New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
THE KAISER'S ARMY.
It's Units Hare Little Po7cer of
InitiatiUe.
7.

The most important result OF the German
military manauvrcs in Silesia, which concluded
few days ago has been to reveal not only to
external critics, but also TO the German army
itself the talents of the new chief Of the Cen
eral Staff, Count Moltke. When Count Won
Moltke q nephew OF the famous victor Of the
Austro-Prussian and Franco German wars, was
recently appointed to succeed Count Won Schlief-
fen chief Of the headquarters staff there was
n chorus OF criticism in Germany; all sorts OF
disasters We're foretod, and the general opn-
ion appeared 10 prevail that Count Won Moltks
was altogether incapable Of filling this respon-
sible position Notwithstanding these criticisms.
Count Won Moltke has succeeded in making the
great autumn maneuvres OF the German army
more like actual warfare than either Of his re-
cent predecessors ever succeeded in doing, prin-
clpally owing TO the predominant desire in
previous years to arrange great military pa
geants, pleasing TO the eye.
Count Won Moltse. it appears, adds to his mill
tary talents great independence of judgment.
which he exhibited in drawing up the scheme OF
this years army manRuvres. In previous years
It was customary for the mimic to be
broken off every day at or o'clock in the after
noon. and for a truce to be observed until
the next morning. when operations were re-
sumed. The mimic war was thus confined to
about thirty hours. distributed over about four
these arrangements and provided that the mimic
war, which begal il the early hours OF Monday
morning should continue without interruption
until Thursday afternoon. so that the operations
lasted ninety hours instead OF thirty hours.
This innovation alone suficed 10 lend far more
serious character TO the operations and to i'm
pose far more difficult tasks on the command
ing officers who thereby gained much valuable
experience.
According TO Colonel Gaedtke. the command
ing officers cf the troops engaged in the ma
noeuvres in former years were mere puppets
pulled by strings attached to the chief of the
General staff with the result that all tendency
TO genuine initiative was suppressed and the
practical value OF the manGuvres destroyed.
This year Count Won Moltke abolished this plan
of arranging the manceuyres according to a cut
snd-dried scheme from beginning TO end and
| left the generals commanding the rival Red
and Blue" armies to work out their destinies
according 10 their own judgment. The ma
| nGuvres thus developed naturally instead of ar
! tihcially, and all critics agree that great i'm
! proyement was thereby introduced in conparl-
/ son with operations Of former years
/ Another extremely favorable feature Of the
| man9uvres was the remarkable physical endur-
! ance displayed by the troops from beginning to
! end of the operations. Owing TO the continuity
| of the man9uvres all through the hours of the
! day and night, there was greater strain than
| usual the men, who nevertheless carried out
| forced marches and tedious movements after
4 Snatchlng an hour or two of sleep in the
| trenches. The performances of the 11th In
| fantry Division were especially worthy of no.
/ tice. This division started at l o'clock in the
morning, and marched distance OF thirty miles
before il came into action. After taking part in
brisk engagement il ordered 10 pursue
the enemy, and the men on the move con-
tinuously until o'clock in the evening T. e.
for seventeen hours without interruption. The
men of the same division performed admirable
feats Of physical endurance on the two follow
ing days, when they again made A series of
forced marches before and after taking part IN
engagements. It was especially remarkable that
the reserVists. many thousands Of whom had
been summoned to take part in the manpuvres
could scarcely be distinguished from the reg
ulars. and displayed the same strength and en-
Gurance under very trying conditions.
The ''Vossische Zeituns'' publishes an inter-
/ esting report OF the criticisms passed on the
German army manoeuVres by several French
officers who there as special correspon-
dents for various French newspapers. These
French critics expressed great admiration for
the condition Of the troops, and for the endur-
which they displayed in making exhaust
ing marches Several French critics consider
that the uniforms OF the German soldiers are
mostly 100 conspicuous, and render their wearers
easy targets for the enemy. All the French
critics who were present at the Sesian ma
neuvres agree in describing the individual Ger
man soldier possessing far less initiative than
the individual French soldier. The German SOL
der, they assert, is trained to be fighting ma
chine which is incapable Of any movement
without certain definite order from the COM
I nanding officer. The French soldier, on the
; other hand. IS trained to develop his own initi-
ative and judgment in positions where il Is i'm
possible for him TO depend entirely on superior
orders.-London Standard.