounted men. The screen is pushed many
miles in advance. BY this method most of the
uncertainties OF war are avoided, and surprise
| is well nigh impossible. The successful appli-
cation OF this system, however, evidently de-
| pends on the intelligence and activity OF the
! cavalry. The time is evidently past when a
| good seat and dsshing appearance were the
| principal qualifications needed in cavalry
| officer.
In actual battle the role OF the cavalry is less
important, but it will be largely used in ex-
! tending 'front.' in fanking movements or as q
support to artillery III detached operations
! Charges will take place only under exoep-
| tional circumstances. Some notable charges
! were made in the Franco.German war, espeei-
! ally that of Won Bredou at MARSHA Tour, but
| the usual result was almost total annihilation
with no corresponding advantage.
| During the battle the cavalry has remained
| to large extent out Of action and unem-
| ployed and now large masses stand ready to
| be launched after the retreating enemy. Owing
| TO the exhausting fatigues of an action and
| other causes vigorous and sustained pursuits
! after battle have been extremely rare in the
| past.
| The importance OF completing the victory
| and if possible producing rout aud annihila-
! tfon of the van quished enemy are, however,
| so great that in future we may expect pursuit
! to be pushed to the extreme limit In the
| past the absence of fresh troops has prevented
| this, but with large m asses of cavalry kept in
| hand for the purpose matters havo changed.
| Instances have been frequent OF forces
| beaten in battle, but which somehow were
| ready on the next occasion. War is thus pro-
| longed, and in the future true humanity de-
mands not merely that the opposing force be
| beaten but that 1t be annihilated. In this way
| wars and consequent suffering will be much
| curtaied. In this work the cavalry Will be
| called upon to perform as equally glorious a
| part as in the gallant days OF Ziethen and
| Seidlitz.