THE GERMAN ARMY

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3583, 5 January 1883, Page 4

THE GERMAN ARMY

The German Railway Regiment constructed, about the middle of August, on their exerei.se ground at Schoneberg, a railroad bridge, liOoft in length, in one night. The middle part of the bridge had a clear span of JJSft, resting at each end upon piers of round timber. The trestles were constructed of round timber, secured in the simplest possible manner by means of ordinary fish-plates. The piers consisted of piles driven into the ground, and, with cross beams on the top, served to cany the bridge. The work was designed by a captain of the regiment, the construction was superintended by one of the second lieutenants, and the work was done by carpenters, blacksmiths, and other mechanics of the regiment. The necessary light was obtained from four electric lamps. The undertaking was preliminary to the drill of the regiment at Lalausdorf, on August 22, 20, and 2-1, when two companies on a war footing and one detachment were practised in field railway and bridge construction. The course of drill, including camp duty, consisted in the construction of a, field railway nearly v mile in length, with several sideings and turn-tables, the erection of a wooden viaduct UGft high and _B(>ft in length, and the building and testing of a bridge of new design of about Goft span. Threee inclined planes for rope tramways, and a ipiantity of telegraph and telephone work, were accomplished. _ It is this incessant, systematic, and useful drill which makes a German army of modem times so formidable when pitted against others that have not had a similar training:.