El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-14
CAVALRY PLAYS
IMPORTANT PART.
Military Experts Think U.
S. Cavalry Should Be
Greatly Increased.
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

washington u. u Jan 14.-Ine
mpor.-nt part played by the Italian
cavalry recently in checking the ad-
vance OF the Germans has again
raised The question among military
experts as to whether the American
avalry should not be greatly in
creased
The Italian instance is not the only
Dne, for the horsemen has played an
important part in the war-a fact
which Is heard with some surprise by
the average American. In the first
year Of the war. indeed. one heard
many authoritative remarks TO the ef-
feet that motor trucks were being
used in place OF horses on the Euro
pean battlefields-
As q matter Of fact. at that very
time, large shipments of horses from
Kansas City to the allies were con-
stantly going forward; the British
were training II new regiments OF
cavalry, and in southwestern France
a dozen new training camps for cav
alyrmen and their horses were es-
tablished. Furthermore, all Europe
stin talked OF the amazing efficiency
OF that first German cavalry that
went almost to the gates Of Paris.
OoC1 - 5-NCGAe
Using its cavalry as a screen. the
remarkable advances chiefly by rea-
son OF the fact that the allies could
not see it This first German often
sive and its use Of cavalry could not
be better described than by an Eng
lishman, who says:
Down to the Marine this rush pre-
vailed, for the allies cavalry was IN
able to cope with the Germans over
whelming numbers and their terrific
tactics. So these cavalry divisions
penetrated quickly to the main bodies
of the allies armies, unmasked their
by the prompt approach Of crushing
Infantry columns. made such positions
untenable"
Many of the battles reported dur
ing August" he says, were merely
advances skirmishes by this screening
force Of German REINFORCED cavalry
FEELING out the way ahead OF their
main armies, whose movements and
Intentions they effectually con-
cealed.n
Also. it was the German cavalry
that eventually settled the battle OF
the Marine. for when its commander
sent word to the rear that he could
hold out against the allied forces no
longer, the order to retreat was i'm
mediately given. With its screen
broken, the German army turned and
ran.
In this connection. it is interesting
to note that in 1914 before the great
er part Of the world suspected that it
Yves going to be involved in war. a
book on the cavalry and its place in
modern military tactics appeared in
Germany under the name of the IA
nous Gen. Won Bernhard. II spoke
quite naturally. even enthusiastically.
of the nnWr FafIrnnarr and 1afnfad
out that the past uses OF cavalry in
bygone wars would be Of little adj
vantage in the next He qualities
this statement. however, by: THE
most interesting and instructive cam
paigns for the service Of modern
cavalry appear to be those of the
American war Of secession, which are,
however. almost unknown in Ger
many. where there is lack of oppor-
tunities TO study them"
Says True Use Is in Offensive.
The true use Of modern cavalry.
eernhardi asserted is in the often
give. Its chief duty is to reconnoiter.
obtaining information for the rear
army, and attacking and overthrow
ing the enemy's cavalry II suddenly
lighted But mounted. he continued.
the cavalry is incapable of tactical
defense; in order to defend itself It
must surrender its real character as
foot
This book created q great deal of
comment IN France anc Great Britain
ut the time Of Its publication. since
Sernhardi was recognized as an au-
thority on cavalry. and hence II was
more with interest than surprise that
the allied armies viewed the Bern
hardi tactics IN practice IN the first
German drive. For. as he suggested.
the German cavalry no sooner as
sumed the defensive than II dis
mounted and used the rifle on foot
Meantime. the allies began raising
additional regiments of cavalry at
home. which were rapidly placed in
the field. and proceeded to some re-
markable feats on their own account
cavalry achieved notable success in
the battles in Champagne. It rode
over shell holes, across paths Of
barbed wire fences, violently blown