The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-28
CAVALRYMEN ARE
NOW IN TRENCHES
By HENRY wooD.
(UnIted Press stan Correspondent,


WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES. Aug.
5.-(By MaiD-American cavalry regi-
ments now undergoing intensive cavalry
training may be surprised on their ar
rival at the French front to find their
horses relegated to the stables and
themselves to the trenches.
AS matter of fact, the role of the
French cavalry has been largely one Of
afoot in the trenches. Unless the whole
character of the war on the western
front should change completely, it is
possible that American cavalry may I'M
dergo the same experience.
The change in the war that came
when the Germans dug themselves in on
French soil rendered it necessary for a
large number Of the French cavalry reg
iments to be dismounted and the men
used in the foot service. Enough of the
cavalry was retained to meet any re-
quirement that may yet come with a re-
versal to open warfare. but the wisdom
Of the change has been demonstrated by
the fact that since then, the French cav
airy that still continues as such has
only had two occasions to get into ac-
ton. During the first few days of the
battle of the Somme cavalry patrols
were thrown out ahead of the adVanc-
ing infantry for a few days. and dur
ing the German retreat of . last March
the cavalry again had busy week chas-
ing the fleeing Germans.
But that has been all. With the whole
war on a trench basis. the cavaliers a
pied" or cavalrymen afoot as they are
known, took their turns in the trenches.
a consistent effort was made TO use
them where their especial qualifications
and fitness would render the most serv-
ice. 1t was quickly found that they
were especially valuable for advance
posts, for sentinel and watch post serv-
| ice. for scouting and "couverture" work
which results in a great number Of them
being used in small groups of one or
two platoons.
A notable instance of where just the
ri ght kind of nook" was found for them
was on the User. Where the French
line runs into the North Sea at Nieu-
port. marine infantry we're found to be
the most adapted for the trenches there.
as there was all the atmosphere Of the
sea and marine warfare. A little far
Their south. however. there was long
line of advanced posts entirely detached
from the rest of the line and which
could only be reached by little foot
bridges thrown across the canal Al Just
200 yards from the German sharpshoot-
ers. The dismounted cavalrymen took
to this wonderfully and with their ma
rine bethren to the north made things
warm for the Germans until that part
of the line was taken over a short time
ago by the British.
Not a few Of the dismounted cavalry
regiments had the good fortune not to
be broken UP into separate groups this
way but were organized for example
into regiments of light infantry for sep
arate tasks. Regiments of this class
won laurels for the cavalry afoot" in
the French offensive of May 3. when.
supported by tanks they tore open about
six kilometers of the hinge of the Hin
denburg line at Nauxaillon.
Greater evidence Of the worth of these
dismounted cavalrymen as foot soldiers
was demonstrated in the recent fighting
about Hill 304 at Verdun- The record of
the squadron of the Twenty-fourth dra-
goons. consisting Of only forty MEM
bers. that defeated the model battalion
Of the German stosstruppen after a
three-hour hand TO hand fight in which
half OF the dragons were killed viii
probably remain for a long time the
classic example Of what French cavalry
men are doing afoot. That the turn Of
the American cavalry may also come is
a very great possibility.