i

r rr
'.'

GERMAN,
Army
arid

Navy

UNIFORMS & INSIGNIA

S&^

GERMAN
ARMY, NAVY
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA
1871-1918

Copyright 1968 by

THE EDITORS

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PRINTED IN

U.S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE

THE GERMAN ARMY

THE GERMAN NAVY

95

THE GERMAN ARMY

(THE AIR FORCE)

1914-1918

138

THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ARMY

169

ACCOUNTREMENTS, DECORATIONS, AND WEAPONS

174

k
--

Emperor William

II.

and

his

Staff.

THE GERMAN ARMY

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ARMY

T
age,

'HE military system of the ancient Germans was based on the then universal military service, nation and
one, and the claim or duty of military service
of landed property.

defended by the women.

The strength
foot-soldiers,

of the ancient

German army

lay in the

army being

though they knew the use

on the naked back

of cavalry.

Be-

depending on the possession

The

sides the squadrons of cavalry, consisting of

German
with
the

mounted

youth,

when from fourteen

fit

to fifteen years of

men who
added

sat

of

the horses, were

great, that hold-

was deemed

to

bear arms.

He

exercised early

foot-soldiers

whose

skill

was so

bow and arrow, took part German lads of the period,

in the favorite

game

of

ing only by the mane of the horse they equalled the

swiftest in their onset.
" In their

to

run at or throw them-

selves against sharp spears held

in rows,

by older men standing

in

mode

of warfare," writes

General Peucker,

and trained body and eyes

such a manner

that the quickness of the onset completely

overcame the

"they followed two simple but sound tactical principles: the first was to take the initiative in the attack, the second
to concentrate an overpowering force on the enemy's most vulnerable point. When advancing to the attack, an arrangement of their columns by hundreds,' town'

danger.

The happiest day

the youth experienced was,

when

the right to bear arms

was granted

to

him by

the

National Assembly.

He was

then solemnly invested by with sword, shield,

the clothing of

one of the princes or by

his father

ships,

and

families,

gave them an organization which,

essentially favorable to hand-to-hand
first

and spear.

This function was

deemed

skilfully used,

was

manhood
to

henceforth the youth was entitled to go forth

to

encounter which followed the

collision."
loss

battle,

take part in the doings of the popular

Cowardice

in

deserting the colors, and

of the

assemblies, and take his share in the discussion of all

shield in battle,

were considered a disgrace;

of the

to survive

public matters.

the

duke or commander

army, selected for the

All warlike undertakings, especially offensive or aggressive war, had to be sanctioned by the popular
assembly.
in

campaign and killed

lifetime.

in the battle,

was disgrace

for a

Every one was, however, bound

to

serve

Such a commander was Ariovistus, the leader

Suevi,
the

of the

defensive warfare

when
this

the

country was invaded

whom

Julius Csesar overcame near Mtllhausen in

by an

enemy, and

without

summons.

Special

messengers called the people together

for the "

Heer-

bann" (an

official

summons

for general military duty).

year 58 B. C. by superior Roman strategy, but only after a terrible struggle in which he himself sustained great loss. Aided by German mercenaries, Ceesar

General military service was, therefore, exacted in the broadest sense of the word.
In pre-feudal times the Germans served as footmen

subdued Gaul and furthermore vanquished by

rable

his

admi-

German
in

cavalry his rival

Pompey

at Pharsalia in

48 B. C.
battle

Decisive for Germany's future, also, was the

the

and horsemen and stood together

to their tribes, clans
of

in

battle according

Teutoburg

forest,

fought by

Hermann

and
"

families.

The

oldest

weapon
a

(Arminius), prince of the Cherusci, in 9 A. D.

of 40,000 select

An army

offence

was the

Frame

"

or " Framea,"

spear

Roman

soldiers

was annihilated, and

with a long shaft and a narrow and short blade.

This

was so keen and well adapted

ing that
in
it

for hurling

and thrust-

Germany was saved from imminent danger of being Romanized. Almost equally fatal to the Romans was
by the same chieftain at almost the identical place against Germanicus and Cacina.
the battle of 16 A. D. fought

could be employed as necessity called for

conflict.

both close or distant

The

" Ger," a

heavy
Lances
battle-

missile, differed apparently

from the " Frame."

Traitor to the national cause proved Marbod, leader

of the

and swords made

Nations.

of iron or bronze, clubs

and

axes, were used later on during the Migration of the

standing
cavalry,

Markmen or the Marcomanni. He had the first German army of 70,000 infantry and 4,000

whom

he trained in the
is

Roman

fashion.

