TYPES IN THE ALLIED ARMY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1292, 3 September 1914, Page 4

TYPES IN THE ALLIED ARMY.

The French army has, like all armies, a large variety of troops, and these have special names, in order to more or less describe their duties. The infantry is composed of line infantry, chasseurs (light infantry or rifles), Zouaves (both French and Algerian, whose “Zouave” jacket is well known), tirailleurs (sharpshooters or rifles), African light' iujaulry (natives). Formerly these were voltigeurs, the nearest equivalent to our light infantry, and there were mounted voltigeurs (voltigeurs a cheval) as well as foot; in the same way there are chasseurs a piece and chasseurs a cheval. The various cavalry types are cuirassiers (wearing black breast and black steel pieces), dragoons, hussars, chasseurs, chasseurs d’Afrique, quartered usually in Algeria, and regarded as a very crack corps; and Spahis, native Algerian cavalry. In addition there are the various branches of the artillery and engineer services, and the usual departmental services. The Belgian infantry types are : Grenadiers, who wear bearskins, and are picked men from the whole country ; carabiniers (rifles); chasseurs (rifles), and line infantry. The cavalry include chasseurs a cheval; guides, with a very handsome uniiorm of dark green jacket, trimmed with gold lace, overalls of crimson; two guides regiments are the fancy regiments of the cavalry) ; lancers. There are also artillery and engineers and departmental services. The Gardes Cinques are local bodies, and are the descendants of the Old Town Watch or Guard. Bodies of Belgian Gardes Cinques used to exchange annual visits with English volunteer regiments. They are usually composed of the professional and business people.