The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-09
THE TorEKA STATE JOURNAL
INEORMATIOM BUREAU
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Directsr.
Washington. ID. c.
CAVALRY.
1t Has Played a Much More Important
Part in the War Than Most
Persons Realize.

Gently in checking the advance of the
Germans has again raised the question
among military experts as to whether
the American cavalry should not be
greatly increased.
The Italian instance is not the only
one, for the horseman 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 a. matter of fact. at that very
time, large shipments of horses from
Kansas City to the allies were com
stantly going forward: the British
were training fourteen new regiments
of cavalry, and in southwestern France
a dozen new training camps for cav
alrymen and their horses were estab-
lished. ! Furthermore, all Europe still
talked of the amazing efficiency OF
that first German cavalry that went
almost to the gates of Paris.
Using its cavalry as a screen, the
German army was able to make its
T -markable advances chiefly by reason
of the fact that the allies could not
see it. This first German offensive
and its use of cavalry could not be
man, who says:
Down to the Marine this rush pre-
vailed. for the allies cavalry was I'M
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
p osi-ions, and often, we'll supported
by the prompt approach of crushing
i. Hantrv columns, made such positions
/ untenable."
MANY of the battles reported dur
ing Angus ;" he says, were merely
advance skirmishes by this screening
force of German reinforced cavalry
feeling gu. the way ahead of their
main armies, whose movements and
Intentions they effectua1ly concealed"
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 it's screen
broken, the German army turned and
ran
In this connection, it is interesting
i to note that in 1914 before the greater
part of the world suspected that it
was going to be involved in war,
book on the cavalry and its place in
modern military tactics appeared in
Germany under the name of the ia
| nous General Won Bernhard. 1t
spoke quite naturally, even enthusi-
astically. of the next European war.
and pointed out that the past uses of
cavalry in bygone wars would be of
| little advantage in the,neXt. He quail
| flies this statement, however by: The
| most Interesting administrative cam
| paiSns for the service of modern cav
airy appear to be those of the Ameri-
,.f .oI, h
ever almost unknown in Germany,
where there is a lack of opportunities
to study them
The true use of modern cavalry.
| Bernhardi asserted, is in the often
sive. It's chief duty is t. reconnoiter.
obtaining information for the rear
army, and attacking and overthrowing
the enemy's cavalry if suddenly sight
! ed. But mounted, he continued, the
cavalry is incapable of tactical de-
| Tense: in order to defend itself it
must surrender it's real character as
mounted arm and use the rifle on
foot.
| This book created a great deal of
comment in France and Great Britain
at the time of its publication, since
Bernhard was recognized as an au-
thority on cavalry. and hence it was
more with interest than surprise that
the allied armies viewed the Bern
hardi tactics in practice in the first
| German drive. For, as that gentleman
suggested, the German cavalry no
sooner assumed the defensive than it
dismounted 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.
During the fall of 1915 the French
cavalry achieved notable success in
the battles in Champagne. 1t rode
over shell holes, across paths of
about by the artillery charges, and
behind a heavy barrage fire, ad-
vanced into the German trenches.
Most of the time, it is true. the
prevalence of trench warfare has
necessitated the cavalry fighting on
foot, but at moments notice it has
been ready to leap into the saddle.
Thus the German cavalry once more
leaped into fame in the battle OF
| Wilma, when it broke thru the Rus
sian lines. severed the Russian rail
communications, and seized the Wilma
Minsk railroad, and the British cav
airy accomplished a less spectacular
but more important tasi. when it cap
tured Bagdad and Jerusalem.
The horseman has always been a
+" mantle figure in the wars of ma
ti)ns. 1t IS believed tina. he first APP
peared in Asia, where the horse was
indigenous, and that his military Use
in largo numbers was started by the
Turks. If so, the Egyptians soon fol-
lowed suit, and gradually the idea
spread to Europs. The famous Hun
gnrian hcrseTnen, the Prussian hus-
sars of Frederick the Great. the
ploughman riders led by Cromwell
and the free Cossacks are all well
kr own TO readers of history. Also the
brigade tka- rode '.nobly and we'll
into the jaws of death, into the mouth
of helP' at Balak1ava.
Then there is the tragic history o.
those French cavalrymen. who rode
across the precipice that had been q
road at Waterloo and lost the worIt
|; for Napoleon. In this war a regi
ment of cavalry prevented a Who'll,
army from doing the very same thing
Riding ahead for the purpose of re
| III.