Evening star., 1912-08-29
MERITS OF ARMIES
British Officer Compares Ger
man and French Forces.
POINTS OF Difference
Kaiser's Men Show More Discipline
and Their Commanders Are
Fine Body.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, August o9-In the mail edi-
tion of the Times of India Is an account
of an interesting lecture at Simla by
British officer on the relative merits OF
the French and German armies.
The lecturer. Capt. Swiss Of the 9th
Gurkhas. began by comparing tho num-
bers OF trained men in the two countries,
Germany having 100000, of whom g.
500, 900 are between the ages of twenty
one and thrty-eight. France has B.
sou, 900 trained men. of whom $3.50, 600
are between twenty-one and thrty-nine
years of age. The French population is
less than 100000 and is stationary,
that of Germany is $1,000 900 and in
creasing rapidly.
In France practically every man has to
be taken. in Germany only compare
lively small proportion are actually
trained and passed through the ranks
each year.
The terms of service in the two armies
were compared. compulsory service be-
ing, of course, in force in both countries.
Organization also was considered. and IL
was pointed out that decentralization was
greater in Germany than in France. The
German general staff and army corps
have great power and independence.
InOSo commanders DelnC directly re-
sponsible to the kaiser. himself soldier.
while the French army was controlled
by civilians.
German Drill System.
The German system of drill was much
more strict than the French system. The
former inclined to driving. the latter to
leading. 1t was difficult to say which
was the better. Perhaps each was best
for the national Characteristic of its SOL
dier but when things were not going
We'll one would incline 10 back the side
with the strictest discipline.
Comparing the armies generally, the
lecturer said, both the German and
French infantry are thoroughly imbued
with the offensive spirit and hate act
ing on the defensive. German discipline
was better. while tho French infantry
had more intelligence and activity.
As regards the cavalry. the French were
perhaps the better riders, i'm spite of
shorter service, though in each case the
cavalry were very good. In the matter OF
artillery. the French field gun was de-
cidedly better than the German, but the
latter army had more howitzcrs and
heavy guns.
The French methods, said the lecturer.
involved more finesse for maneuvering
and more intelligence. German methods
were more simple, depending more on
NUMBERS, NlSOT ana energy. nara n1ttlnS
and mutual cooperation, well suited to
the German character.
The French methods might be facilitated
by superior information from aircraft,
which are likely to have a very great in
| fiuence on the next war.
French Officers Intelligent.
| The German officers. said the lecturer
| finally, were a magnificent body of men.
of tremendous disciplined power and of
| fervent and loyal devotion to their en-
peror The French officers were real pro-
| fessional soldiers, highly trained, keen
and efficient. They were more intelligent
than the Germans, for they had to lead
their men and not drive them.
| The German soldier was very docile, a
brave fighter, perhaps without dash or in
| dividuality, though by no means a ma
chine. He had thorough confidence in his
| leaders and in his army. imbued with the
offensive spirit. stubborn and ready to
give implicit obedience to his superiors.
1 The French soldier was active in body
and mind. intelligent and energetic, sober
and abstemious, a good marcher and keen
fighter.