Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-10-30
kAIsER's ARMY WEAK.
General Corbin Says In War It
Would Be Annihilated.
SHINING TARGET FOR LONG RANGE

American officer After Reviewing
the Maneuvers Points Out That In
1antry System Of Close Formation
IL Not Fitted to Modern Warfare
Unsuspectingly and innocently EN-
peror William appealed to the United
States and British military experts,
Adjutant General Corbin, General
Young, General Wood, General Sir
John Hamilton and General French, to
pass Judgment upon his army after the
parades on the Tempelhofer field and
at Observation-Disclosures, writes the
Berlin correspondent Of the New York
Herald. Not little dismayed was the
emperor when both American and Brit
1sh experts, fresh from the campaigns
IN the Philippines and South Africa,
were unanimous in declaring that the
infantry system Of the German army,
or Which his imperial majesty is most
proud and confident, is impracticable
In action and weak link of the army.
The emperor one evening gathered
the British and American officers about
him and asked their opinions and at
gala dinner again took Adjutant Gen.
eral Corb1n, General Young and Gen
eral French to discuss matters peril
nent to his army system. The en-
peror showed eagerness to learn the
impressions Of these generals whose
experiences have been enriched by &C.
tive engagements in the Philippines
and the Transvaal.
The emperor likes criticism and in
v1tes it, but he was hardly prepared
for the candor and honesty with which
his guests attacked the infantry sys-
TEN as primitive organization which
would tumble together like a house Of
cards under CALLING fire Of long dis
lance artillery and other modern weap-
Ons Of warfare.
Adjutant General Henry G. Corbin
accorded the Herald correspondent an
interview, in which he remarked: I'm
drill and compact organization there is
nothing like the German infantry the
world over. It would have been in
vincible in former days, with the cali
Der and range Of guns which permitted
hostile armies to approach to within
a few hundred yards. But in modern
warfare, with artillery that reaches
several miles and rifles with a range
of 1000 yards, the German infantry
would be annihilated.
1T would be shining target If
some soldiers should lie behind en-
bankments great distance away. The
German lnfantryman, so far as I am
able to judge from the parades, is
made of stern fighting timber, but with
the system Of solid ranks and automa-
tonlike discipline his fighting force is
reduced to minimum. Against long
range artillery and rifles, in my opin-
ion he would be useless in action.
Both British and American generals
agree in this opinion. General Young,
who comes from the Philippines, and
General French, who was in South
Africa agree that the compact charac-
ter and system Of infantry Of the Ger
man army would be of no avail in
modern warfare.
whoever imagines the emperor has
attained pre-eminence by accident Of
birth makes big mistake. The en-
peror possesses great force Of charac-
ter and is opinionated, but that is a
characteristic Of all great men. He
believes in the army and his infantry
system. He clings to the old infantry
formation and discipline, condemned
by modern warfare. The emperor also
is very democratic and surprises me.
He does not permit promotions from
the ranks, which explains the lack of
petty officers in the Germany army.
''In the United States army promo
ton from the ranks has proved itself
a commendable principle. 1t has it's dis
advantages: but as rule, it yields ex-
cellent results. German officers are
excellent military men and well train
ed, but it surprises me that promotion
from the ranks is not in practice in the
German army" +
The view Of General Corbin relative
to the German infantry is in accord
with that uttered by members Of the
British army in the delegation invited
to attend the maneuvers.
AdmiraPs Son an Actor.