Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-01

Inc occasion for watching some military
maneuvers in mdwinter presented so rare
opportunity that 1 was persuaded to
accept Captain Krag's kindly offer to see
this spectacle to the best advantage. The
army which was engaged in these tactics
was the Norwegian, the locality in which
it operated a Morse mile-akin to seven
English miles-from Christiana. The
scheme suggested mentioned that a strong
force from Sweden was approach after
a nights bivouac on the Norwegian capt.
tai, and news had been received that the
defenders had advanced to a strong posi-
ton near Grefsen, a suburb north of the
town. with a terminal station at their COM
msnd
back or not the earths pail slightly lifted.
and there in front was a black body Of
men waiting ready along the road In the
dip of the hill that gave them capital shell
ter. Three guns there were at the halt,
each drawn by six horses. Their track
had traced the whole way from Chris
tiania by the deep burrows tramped out
of the snow by their hoofs. Some cavalry
fsntrymen on Skis s All were WEI young in ap-
pearance, though none less than the Statu-
tory age of twenty-three Most of them
seemed fit for feats of endurance, with
their KragJorgensen rifles slung on their
backs and their ski sticks to push them
selves along In their hands. But most
certainly would they be at a disadvantage
If they were suddenly surprised, for they
would have to unsling their rifles, having
first of all dug thei1 sticks into the snow
On the other hand. an army that was in
competent to advance on skis would in
stantly be overwhelmed, like buffaloes in
soft snow, by such a force even half its
own size In the first place the men would
be wearied out before they had marched
more than a few furlongs; second. progress
would be inevitably so slow that the whole
movements Of the army would be par
alyzed The Norwegian force, on the
other hand, accustomed as every soldier
must be to skilobning. would have a tre-
mendOus advantage against a contending
enemy that dared to venture too hastily
in the winter season. The skilobner not
only travel more lightly over the snow, but
can advance quicker than the infantry
when merely on foot. They lose no ground
times the distance of ordinary marching
In descent. This would at once confuse any
attacking general, ignorant Of the swift
ness on skis, in formulating his calcula-
lions for regular assault a given point.
While his troops would be toiling. in sweat
to reach the rendezvous at the time APP
pointed, weighed down by their heavy
coats essential during a halt in such
climate. the Norwegian bodies would have
whipped through, more slim than the
Beers, and have caught their foe in the
rear. Historical instances were fairly
plentiful In 1908, when the Swedes so rash
ly attacked the Norwegians. The snow Of
the winter Is Norway's best fertilization.
This is true in a detailed as well as in
general sense. for trench of snow serves
as admirably a bank of sand against
flying bullets
A company has formed up In line behind
a hill, extended, and advanced to the brow.
Each man with his skis tramps down the
snow and kicks up narrow, roughly made
trench. He shakes off the snow from his
skis, and seats himself on them as COM
fortably as sculler finds his seat in low,
narrow outrigger. The word to fire Is
given: sometimes he aims while in this
position, sometimes at the kneeling.
was curious as to how this could be man
aged. With some the difficulty was got
over by detaching the ski from the left
foot and digging the right ski aslant into
the ground, but the body had to be brought
round to the front into position that
looked far from being free or easy. In
dependent firing was more common than
the firing by sections; at the same time.
the shooting appeared to be less spasmodic
than is usual in our maneuverS at home,
for there seemed to be a custom that each
man fired in turn all down the line of the
company at the enemy, settled in partial
cover at about 800 yards ahead. The dis
lance was correctly found out by Captain
scope made by Carl Zeiss Of Jena-certainly
a clever invention. The aim was taken
with passable care, though there were oc-
casions in which blame could have been
given for sloveny shooting, and the sight
ing was assisted by the dodge Of resting
the point Of the muzzle in the loop of the
ski stick, which the individual had stuck
in the ground in front of him. This seem
ed a dubious policy. for. while it assists
in attaining a proper aim. the ski stick
is prop that cannot be used during the
summer. Now and again the enemy would
come out Of their hiding and race to the
bottom Of hill. Then was the time for
quick aiming, for the foe more nearly ap
preached in their speed to running deer
rather than body composed Of advancing
infantry by PUSHES.
But the one great weak point appeared
to me to be the fact that while the men
were on skis many of the officers were
mounted. The same objection to infantry
advancing in the snow on foot applies with
even greater force to mounted men, whose
horses plunge about in the soft snow and
are quickly exhausted. The only alterna-
tive is to keep to the high road. and there
by the essential instant touch between the
officer and the rank and file is lost. 1t Is
inevitable to have all officers of inferior
rank experienced on skis.
There are. however, splendid exceptions,
and a moment after l had made this de-
cision l saw coming toward the staff, gal
Looping at full tilt over the snow, a horse,
and behind him a man on skis. The off,
Ger was none other than Captain Dietrich
son, famous as the companion of DR.. Nam
sen on his trip across Greenland, and
among the best of skilobere in Norway.
Tied to his belt were the traces that at
taChed MIN TO the grin ana Sadule OF the
horse. In his hands he held nothing more
than the reins. The traces were Of suff1-
cient length so that should he fall forward
there would be room enough to avoid the
hind hoofs of the animal. But the practice
Is dangerous one, on the ground that the
horse may take fright or that the drivers
ski may strike a stone. causing him to
stumble and to be dragged along before he
has power to check the horse. The driver
has to be quick on his skis. and yet well
balanced, but the speed which he is able
to attain will always render his services
of the highest Importance in a real cam
paign The cold makes it difficult for the
buglers to blow; the cease fire is ordered.
and Is sounded at various points. but each
time in a different key. Those who were
enemies shoot down the hill, but, friends
again. all meet. tramp on each others skis
as they form up in their companies and
listen to the praises and reprimands of the
colonel responsible for the preliminary dis
positions Christiania has been saved. and
I return with a double hunger. satisfied
that shall not be reduced to half rations
Evidence of Originality.
From the Chicago Post.
Most original man I ever saw" COM
mented Spinks. Never does the thing
Won naturally expect him to do. His wife