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
part, and there have been few moves
in which the Kaisers 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-military 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 while, unless situa-
ton arises whore some regiments of
horses are called upon to save day with
a charge. Then the Uhans 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 sas to the where
Rbouts of it's 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?
UHI.AN BATTLE CRY.
Here is the motto and the battle cry
of the Uhlans. and it 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 it
10 the extent that the Kaiser speaks of
"my Uhlans" with pride and affection:
wenn allies wanSt und schwartz
Ia IN va
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 ana
the Cura ssiers are the heavy cavalry III
the Kaser'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 If they get into |
a tight place. The light cavalry is more |
dashing and better suited for battle
charges.
The UhIan goes about with long lance, |
pair of big revolvers, a sabre and |
carbine The lance has a tiutterns pen
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
Uhlans riding at a gallop, standing In
their stirrups their lances all inclined
forward at the same angle and their
pennRnts fiuttering, makes an inspiring
picture but the multiplicity of weapons
and hardware impedment is considered
by war experts of other nations TO put
them at a disadvantage when an enemy
is met.
ARE OF TARTAR ORIGIN.
The word uhlan and the style of soldier
from which he has been evolved are of
Tartar origin, and came into Europe from
the East. The lance is his distinguishing
mark. The Poles were the first European
lancePs or uhlans. and such valuable fight
eTs We're they that all the armies of
Europe copied them and their tactics
Prussia has always been strong for cav
airy, and the uhlan lance has been re-
tanned by Germany and Austria, though
other armies have discarded 1t as him
irance rather than an aid In the kind
of work cavalry is called upon to do in
modern warfare. But the Germans stick |
10 precedent, just as they did I'm the mat /
ter of the CuiTaSs after other armies had I
discarded their men of the l6-pound body (
ihield that once would turn leaden musket I
lalls, bat would offer no hndrance TO {
hs high-pOWered rifle bullet Of today.