Germany's Railway System.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 8

Germany's Railway System.

In an article on "Germany and France," by Colonel Foster, which appeared in yesterday's "Press," reference was made to Germany's system of railway mobilisation on tho frontier. This particular railway organisation is the most extensive and the most perfect in tho world. With an eye to tho possiblo outbreak of war everything has been completed to the smallest detail for the prompt mobilisation of the Army. Indeed, it has been confidently asserted that, with but tho slightest modification of tho ovory-day time-table, the entiro German Army could bo transferred from ono end of tho country to the other. Tho enormous amount of military traffic that can bo handled by the German railways is amazing. At tho Kaiser manoeuvres a year or two ago no fewer than 642.000 officers and men, 94,000 horses, 6700 guns, vehicles, etc., 5600 bicycles, and nearly 1200 tons of baggage wero dealt with. The prompt and smooth transportation of this armed multitude, considering that many of the units had to be brought from widely scattered garrison towns, is sufficient evidence of tho wonderful efficiency of the system. A high German military authority not long ago assorted that were a foreign army to attemot a landing at any point on the Gorman North Sea coast, 73,000 perfectly equipped men would arrive at the danger zone within twelve hours of warning. To show tho Gorman regard for detail one has only to point out that every stationmastcr, no matter how small or how remote his station, has his own instructions with regard to his procedure in the event of tho magic word "mobilmaching" being flashed along the lino. In order to test the efficiency of their system, the GerImans havo often held test mobilisations, so that at no time of the year aro they to bo caught nappin? or } unprepared. * This perfectly organised system is entirely under State control.

A writer who witnessed several of the Arniv mana>uvr6s in Germany stated that never once had he seen any serious delay or noteworthy alteration in tho ordinary traffic schedule, in <>pite of the abnormally heavy traffic at the time. A genius for organisation, unremitting practice, nud characteristic reverence for detail have alono enabled the German State railways to handle tho enormous Army in tho way that they do.