THE AUSTRIAN ARMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2279, 13 October 1914, Page 5

THE AUSTRIAN ARMY

A LONG LIST OF • FAILURES. About two years ago an article was published in the "Army Reyiew'J on. the Austro-Hungarian army, in which it was said that tho army was well equipped, thoroughly trained, efficient, and of good morale. It concluded by saying: "The morale is good. Among neither officers nor men of the triune forcesy proud as they are to regard themselves as the highest corporate expression of imperial unity, anc? of the common devotion of Austria-Hungary's many people to their joint Sovereign, does the strife of nationalities find an echo. , . .'ln peaco, the army constitutes the highest national expression of. the. imperial unity of the many peoples of Austria-Hungary, of their common heritago of past traditions, and of the ideals and destinies, common to all, which yet await fulfilment in the future." That glowing account (says a writer in the "Times of India") is of special interest now, and it would be of even greater interest to know what the author of the article thiuks of his achievement. Considering the friction that has often arisen between the two halves of the monarchy over tho army estimates and the language question, it is asurd to pretend that the army_ is tho embodiment of Austro-Hungarian unity, and it is already reported that there has been a mutiny at Vienna among two Czech regiments. The splendid efficiency of the army and its officers is not reflected in tho_ fighting with the Russians and Servians, hut perhaps 6ome reason for this will be produced by apologists in Vienna. But after all there was no great historical reason for expecting much from the Austrian troops. Their military history is very largely one of defeat. The campaign against Turkey in 1788 ended in miserable failure; Austrian defeats in the Revolutionary wars were only the prelude to worse catastrophes at the hands of Napoleon in 1805 (Ulm and Austerlitz) and m 1809, though in tho latter year tho Austrians were able at Aspern to show that Napoleonwas by no means invjnciblo. _ The- Leipzig campaign gavo ,tfie Austrians a chance of proving themselves better soldiers. Tho Austrian exploits in Italy in 1848 were followed by tho defeats in Hungary which led to the establishment nf the Dual Monarchy, and in 1866 " rout of the Austrians at Konigpr was not counter-balanced by their • cess at Custozza. From this it w!!' seen that histo.'v hardly preparoil for expecting tho Austrian army, ir war to provo itself an ■ instrmi'f the first class, especially after tlu> peace it has enjoyed.