THE GERMAN ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 172, 24 August 1909, Page 3

THE GERMAN ARMY.

the German Army includes, on „ peace footing, 23 army corps, 030 bat talions of infantry and i iglu j lltiUltl . v (Jaegers), 404 squadrons of cavalry ai4 held 'batteries, 1155 companies ot fortress artillery, 133 companies of engineers and 08 squadrons of train (army service corps). On a war looting the strength of the army amounts to 4,330,000 men. In the infantry the duration of service is two years ami only one year for a certain category of volunteer destined to till the ranks ■ f the reserve of officers and -Landslruin onicersj 111 the mounted branch of the service it is for three years, because one cannot make a good cavalivinan in less time. The armament and equipment of tne army are at least equal to those of other great Powers, writes General von Pelet Xarbonne, in the National Review. A few small differences in the carrying power of the firearms and the destructive power of the projectiles employed are without importance, in view of the general perfection of the modern firearms used by all the Powers. The army has naturally also at its disposal the most recent improvements for tne transmission of information.

As regards the training 0 f the army

every one is agreed that it is canicd to every necessary limit; and it is important to remember in connection with Ibis point that it is the German Emperor in person and each one of the rulers of the Empire in his own statwho direct and survey military instruction. It is true that all is "nut plain sailing, and it is not rare to see complaints' in the daily press, especially after the grand manoeuvres, but one must not lose sight of the fact that improbable situations, inevitable in all peace manoeuvres, are more striking in the large concentration of troops ill the Imperial manoeuvres, and those situations do not arise in the divisional and army corps manoeuvres. The organisation of the German army us founded on ancient principles, -which have already proved their, worth. Since the last war the military programme, as well as the curriculum of instruction, has been copied by all the great Powers, 'with the exception of Great Britain. The ,reuiark«ble scheme- of mobilisation drawn up by Moltke, ■which was liis greatest triumph, was an important factor in the victory of 1870-1871, and one can safely say that the greatest care is still given to this work. ' 1

The supreme command in time of war is entirely and exclusively in the hands of the Emperor. In peace time the three German kingdoms have certain privileges, anil have, as lias also Persia, their war Ministers, but no disadvantage results from the division of authority, because the. Emperor has a right to inspect it in all its details, and the unity of its organisation, of its' armament and of its training is assured by the Constitution of the Empire.