New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21
MODELLING AN ARMY.
MODERN WAYS OF EXPECTING IT IN
THE SHORTEST TIME.
THE GERMAN SYSTEM EVERYWHERE ADOPTED
THE WORK OF THE GENERAL STAFF
no

Close upon the rumors Of from Europe
come the reports of the mobilization of the great
armies and much has been written on the sub
feet which conveys wrong impression as TO the
methods employed 10 bring the great bodies to-
gethcr and on war footing. AS a matter or
fact the mobilization of the armies of Germany,
France. Russia, Austria or Italy has become
comparatively easy matter since the system IN
vented by the Germans has been adopted.
Colonel Francis Vinton Greene. who has writ
ten much on the subject, and whose prize essay
on THE Improvements in the Art of War has
attracted much favorable attention from men
who occupy high places in military circles. said
THE system after which the great powers
have fashioned their armies originated with the
terms imposed by Napoleon Prussia after
the battle Of Jena, BY these terms Prussia was
permitted to keep only AZ 600 men in the army
This condition was lived up to faithfully. but Ma
poeon's plan said nothing as to the length Of
service General Scharnhorst took advantage
Of the omission and invented system by which
a certain number of men could go home on fur
Tough after four weeks service and others would
be conscripted to take their places and these
would be allowed to go on furlough. and by this
system of enlistinS and keeping them In
the service, whether on actual duty or on fur
Tough, large army grew up, so that In
1873 when Prussia struck back at Napoleon. it
had 100000 trained men and brought 10000
into the field.
"The fundamental principle OF the system is
the universal liability to military service dur
ing a certain period beginning with twenty
years Of age. Men are selected by lot every year
TO fill up the ranks. and all must serve twelve
years. The time is divided so that man has
two years service in the ranks. five years in the
reserve and five years in the Landwehr or second
reserve That is in Germany, and it is the same
In the other military countries except as to de-
tail Thus in Russia the time of service is twen>
~ years six years in the ranks. nine years IN
the reserve and five years in the second reserve.
"Depots or feeders. are also established, from
which depleted bodies may receive reinforce
ments and be kept up to their normal strength.
The real advantages of the system were shown
by Germany in the war of 1866 and again in
1870. and its adoption by France after the re-
organization Of the army showed that it had
impressed favorably the Power which it had
ruined.
1.-The men who in the reserve class are
liable to be called at any moment they are en-
rolled and a part Of certain regiments. the
depots congregating points for which are
known TO every man. Mobilization consists
simply in calling in this reserve force, furnish
patching them with the officers who are kept in
reserve for that purpose to the regiments where
they belong Most Of the officers are with the
colors or in active service but the great mass Of
privates is IN the reserve. ready al a few hours
notice TO increase the regiments to their war
footing proportions. When the reserve goes TO
the front q certain number Of officers are left
behind to serve recruiting and organization
force in case the Landwehr should be needed,
and when that body is called upon TO go to the
front it is brought together readily as the
younger and more numerous first reserve.
THE great purpose accomplished by this sys-
tenn of expansive armies is to enable State to
put into the field in a short space of two weeks
a vast array of trained soldiers, while In time
of peace it maintains only comparatively small
portion of them under pay and unproductve. II
was only two weeks after the declaration of
war In 1870 when nearly 100000 German
soldiers advanced in body across the French
frontier and that is the measure of time that
the Continental Powers can count upon to be
ready for defence"
To demonstrate the rapidly with which
great army may be modified. Colonel Greene
read from his work on the subject:
AT the outbreak of the war of 1866 the Prus,
sian Army in active service numbered 10000
men, Mobilization ordered on May ), and
six weeks later the active army had been in
creased to 32G 600 men. in addition to depot and
garrison troops whose numbers. it is stated,
carried the total to 100000 men under arms OF
these not less than 100000 were brought TO the
field of sadowa on July 8, and these inflicted
such an overwhelming defeat the Austrians
as TO cause them to sue for peace at once. The
war lasted less than three months, only six
weeks of which were devoted to active opera
lions.
I'm 1870 the armies of the States composing
the present German Empire numbered in all
$50 5GS men present with the colors. The order
for mobilization was given on July II, and two
weeks later there were concentrated the
Rhine three armies numbering 100000 men, On
August 10 the effective total Of men under arms
was 11S33S9, of whom 65O,000 were at the
front, 100000 IN the depots and 100000 on home
service. The French armies were outnumbered.
defeated and captured in bulk.
I'm 1877 the Russian field army numbered
5O7 500 men and was capable Of expansion to
1,3S0,O00. Only two-thirds Of the field army
was modified. and this furnished during the
winter Of 1S77-'7S force Of about 100000 men.
of whom 525, 900 at the front and the rest
on the communication or garrison service: The
Turkish armies were outnumbered and defeated,
and three-fourths Of them were captured.
And how is all this accomplished" Colonel
Greene was asked.
Through what is known as the general STAFF
a body composed of the best officers in the
realm The general staff not only keeps records
of the army and its various grand divisions as
to the active and furlOugh reserve men. but is
posted on ali matters pertaining TO the armies
OF other nations so far as they are obtainabe.
Anticipating wars, there are plans OF campaigns
with all nations. even with those from whom
there never was any sign Of trouble. These
plans are not of superficial nature, but
thorough in every detail In the German gen
eral staff in particular they are kept up 10 date
in every respect. All railroads and postroads
are kept under strict observation and all i'm
known
employees every railroad has. and everything per-
tanning to its rolling stock, roadbed bridges and
depots is as familiar to the general staff as to
the railroad officers.
every detail asfto transportation Of troops,
horses artillery and wagons to any point is
made and filed away ready for use at a mo-
untce: the officers who ar 4