The times., 1898-06-27

prophets of its utter effacement are used
to instancing the failure of the brilliant
Austrian cavalry at SadOwa when sent
against breech-loaders. These were
troopers seasoned by long service and so
drilled that thirty squadrOns of them
were maneuvered in mass with the ease
and certainty of one. They were. how
ever led over ground that siOped up
three degrees. II was sOdden with rain
The horses were so wearied that many
of them fell from exhaustion when the
charge began. The infantrymen who re-
ceived them had been selected by five
hours on continuous and savage war
fare. All faint hearts had gone TO the
rear. 1t is safe to say that there was
not Prussian on the west ridge of
Chlum that day who did not wish to be
there. Even under these conditions the
charge came very close to success.
though all Europe was shouting that
cavalry was useless against breech-IOad-
ing fire
The French got their chassepots in 1853
and 1859. No German officer believed that
his troop would be Of any good against
them Yet at Vionville the first line Of
the German cavalry halted under heavy
fire on the plateau. took intervals by pas
saying, went off the plateau at a walk
and wheeled up 10 front again as steadi-
~ as if on press parade. This too was
to encourage the young troops. cost only
seventy men and horses. though the
chassepOt5 were barking in thousands
and it was worth what it cost. Again
a Vionyiile Bredows six squadrons went
over two lines of ''unshaken" infantry
as If they were paper IN another charge
the troopers went over the French can
non, losing only fifty men. They came
SO fast that the artillerymen found il
impossible to depress their pieces with
sufficient rapidity and accuracy In this
battle thirty-six squadrons of German
horse proved that the French line Of foot
lacked the strength of co0webs yet this
same French infantry was so good that
two days later ii took an entire division
OF the German footmen three hours to 60
through them, at cost OF 1000 lives. or
30 per cent of The attacking force.
There viii never be any finer or stead
ier or more 'unshaken" infantry than
these French. They were privates and
non-commissioned officers who. to quote
Won Moltke. sought to redeem with their
life-blood the errors for which they were
in no wise responsible The Franco
Prussian war was thick with similar in
stances, which are carefully eschewed in
the writings of anti-cavalry doctrin-
aires.
In the old days troops were safe when
held in reserve 500 yards back of the
/ fighting line. Now for 2505 yards be-
hind this line the ground is torn with
bullets. Consequently troops are held
1900 yards back. and even at this dis
tance there will be occasional casualties.
To take part in an engagement the re-
serve force must be moved entirely
through this wide and dangerous zone.
Infantry cannot do it in less than twenty
five minutes. and another ten minutes
will be used in getting them into line.
Cavalry can cover the distance in six
minutes. The rapidity with which their
range alters makes them difficult tar
get, and the moral effect of their thunder
ing and swift advance is great. 1t is es-
timated that the cavalry loss in a charge
should not exceed one-third of the in
fantry loss. American military men of
the more advanced kind expect service
of the highest value in heavy engage
ments from the splendidly composed and
equipped volunteer cavalry that has
gone to the front. OF their worth in
scouting. reconnaissance and as media of
communication there can be no question.