The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-08-05

| the batteries are now only four gun
each in place of the regular Germa
six. This means q striking vindica
ton of the French artillery principles
such as were propounded by Geners
Langlos, anu no doubt the tea ng
of the Balkan wars have had some
thing to do with the innovation. Hith
erto the German critics have crit
cized the French four gun battery OF
the ground that, il more mobile, i
was far less forceful
| Now, however, artillery experts here
have come around to quite another
point OF view. One OF the most eX
perienced reported the other day
that the smaller batteries were botf
easier and quicker TO handle on the
march, and far easier to bring into
action Positions useful for foul
gun battery were twice as easy tC
| find and they were generally .ar bet
ter than those for a six gun battery.
The principle is now SO generally ac'
copied and approved that the idea OF
adopting it for the whole army is be
ing seriously discussed. The IA guns
of each army corps would then be-
come thirty-six batteries in place OF
the present twenty-four. For the
time being this plan was vetoed.
/ The chief reason against the change
was the effect it would have on the
line OF march, as it would lengthen
cut the march column very consider
ably. The tactical value of the four
gun battery in the field was not dis
puled.
Another artillery reform which was
not by any means clearly Indicated in
the new military law was the great
increase OF howitZers. Some OF the
riding batteries have been quietly
changed into hoWitZer batteries and
now where every army corps had its
compliment OF howitZcrs every divi-
sion possesses the same force. The
hOwitZer, indeed. in the opinion of
many German critics, is the weapon
of the future"
The Spirit of the Army.
1t is a superb sight to see a Ger
man regiment on parade drill, perfect
in equipment to, the uttermOst button.
and Fritz in the ranks appreciates it
and eXults In it as well as the field
or even the sub-lieutenant.
But if Fritz is locked in jail for a
week. or two because a single button
on his coat appeared to the eye Of
Baron ven Martinez to be not abso,
lutely free from tarnish by the acid
test. why then the other Frt2cs rrown
behind their placid masks and well
come the propaganda of democracy. 1t
must be borne in mind that as the
social democracy is the most numer-
Gus of all the political parties in the
empire so the great majority of that
party consists Of men VINO have served
their time with the colors under the
law. That fact gives
added force to the popular disapprov
al OF military abuses 1t is not the
army, per Sc, to which even radical
social democrats. object so much as
10 the tyrannous eXaggeration OF the
spirit of military caste. There is arts
ing demand that the army shall be
and shall consider itself,
4 part Of the citizen body of the ma
Ill the rest to the common civil law.
ion, amenable in time of peace like
But in time of war all other consid-
srations are overthrown.
Kaiser the Supreme General.
Emperor William is OF course gen
aralissimo OF the German armies, both
Of the kingdom of Prussia, OF which
he is king, and of the other kingdoms.
iuchies and principalities making up
he German empire. With him are as
ociated as leaders Of their armies the |
Kings of SaXony. Wurttemberg, Ba.
iaria, etc, all OF whom arc trained |
folders. The heads, of the other
smaller German states are also mill
airy men and for the most Part capa
,le leaders OF the forces OF their
tates
.hief of staff. Lieutenant General
;ount Helmuth Won MOltke, nephew |
If the famous Won Moltke, who was i
accounted the greatest strategist of
he nineteenth century save only Ma
Ioleon Bonanarte. Count Won Haesel
r holds the rank OF field marshal gen
raj, the highest in the German or any
ther army. Other officers high In
ank are Generals Won Goltz, Won
Won Plessen, Won Kessel,
ION Horn. Won Buelo". Won Scholl
nd Won PrittWitz-all these in addi.
ion to the numerous royalties, Prus
ian and non-Prussian, who hold high
ank in the German army. In some
asses the titles of these last named
re purely honorary and they cannot
e called upon for active field service,
ut in others. as has been stated, the
Qualities are trained soldiers and able
o give good accounts OF themselves
S masters Of large bodies of fighting
nen. War always finds them in the
DreirOnt OF the German forces.