The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-11
GERMAN ARMY DRILL.
Small Things which Reveal Its Won
IerfuI Precision

Small Things which Reveal Its Won
derfuI Precision.
Berlin Correspondence London Telegraph
Not only does the individual German bat
talon work like a machine; the Whole Ger
man army SEEMS TO be a piece of mechan-
ism, in which every one knows his duty
and carries il out 10 perfection The three
army corps of 25G0o men which
have just been maneuyerins in
South Germany form less than a sixth of
the whole of the kaiser's army; on peace
footing probably there are always about
J0O,C0 men undergoing their mill
itary education. when war s imminent
another 100000 of hishly-trained and
disciplined reseIvists viii, by returning 10
their old corps at once double the strength
of the army. Behind the troops with the
cofors viii stand another 100000 Of reserve
men, equally well trained, ready TO fll
up the gaps in the ranks caused by the
waste of war For home service, and for
work abroad, if necessary. there is the
landwehr land last reserve, for the de-
Tense of the country, there remains the
landsstrum. This mighty engine of war, as
a navy, is moved by the will Of one man,
the Kaiser; and il is The master of the
most complete lighting machine the word
has ever known whom the French courT-
martial openly and grossly insuned by re-
fusing to believe when, in The interests of
justice he condescs nded 10 reiierate mis- as
surance that no German official ever had
dealings with Dreylus
The impression made in the German
army by the verdict at Rennes is very
deep. There is bitter contempt for the
nation, and deep ind gnation at the cava-
,ier treatment with which the Kasers
statement was received. Among the higher
ranks of the army. indeed, the belief is
widespread that the incident will lead to
a complete change in the imperial atti
tude toward France, and that the Kaisers
recent overtures of friendship TO the re-
public will never be renewed.
All Look Like Gentlemen.
The South German officers impress one
as being decidedly good men under whom
to 20 into action. They all look like gen.
temen. The elder ones have the calm,
steadfast expression Of men who know
they can execute any duty which they
may be cafied upon 10 perform The
Youngsters are very like English suDai-
terms, with jovial daredevil faces; in
deed, il many of them were taken out
of their handsome but impractical uni
forms, and dressed in red jumpers shoot
ing boots, breeches and puttee leggins, il
would be hard to tell from their appear
ance that they We're not lads who had
just joined their regiments from Sand
hurst or the militia. The prevailing color
of the uniform is blue; the coat, sort of
long-skirted tuuic. is made much like q
civilian frock coat; the trousers, a darker
blue, with red piping down the seams, are
tight, held down by straps over yelling
ton boots. The natural squareness of the
Teutonic shoulder is increased by hand
some epaulettes and the great coat. eth
er like a frock coat or a flowing cloak,
is a warm, siver-gray color with gold
buttons and red or blue faciugs Add to
this a helmet with well-burnished metal
work, and you have fair notion Of the
South German officers costume. Insult
able for active service though this uni
form undoubtedly is, its general effect is
very good. indeed. so becoming is it that
one is tempted to believe that all the best
looking men have commissions in the
army for all the male beauty i'm the coun-
try seems to ind its way into the corps
Of officers, who, il should be said, are
spotlessly turned out.
short Priyates.
The stature of the rank and file differs
curiously from that of their leaders, who
are, as a rule, tall men. while the Dri-
NdteS 81 most IeSHnentS are ueciotulN
short In their way. they are as well
dressed as the officers, for, though Their
blue tunics, to English eyes, project in
awkward folds from the hips they are
scrupulously clean their buttons are well
FURNISHED the brass work on their he'll
NETS is bright and their belts are well
BACKED and well put on. In fact. they
take a pride in themselves, and in this
respect present an extraordinary contrast
TO the troops Of France. who SLOUGH about
the streets, dirty uutidy, with their hands
plunged deep INTO the pockets OF their bag
gy, shapeless trousers without vestge
of attention 10 their personal appearance.
strong as Lions.
As for the South German soldier if he
is short. his strength is undeniable On
the march and in the field he is loaded like
a mule. His huge knapsack, covered with
goats skin, is surmounted by his great
coat and by Il section of the tent debri
under which he bivouacs; he has a large
water bottle. and an unganly haversack
for his provisions his bayonet is heavier
than that used in the British army; his
helmet weighs as much as ours, and is
even uglier; his total burden is about sixty
pounds in weight. And yet on the march
he steps out with long swinging stride,
faster than ours, and covers great dis
tances without apparent fatigue, without
stragglers Indifferent alike to heat or cold
or pouring rain. Among the men in the
ranks you see none of the weedy, imma-
ture youths who are so painfully common
among our battalions at home-lads OF
whom il is impossible not to ask oneself
of what conceivable use they would be in
campaign. That our weedy English boys
would fight well there Is no doubt; II they
could be taken down to the battlefield by
train and given big breakfast before
-. ~