The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-09-04
SIDEuGHTS
ON GREAT WAR
How Battles Fought Caval-
ry and Bayonet Charge.
Millions Of Miles in Foreign Pos
sessions Form Stake Of
Nations at War.

The task of the cavalry during
mobiliaticn aud concentration is to
screen of the adversary, trying to
form q screen for the rest of the
army: to scout and penetrate the
discover his trength, his exact posi-
tion and his intention. In those re-
connoitering expeditions the cavalry,
in large bodies, is supported by ar
tillery and small bodies of infantry.
who are transported on wagons or
motor cars. so as to be able to fol-
TOW the borsement. The main value
of cavalry lies in the scouting SER
vice of cavalry patrols. who adven-
ture often as far as forty miles in
front of their army, finding their
way through the enemys lines to
CLEAN knowledge of his forces.
During the battle it oftens happens
that no cavalry combat takes place,
and it's task might appear ended. but
such is not the case. for the cavalry
must stand ready at all moments to
sacrifice itself utterly on any part of
the field where it is needed; in some
sudden charge of death to stem the
enemy's onrush for a moment, giving
time for the infantry to rally or ex-
tricate itself from some peril Such
were the charges of the Light Bri-
gade at Balaklava; such were charg-
es of Bujapovich's Austrian Cavalry
Brigade in the battle of Custozza.
1866; the charges of Bredow's cav
airy at Mar s-la-Tour. the charges of
the French Cuirassiers at Reichshof-
fen and the charges of the French
Cavalry Division Margarine, led by
Gallifet at Sedan. In all these ia
nous charges it was always Into
the valley OF death" they rode.
The infantry, 1.-The queen of mill
tant arms" as it has been called,
moves forward in long heavy col
umns. When it arrives within the
range of the adversary's artillery
fire its advance is protected by its |
own artillery. already engaged in du-
el with the nemy's batteries. From
that moment on the success of the
action depends on complete cO-ordi- |
nation between the infantry advance |
and the artillery fire and the pro-.
lection given by the artillery to its |
infantry.
The moment when the infantry |
comes within range of the enemy's |
fire, a distance of about 5000 yards, |
its deep massed columns begin to !
boaden and stretch out on both |
sides in shallow donations disposed |
over wide front.
A definite picture of what occurs
during battle must follow the course
of one of these infantry columns,
composed it may be of a regiment or
a brigade, or even of a division
5000 rifles. An attacking army is
assumed, for the duty of defend
ing force is only to hold the posi-
lions it occupies.
Say that troops have the orders
to march over a specified road to-
ward a railroad station which must |
be seized. During the march the
troops find themselves confront
ed by the enemy occupying heights
way station. Their immediate task |
dominating the road and the rail
those heights.
The enemy's artillery on the !
heights opens ire. which is directed .
the advancing infantry bel
low. Those troops hastily spread out
in wide shallow front formations.
The enemys infantry cannot be de-
scribed on the hillside except by some
chance CLINT in the sun of an officers !
sword; his batteries are invisible.
only some light puff of smoke up in
the distance and the direction from
which the whizing shells are hurled
indicating vaguely the location of
his guns covered by the hill.
The artillery of our attacking
force below also gets rapidly into
position. for fire. seeking the best
cover which the relief of the land
scape affords. When the guns have
taken up position they await order
10 fire until their battery command
ers have managed to climb TO some
point of eminence whence they can
best observe the .enemy's positions
and by signals TO their gunners di-
rect the laying OF the guns. indicat-
ing the direction of the gun. its ele-
walton and the distance time of the
...
The object of our batteries will
be to locate exactly the enemy's guns
and silence their fire. forming
cover for our advancing infantry.
which has ieft q group of reserves
lt the beck At about l,5Q0 ward,