The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-06

thar thirty souadrons OF them we're ma
neuvered IN mass with Ihe ease md Ger
tanty OF one. They were, however led
over ground that sloped up three degrees
II was sodde6 with rain. The horses We're
SO wearied .hat many of them Tell from
exhaustion when the charge began The
nfantrymen VINO received thcn had been
selected by five hours of SAVAGE and con-
tinuous fighting. AL faint hearts had gone
to the rear. IL is safe to say that there
was not a Prussiau on the west ridge or
Chium 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-loading fire.
The French got their chassepots in 1868
and 1869. 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
tire on the plateau. took intervals by pas
saying, went off the plateau at walk and
wheeled up to the front again as steadi-
~ as if on dress parade. This, too, was
magnificent and il was war II was done
to encourage the young troops, cost only
seventy men and horses, though the
chassepots were barking in thousands.
and it was worth what it cost. Again at
Niouville Bredow's 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 artilierymen found it i'm
possible to depress their pieces with sutfi-
cient rapidity and accuracy. In this bat
tie thirty-six squadrons of German horse
proved that the French line of foot LACK
ed the strength of cobwebs- yet this same
French infantry was SO good that two
Gays later il took an entire division of the
German footmen three hours to go through
them, at a cost of 4,009 lives, or 30 per
cent. of the attacking force
There VIII never be any finer or stead
Ter or more "unshaken" infantry than
these French They were private and
non-c 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 doctrinares.
In the old days troops were safe when
held in reserve 500 yards back of the fight
ing line Now for $500 yards behind this
line the ground is torn with bullets. Con-
seQuently troops are held 3 900 yards back,
and even at this distance there will be oc-
| casOnal casualties. TO take part in an
engagement The reserve force must he
moved entirely through this wide and
dangerous zone. Infantry cannot do it in
| less than twenty-five minutes, and an
other 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 target, and the moral eff
feet of their laundering and swift adj
vance is great. It is estimated that the
cavalry loss in a charge should not eX-
| coed one-third of the infantry loss. Amer
! lean military men of the more advanced
| kind expect service of the highest value
in heavy engagements from the splendid
| ly composed and equipped volunteer cav
airy that has gone 20 the front OF their
worth in scouting, reconnaissance and as
media of communication there can be no
question.