The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-08-21
REAL BATTLE CAPABILITIES
OF THE ARMIES OF EUROPE

ers having a ealiber OF IS millime-
ters- Assuming the same propulsive
charge. the German gun will carry fur
Their and travel natter than the French
weapon making for better mArksmsn-
ship at all ranges
Again. the French rife Is heavier
than the German. increasing to that
extent the stress upon the man who
has 20 carry it on long marches The
soldiers OF both nations carry the
same number Of cartridges. 12O. But
the saving in weight in the German
musket Is Offset BY other weights he
has TO carry. Fully equipped the
French foot soldier has a total bur
den OF 54.5S pounds. while the Ger
man infantryman has 10 bear 5S.sS
pounds. AS a broad proposition the
average German is a sturdier man
than his French rival. and this greater
tax is wisely laid upon him
French Equipment.
In the French army each company
Of infantry has the following portable
tools Eight shovels. four pickaXes
double headed three axes. one fold
ing saw and a pair OF wire nippers.
The German foot soldier on the other
hand does not get OF SO easily. be
cause each company has to carry 100
small spades. ten pickaxes and i've
harchets. Now what does this mean
Simply that the kaisers infantry en-
are able to entrench themselves quick
er than their French rivals. and FOR
that reason could hold an advanced DO
sition more securely and guard them
selves against attack while there bet
ter than the soldiers OF the tricolor-
Now let US see what Russia repre-
sents as a foes TO Germany on the Ia
therlanc's northern border. Unques-
tionably the cars army is superior TO
the kaisers in mere point Of nun
bers in peace. in war and in the total
available reserves. and SO far as per
sonal bravery goes the Russian soldier
is unsurpassed. But battles are not
won these days by just numbers;
training and handling OF the men are
OF supreme Importance.
the Russian forces are any better
trained than they were when they
measured strength with the Japanese
in l904-05. The infantry are armed
with magazine rifles OF 1852 MILNE
ter caliber and as marksmen they are
nothing like the equals of the Ger
mans.
How They Compare.
Russia Is measurably superior q
Germany in the matter OF infantry
cavalry and artillery In the form Of
field guns. and Germany. in turn. leads
France IN the vital feature OF artillery
Artillery has played a prime part ir
all great wars. and the popular idet
is that II is upon these guns that the
tide OF battle turns. In a measure thi,
IL so. for the field pieces have 10 pro
tect or support the infantry; but with
action depends upon the conduct anC
gallantry OF the foot soldier. for M
constitutes the backbone OF any mill
tary force.
AS a matter OF history, the French
have led In field ordnance ever since
the Franco-Prussian war. The Frencl
we're the first to adopt the long recoi
which made It possible 20 use highe
propulsion charges and to secure bet
ter practice against the target AM
to them. too. Is owed the introduction
OF the spade upon the trail by whicl
the recoil OF the carriage could b
checked. thus making II possible 70
the gun pointer to hold his position
and to fre deliberately and rapidly. It
the French. also. the world IL indebte
for the higher development Of tn
shrapnel shell with Its whitening blas
| Of leaden bullets.