El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-09
MOST WONDERFUL
FIGHTING MACHINE
Of THE ACE
CONTINUED from Page Sikh

He calculated that il would require
three weeks for France as against IL
days for Prussia The. event proved
that he was right as to both his own
army and that of the enemy. France
found 1t out afterwards; Prussia knew
it before.
Long before tie war was dreamed
of by the public. the general staff had
prepared for every possible eventuality
When the war was declared it was nee
essary only to send kilograms announc-
ing that fact. Instantly every officer
in the army. every private in the re-
serve and the militia, every person in
authority, whether over much or little,
had only to open an envelope to find
the orders which, when obeyed, would
make the mobilization of the army
complete in the shortest possible time.
The railway agents had only to open
envelopes to find what the railways
were expected to do, where to have
trains, how many men there would
be to carry from each station, and
every other detail of war transporta
ton. The transportation facilities were
not left to chance or luck. as they were
by Russia in it's war with Japan, and
as they were by the United States in its
war with Spain. The disgraceful con-
gestion at Tampa in 1S4S would not
nave Deen possible III GeIfldHy-
Van Room Not Worried by War.
The Prussian minister of war Won
Room, the day after war was de-
clared with France, went off into the
country to take a few days rest, as
everything had been prepared and there
was nothing left for him to do. He
afterwards said that the two weeks fol-
lowing the memorable night of the
mobilization were the idlest and the
freeest from care Of his whole military
career. The mobilization machine
worked with such exemplary exart;tude.
and so completely without friction, that
the war office did not receive one single
inquiry from any commanding general
or other officer in the army. This was
the case in spite of the fact that the
order for the mobilization was given
without any warning, and many of the
commanding generals and staff Off
GERS were away on vacation. In every
instance The man next in command
merely opened an envelope and pro-
ceeded TO obey orders.
If England should declare war
against Germany today. the Berlin gov
eminent would have nothing TO do ex-
cept to notify the country OF that
fact. There are some thousands Of
sealed envelopes containing written or
derS which would take care of the mo-
Utilization of the German forces, and
which. in all liability go far
enough to provide for the embarka-
ton of a German army ready to sail
for England in the event OF a British
defeat al sea. It is certain that en-
barkation drills have taught the Ger
man Officers how the trick can be done
1t is certain that plans for the inva-
sion of France. Belgium and Holland
exist in the office of the German gem
eral staff. and the German army would
be in readiness TO strike the blow before
either of the other countries possibly
could know anything about it,
Largest Army In World
The active army of the German en-
pire in time of peace has total
strength of 100000 men, and nearly
10000 officers. In time of war the
modified field army, mace of the ac-
tive army and the reserves first called,
would have strength of 1,165, 600 men,
supported by the organized Landwehr
with 100000, and the Landsturm with
100000 men, making n tota; strength
of almost 100000 soldiers.
Young men are liable for service on
reaching the age of IL although the
practice is not to call them until they
are about 90. Every German capable of
bearing arms has to serve in the stand
ing army for six years. or for seven
years in the cavalry. OF the six
years. two must be spent in active
service. three for the cavalry, and the
remainder in the active reserve. After
quitting the reserve, the conscript goes
into the Landwehr for another five
years in the first class, during which
he receives two trainings of Il days
each; and then he goes to the second
class for several years, ant then. finally,