The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-08
German General Tells How Mounted
Troops Should Be Handled and Eng
fish Commander Comments on 1t

often be used to keep UP communication
or to send messages.
The employment OF single cyclists or
motor cars Is. on the other hand, not
advisable. Without taking Into account
the fact that they are tied to the roads,
and having no fighting value Will often
fall an easy prey to the enemy, technical
defects occur so often in the machines
that they cannot be classed as a reliable
means OF communication, particularly
in hostile country. Should the distance
between the reconnoitring equadrons
and the main body become very great
or II circumstances arise which render
direct communication between them too
long a matter or II II II desired to
provide several avenues of communica-
ton @ collecting station can be formed
for reports; this will keep up connec-
ton and must be secured by detach-
ment of sufficient strength. 1t Is err
ronRous to assume that such collecting
stations must always be used. They
often operate very unfavorably, espe-
cIally when armies are on the move, as
they are for the most part very local,
and then do more harm than good.
The great size OF modern armies rem
ders It. generally speaking, impossible
for them to live on the country. A
modern army marching once through
the richest country will nowadays al
most completely exhaust It's resources
and yet the supplies carried will scarcely
suffice to feed the columns during a
protracted movement. Armies are far
more dependent than formerly on the
supplies from the rear--more, indeed
than in the time of Frederick the Great
In those days. II the bread wagons. ran
short, It was possible to fill UP from,
the country. The armies were never sc
great that this became impossible. The
, cavalry. indeed, devoted most OF It's
time to foraging. and the soldier fire.
| duently bought his supplies, all except
his bread, on the spot.
Nowadays the circumstances are quite
changed. 1t IL out OF the question fol
the horses Of the modern army to fine
the necessary forage in the country IT.
self. That the men of the great arnie'
OF tho present day can supply them
selves when rations run out remains t.
be proved. On paper It is indeed otter
possible. taking into consideration Tho
supplies available In peace; but thes,
calculations cannot hold good for rea
4
claimed all available resources.
| OF the straits 10 which a great army
may be reduced when supplies really
give out. the campaign of 1912 in Rus
STA 10 a good example. There. ever
during the advance TO Moscow. Napo
Icons army practically dissolved OWNS
to lack OF supplies. Only some 10000
men OF the mighty host arrived in Mos
COW; only these persisted during III
retreat. How fearfully the NaRoieoni
| armies suffered and melted away OWN.
TO want Of supplies gives cause for re
fection. In the armies OF millions o
the present day such conditions becom
st!ll more perilous Matters appertain
ing to ammunition are Of equal impor
lance. The modern army carries enor
nous masses OF artillery with 81. a.
the guns are designed for = vast expen
diture OF ammunition, and the rafal
from covered positions and against GOV
cred positions will indeed make thl
necessary Modern infantry. too.
armed IN manner that Will entail
prod!gious expenditure of cartridge
The replacement Of this expended an
munltion Is OF vital Importance. Ra.
ways will have to be laid IN rear of III
armies to cope with these demand
Long trains Of wagons and automobile
will move 10 and fro behind them. .
every hlghroad and IN every ra!lwa
station magazines will appear, ana q
: ! operations must come TO stdndst'