Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-08-21
REAL BATTLE CAPABILITIES
OF The ARMIES OF EUROPE

&. MSs%gI IA ts.,
era having q oalibef OF rs uallime
La Assuming the same propulsive
edarge. the EsFmaA gun viii carry fur
stlIsr and travel fatter than the French
weapon. making. for better marksmar
Ship at all rangess
s, Again.. the. French rife is heavier
than the German, increasing to that
extent the stress Upon the man who
has 70 carry it4On 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 be
HAS to carry. Fully equipped the
French foot soldier has a total bur
den. Of .54.5S pounds, while the Ger
man infantryman has to bear 58,75
pounds. AS a broad proposition the
average German is a sturdier man
than his French rival, and this greater
tax is wisely laid upon him.
French EquipmentsS
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 a pair of wire nippers.
The German foot soldier on the other
hand does not get. OF 30 easily, be
,cahse each company haaa to carry 100
small spades, ten pickaxes and Ave
hatchets. Now what does this mean
Simply that the kaiser's infantrymen
are able to entrench themselves quick
er than their French rivals. and for
that reason could hold an advanced po-
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
therland's northern border Unques,
| tionahly the czar's army is superior to
the kaiser's in mere point of mum
bers in. peace, in war and in the total
available reserves, and SO far as per
sonal bravery goes the Russian soldier
is unsurpassed. But battles are moi
won these days by just numbers
training and handling of the men are
of supreme Importance.
Broadly speaking, it is doubtful Il
the Russian forces are any bettel
1strained than tlfey were when thel
measured strength whit Japanes,
IL 19041Qs. The ipfantry are afsnet
With magazine rifies.. Of. q 81 milIime
ter caliber, and as marksmen they ar,
nothlRg like. the equals of the Ger
:. 49, How They Compare
3 Russia rs 1ffeasdfably superior Il
Germany in the matter of infantry
cavalry and artillery in the form o
field guns, and Germany. in turn, lead
Franee-in the. vital feature of artillery
Artillery has played a prime part Il
all great wars, and the popular idei
is that 1t is upon these guns that tn
tide of battle turns. In a measure thi
is SO, for the field pieces have to pre-
tect or support the infantry; but wit
this done, the decisive outcome of al
action depends upon the conduct an
gaIfantry OF the foot soldier, for h
constitutes the backbone Of any mil
tary force.
AS a matter Of history. the Frepc
have led in field ordnance ever sine
the Franco-Prussian war. The Frenc
were the first to adopt the long reeo
(which made it possible to use highe
propuinion charges and 20 secure be
Ter practice against the target. an
to them. to. = owed the ihtFcductio
of the spade npon the trail py whic
the recoil Of the carriage conld b
checked, thus making It possible c
the gun pointer 70 hold his positio
and to fre deliberately and repidlyg z
the Preach, also. the world Is indeb1e
VI for the higher development OF II
r shrapnel shell with lis whitening blai
: Of lesden bullets.