New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01
HOW FRENCHMEN FIGHT.
Important Lessons Aforded by an
nuQI Army ManguUres.
Paris, September 20:


near Brienne were the most important that
ssve taken place in Europe since the close of the
war In Manchuria. The operations We're W.T.
messed by special military representatives OF
twenty-five nations most prominent among
whom were Lieutenant General Chaffee, Chlef OF
star of the United States Army, and the officers
who accompanied him Altogether one nun
dred thousand men took part in the manOeuvres'
vs3Iich were under the direction of General Bru-
-arr. The scheme of operation comprehended |
q twelve days campaign, during which a defen-
ave force consisting of two army corps and
two divisions of cavalry, under command OF
General Dessirier opposed the advance of Cen
ega1 Hagron who with a similar force, led an
Invading army on Paris
The region was that in which Napoleon fought
his memorable defensive campaign against the
allied armies in the winter of 1914. 1t is an
ideal country for military evolutions, and ad-
Eafrably suited for movements of large bodies of
cavalry There are no Enclosures or fences, and
the rolling plains afford excellent screens, and
IN the bends of the broad plains regiments, bril-
gades and batteries were most skilfully con-
eealed from the enemy's view.
The succession of marches and counter
marches, the carefully executed moves of in
EantTy, cavalry and artillery, the entraining and
ee4rafning Of troops and supplies from the rail-
ways the rapidity with which telegraph and
telephone wires were laid, the methods of max
Eng the most effective use of cavalry, the excel
Igut manner in which the fire of the field artil-
bgry was concentrated and the adroitness with
which the army corps were handled, using the
Endulating ground to the greatest possible ad-
vantage, were features that elected the highest
praise from technical observers.
The great interest, however of the maneuvres
was the indication they supplied in regard to
the actual fighting value Of the French army,
Nfich according 10 the recent criticisms Of
General de Nesgrier, is by no means what it
spght to be, but which if one accepts the tudg-
E1Gnt of other equally qualified experts, such as
General Langlois, is now better organized. bet
ter instructed thoroughly trained and
E1cre efficient than at any period of its history
Etnce the apogee of the Napoleonic era" The
French army to-day, notwithstanding the efforts
Of the old school of generals, who swear by
caste and selection is thoroughly denocradzed
& liz IN every sense a national army, and the
generals of the Third Republic have created a
lighting force as serious as determined and as
businesslike as the British army in the
Gays of Cromwell
The features that most impressed General
Chafea were the superiority OF the field artil-
ley, the magnificent unity and rapidity with
which large bodies Of cavalry were handled and
above all the extraordinary endurance and
marching qualities Of the infantry For nearly
9 fortnight the infantryman marched thirty
Eve miles a day, clad IN loose overcoat, and
besides rife and cartridges carrying a Weght
Of fifty pounds The French generals say that
the ELanchurian war teaches that battles Of the
future must last two. three four days. and
that II viii be impossible, under ordinary condi-
lions Of an up-t0-date campaign to keep the
men supplied solely by means Of the regimental
carts Consequently the soldier must not be
separated from his kit. from his cooking
pct. He must carry all he needs his back.
Each company has a complete assortment of
pots kettles canvas buckets. tins, and cooking
implements ingenousIy distributed among the
men Of each squad. that to-day the French
solder IS less dependent upon carriage trans
port than any other soldier In Europe. This
feature was eagerly noticed by the japanese
military attache who was present during the
r1auoeuvres. and who said:
In regard to self-supportlng endurance when
separated from camp equipments, there Is great
similarity between the infantrymen Of France
and Of Japan"
The French field batteries Of four guns each
gre splendidly horsed, and the gun carriage,
by means Of buffers and Hedges. are absolutely
tree from recon and thus enable a fire to be
continued, without the necessity of reslghting
by the field artillery of Germany or of Great
Britain. the gun carriages are provided with
tao shields to protect the gunners when taking
aim. The French and Japanese idea of making
the soldier as sef-Supportiner as pOSSibIe is car