Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-08-20

ers having a caliber of rs MILNE
ters. Assuming the same propulsive
charge, the German gun will carry fur
Their and travel fiatter than the French
weapon, making for better marksman-
ship at all ranges
Again, the French rife is heavier
than the German, increasing TO that
extent the stress upon the man who
has to carry 1t en- long marches. The
soldiers of both nations carry the
same number OF cartridges, 100. 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 545S pounds. while the Ger
man infantryman has to bear 58.75
pounds. As a broad proposition the
average German is a slslrdier HSap
than his French rival, and this tsef
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 pair of wire nippers
The German foot soldier on the other
hand does not get off so easily, be-
cause each company has to carry 100
small spades, ten pickaxes and five
hatchets, Now what does this mean?
Simply that the kaiser's infantrymen
O re oh RI nnfrnr,oh lxrna oh
er than their French rivals, and for
that reason could hold an advanced POI
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 foes to Germany on the Fa-
,herlands northern border Unques-
ionably the cars army is superior to
he kaisers In mere point of num-
)ers In peace, in war and in the total
AVAILABLE reserves, and so far as per-
ional bravery goes the Russian soldier
8 unsurpassed But battles are not
Won these days by just numbers;
raining and handling of the men are
Il supreme Importance.
Broadly speaking, 1t is doubtful IL
he Russian forces are any better
rained than they were when they
Measured strength with the Japanese
n 1904-05. The infantry are armed
nth magazine rifles of 1852 millime
er caliber, and as marksmen they are
othing like the equals of the Ger
lans.
How They Compare.
Russia is measurably superior to
ermany In the matter of infantry,
avalry and artillery in the form OF
cid guns, and Germany, In turn, leads
rance in the vital feature OF artillery.
rtillery has played prime part in
i great wars, and the popular idea
that il is upon these guns that the
de of battle turns. In a measure this
so, for the field pieces have to pro-
ct or support the infantry; but with
lis done, the decisive outcome of an
,tion depends upon the conduct and
lllantry of the foot soldier, for he
institutes the backbone of any mill
ry force.
AS matter of history, the French
we led in field ordnance ever since
e Prussian war The French
ere the first to adopt the long recoil
1lch made It possible TO use higher
opulsion charges and to secure bet
r practice against the target, and
them. too, is owed the introduction
the spade upon the trail by which
. recoil of the carriage could be
ecked, thus making II possible for
, gun pointer to hold his position
to fire deliberately and rapidly. To
} French, also the world is indebted
. the higher development OF the
rapnel shell with its whitening blast
leaden bullets.