Evening journal., 1917-08-28
CAVALRYNEN HAVE
BECOME Infantry
Horses Are Kept in Stable;
Dismounted Men in
Trench Service
MOUNTED MEN NOT
NEEDED NOWADAYS
BY HENRY WOOD
United Press Staff Correspondent

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES, Aug. 5
tBy Mai) american cavalry regiments
now undergoing intensive cavalry
training may be surprised on their ar
rival at the French front to ind their
horses relegated TO the stables and
themselves to the trenches.
As a 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 complete
ly, It is entirely possible that Ameri-
can cavalry may undergo the same ex-
perlence.
The change in the war that came
when the Germans dug themselves in
on French soil rendered Il necessary
for large number OF the French cav
airy regiment to be dlsmounted and
the men utilized in the foot service.
Enough Of the cavalry was retained
to meet any requirements that may yet
come with a reversal to open warfare,
but the wisdom Of the change has
been demonstrated by the fact that
since then the French cavalry that still
continues as such has only had two
occasions to get into action. During
The first few DAYS of the battle OF the
somme cavalry patrols were throWh
ont ahead Of the advancing infantry
for few days, and during the German
retreat OF last March the cavalry AGAIN
rad a busy week chasing the fleeing
Germans.
But that has been all
With the whole war on a trench
basis. these cavaliers a pied OF
cayalrvmen afoot as they are known
took their turns in the trenches. A
consistent effort was made to use thein
where their especial qualifications and
fitness would render the most service
II was quickly found that they Were
especially valuable for advance posts
for sentinel and watchpost service, toi
scouting and "couNerture" work, whiel
resulted in a great number of them be
ing used in smnll groups ofone or two
nlaloons
notable instance of where Just the
right kind of a mock was found iol
them was on the User. Where th'
French line runs into the Nortn Sea at
Nieuport. marine infantry were found
to be the best adapted for the trenches
there. as there was all the atmosphere
of he sea and marine warfare. ittl'
farther south, however there was 1
long line of advaiIed posts entirely de-
tached from the rest Of the line and
which could only be reached by LITTLE
foot bridges thrown across the canal o.
lust 200 yards from the German sharp
shooters. The dismounted cavalrymel
took to this wonderfully, and with thei
marine brethren TO the north mad
things warm for the Germans until tha
part Of the line was taken over shor
time ago by the British.
Not a few OF the dismounted cav
airy regiments had the good fortune
not TO be broken up into separate
groups this way. but were organized
for example into regiments OF ligh'
infantry for special tasks. Regiments
OF this class won laurels for the
cavalry afoot" in the French often
sive Of May 3. when. supported by
tanks they tore open about six kilo'
meter OF the hinge Of the linden
burg lne at Vauxaillon.
Greater evidence Of the worth oi
these dismounted cavalrymen as FOO
soldiers was domonstra' ed IN the re
cent fighting about Hill 3O4 at Yer
dun. The record Of the squadron o.
the oath Dragons. consisting Of opl,
40 members. that defeated the Mode
Battalion OF the German stosstruppeI
af.er a three-hour hand-to-hand figh
in which half Of the dragons wer
killed will probably remain for
long tine the classic example o
wha. French cavalrymen are doinl
afoot. That the turn Of the Amer.
can cavalry may also cdne is YER
great possibility.