The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-09-12

From time 70 Time a. The war oil
position dragged on and the cncmy's
trench eysicms renamed unbrokon,
while questions OF man and ihc
shortage OF shipping became acute
the wisdom or necessity OF main
tanning any large force Of mounted
men was freely discussed. In the
light Of the full experience Of the
" % the decision 10 preserve the
cavalry corps has been completely
justified. II has been proved that
cavalry. whether used for shock
effect under. suitable conditions or
as mobile infantry, have still an
indispensable part 10 play In modern
war. Moreover, II cannot safely
be assumed that in al, future wars
the TANKS OF the opposing forces
will rest on neutral states or
impossible obstacles. Whenever
such a condition does not obtain,
opportunities for the use Of cavalry
must arise frequently.
Throughout the great retirement
In 1914, our cavalry covered the
retirement and protected the flsnks
Of our columns against The onrush
Of the enemy. and on frequent
occasions prevented our infantry
from being over-run by the enemy's
cavalry. Later In the same year
NJ Ypres, their mobility multiplied
their value NJ a reserve, enabling
them rapidly 70 reinforce threaten
ed portions OF, u line.
During The critical period Of
position warfare, when the trial Of
strength between the opposing
forces took place. the absence OF
Dor 10 maneuver made the
importance OF cavalry less apparent.
Even under such conditions. how
ever, valuable results may be
expected from the employment Of
a strong force Of cavalry when
after there has been severe fighting
ON one or more fronts, a surprise
attack is made on another front
Such an occasion arose In the oper-
ations before Cambria az the close
Of 1917, when the cavalry were
Of the greatest service; while
throughout the whole period OF
trench fighting they constituted an
important mobile reserve.
AZ a later date, when circum-
stances found us operating ono,
more In comparatively open cOun-
try, cavalry proved themselves OF
value in their true role. During
the German offensive In March
1918, the superior mobility Of cav
airy fully justified their existence
AZ the commencement Of the bat.
tie, cavalry we're used under tn
Fifth Army over wide fronts. Il
great indeed, became the need FOL
mounted men that certain unit
which had hut recently been dis.
mounted were hurriedly provided
with horses and did splendid sery.
lee. Frequently when II wal i'm
possible 10 move forward othe.
troops In time, our mounted troop
were able TO mn gaps In II lin
and restore the situation. The alb
sence Of hostile cavalry Of thi
period was a marked feature Of tn
battle. Had the German commanI
had al their disposal even two o
three well-trained cavalry division
n wedge might have been driyel
between the French and Britisl
armies. Their presence could no
have failed 10 have added greatl'
to the difficulties Of u task.
In the actions already rcferrel
To east Of Amiens, the cavalry wer'
again able TO demonstrate the grea
advantage which their power o
rapid concentration gives them in
surprise attack. Operating In clos
concert with both armored car
and infantry, they pushed ahead O
the latter and by anticipating u
arrival OF German reserves assistel
materially In "a success. In IN
battle Of the 9Th Of October, the.
were responsible for saving IN
Cambrai-Le Cateau-St. Quentin rail
way from complete destruction
Finally. during the culminatin
operations OF the war when IN
German armies were falling back 4
d~isorganized masses, a new situa
ton arose which demanded the us
Of mounted troops. Then u cav
airy, pressing hard upon III
enemy's heels. FASTENED his retrea
and threw him into worse con
fusion. AZ such a time the mora
effect OF cavalry Is overwhelminl
and is in itself a sufficient reasol