Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
FIERY UHLANS HOLD
CHIEF SPOTLIGHT
IN WARS THEATRE
Waving Lances and Car
bines, Kaiser's Cavalry
Figures Frequently in Ex-
citing Tales of Struggle.

In the news of the war thus far, nearly
Grafton In which the Germans have had
a part, and there have been few moves
In which the Kaiser's armies have not
had the leading place, the word "Uhlan"
has appeared. The Uhlans have done this
and that and have borne the blame or the
praise. Maybe the war correspondents,
or rather their non-militury informants,
have given the name Uhlan to all the
German cavalrymen, for surely the Dra-
goons and CuirassierS have not been
wholly idle. But the Uhlans, or rather
the cavalry, will not probably be so big
In the news for a while, unless situa-
ton arises where some regiments of
horses are called upon to save a day with
charge. Then the Uhlans may win a
place in literature and history like that
held by the Six Hundred at Balaklava.
The armies are now so near each other
that there is less work for the cavalry
screen that goes out scouting from ten to
fifty miles ahead of the infantry and
artillery to discover the lay of the enemy
or deceive the enemy as to the where
abouts of its own main body.
But the persistent presence OF that word
"Uhlan" in the news has caused many
persons who give no thought to armies
and military affairs except in war time
to ask who are the Uhlans and why?
UHLAN BATTLE CRY.
Here is the motto and the battle cry
of the Uhans. and 1t will give pretty
fair idea of what the Uhlans think of
themselves and their exploits in war and
displays in time of peace have justified 1t
TO the extent that the Kaiser speaks or
my Uhlans" with pride and affection:
Wenn allies wankt und schwartz
Damn wage NIGHT und zahle nicht, damn drauf!
A literal translation of the couplet
reads:
When fortunes are shaking and brave men are
quaking,
Then stay not and weigh not. but down on the
foe
The Uhlans are the show troops OF Ger
many. although the cavalry, as natural
result of their mounts and equipment are
the soectacles of all armies. They and
the Cuirassiers are the heavy cavalry in
the Kaiser's army, and the heavy cavalry
do the scouting because they are armed
and equipped in the way OF mounts TO
travel further from their base OF supplies
and to fight their way out II they get into
a tight place. The light cavalry is more
dashing and better suited for battle
The Uhlan goes about with long lance
a pair of big revolvers, a sabre and a
carbine. The lance has a fiuttering PEN
nant and the butt rests in the stirrup
The carbine Is slung from the saddle In
a sort OF holster or bucket" and the
pistols and sabre are swung from his
person In the usual way. A regiment OF
Chlans riding at a gallop, standing In
their stirrups, their lances all inclined
forward at the same angle and their
oennants futtering, makes an inspiring |
picture, but the multiplicity of weapons
and hardware impediment is considered |
~ war experts of other nations to put |
hem at disadvantage when an enemy
S met.
ARE OF TARTAR ORIGIN.
The word uhlan and the style of soldier
rom which ne has been evolved are of
Tartar origin, and came into Europe from
lie East. The lance is his distinguishing
mark. The Poles were the first European
ancers or uhlans and such valuable fight
rs We're they that all the armies of
europe copied them and THAR tactics.
russia has always been strong for cav
Try and the uhlan lance has been re-
aimed by Germany and Austria, though |
tner. armies have discarded II as a hin-
rance rather than an aid In the kind
4 work cavalry is called upon to do in
lodern warfare. But the Germans stick
o precedent, just as they did In the mat
sf Of the cuirass after other armies had
lscarded their men OF the l6-pound body
neld that once would turn leaden musket
ans, but would offer no hindrance TO
ns hish-powered rife bullet Of today