THE BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1311, 15 October 1914, Page 4

THE BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT.

Military terms, having a precise significance, are frequently used in the cables to describle operations, losses and captures in the present war, and often their explanation is necessary to engblf the Jay reader fully to appreciate the significance of the news. The following explanations apply to the war establishment of the British Army, as furnished by the latest War Office publications:—An infantry brigade, after concentration, comprises four battalions, or a total personnel of 124 officers and 3988 men. Each battalion contains approximately 1000 men. A division contains 598 officers and 18,077 men, with horses, guns and vehicles. Included in its composition are three infantry brigades officers, 11,964 of other ranks); three field artillery brigades (69 officers and 2,298 men

of other ranks). A field artillery brigade (22 officers, 734 other ranks); a divisional train, a divisional ammunition column and several other companies. A cavalry division has a personnel of 485 officers and 9412 then of other ranks, and includes four cavalry brigades. A cavalry brigade comprises 83 officers and 1589 men of other ranks, with six machine guns. One cavalry regiment comprises 26 officers and 514 men. A horse artillery battery has seven officers and 213 men. A mounted infantry battalion has 26 officers and 513 men. The organisation of foreign armies differs considerably from that of the British and is based mainly upon the German system. Normally the war organisation of foreign armies (1909) is as follows: Infantry, Company, 250 men ; battalion, 1000 men (four companies); regiment, three battalions (some German and French have four); brigade, two regiments ; division, two brigades; array corps, two division (three in France and Austria). Cavalry, Squadron, four troops, or 150 men; regiment, four squadrons (Russia and Austria six) ; brigade, two regiments; division, two or three brigades.