He

Some

defensive weapons served as shields

they were

was not only duke, that

simply commander for the

formed of wood or of the platted twigs of the willow,

painted in bright colors, and protecting the whole body.

time being of the campaign, but the king or head of

the "Southeastern Confederation."

Instead of makinoo
of the

Later
stripes

still
;

the

shields

were mounted

with

metallic

common
western

cause with Hermann,

commander
the

North-

helmets were also used, together with armor

Confederation,

against

Romans, Marbod

and

a coat of mail.

concluded an infamous treaty with Tiberius, receiving

into clans (Harste) each of a

The army was divided

hundred men.

what was then an enormous sum

latter.

of

money from

the

Formed

in

wedge-shaped columns they

Be-

This event took place in the year 6 A. D.

went

to battle singing the barditus (shield-song).

The West-Roman Empire was dismembered by the

migration of the

hind the line of battle was the wagon -train, which was

German

nations in the course of the

next few hundred years.

Its provinces

were inherited
of

This cavalry service

is

the beginning of the

German

mostly by Germans and by the Frankish Empire

Charles the Great (Charlemagne),

knighthood; for a knight originally was nothing more

than a horseman or trooper,
vice on his

who

also revived the

who entered

the military ser-

Roman Empire
eluded
all

in

form and name.

His dominion

in-

own

horse,

armed with sword and protected by

and
a shield.

countries from the Schlei to the Garigliano,

a habergeon, or short ringed coat of mail,

from the Ebro to the Leitha.

Charles the Great effected a complete revolution in
the constitution of the

Henry
of the obli-

I.

was the German king who not only established

strongholds like Quedlinburg, Goslar, Meissen, Wittenberg, and Soest, but also fortified open cities with walls,
towers, and moats, like Nordhausen, Gronau, and other

army and an extension

gations of military service.

Hitherto the bulk of the

army had

consisted of foot-soldiers.

In the previous
it

towns.

He furthermore

organized military settlements on

frontier-guards (Granitzer)
in

wars Charles, in his career of conquest, had found

the eastern frontiers

called

necessary to hasten with his forces from one end of his

as in

Memleben, Wurzen, Rochlitz, and especially

These military colonies were,

empire to the other.

The success

of his attack

depended

Merseburg.

in a certain

upon the rapidity

of his

movements, and for such rapid

in their then

sense, the beginning of a " Standing

to this time the

Army."

Previous

pouncing upon the enemy, the roads were,

condition, too indifferent

main safeguard

of the country lay in the

when
to

the bulk of the

army was
to
it

castles or burghs.

The

difference in the construction of

composed
increase

of foot-soldiers.
his

He, therefore, proceeded

such an extent that

cavalry,

and

speedily formed the main strength of the army.

erto the only personally

Hith-

burgh depended on the character and formation of the country. In Middle and Southern Germany, rich in hills and mountains, hill-forts were the common means
the
of defence
;

freemen who had landed propbut simply as infantry.

in

the plains

and lowlands

of

Northern

erty were

bound

to serve in war,

Germany
was

water-forts were the chief reliance.

The burgh

But now Charles made

those freemen

who had no landed

either a simple one, consisting of a barbican (watch-

property subject to the burden of military service, inas-

tower) surrounded with walls; or a larger one, consisting

of walls, flanked

much
vice.

as he laid

on them a war-tax for the equipment of

by two

turrets, the outer bailey with

the smaller freeholders

who were bound

bound
the

to military ser-

courtyard, behind these a moat with drawbridge, and

the inner bailey.

The tax amounted

was
to

to a fifth of their yearly income.

"Within

all

these

was the keep, on

The contribution
vice

levied on those
to

to military serof hides

which was placed an embattled parapet and which held

the baronial hall (Pallas)."

be proportioned

number

(hufen), equal to about thirty acres of land, which each

The

chief exercises of chivalry

were fought either on

man
was

possessed.

The owner
five.

of

twenty hides paid more

horseback, with lance and sword, or on foot, with battleaxe, mace, spear or sword.

than the owner of ten or

to serve personally to

The owner
and
shield,

of four hides

Fought

in

columns they were

on

foot, light-armed.

He was
doubleof

called tournaments

in single conflict, jousts.

The

tilt

required

have

lance

or

was either a running with "points blunted" (rockets)

or with "pointed lances."

stringed bow, with twelve arrows.

The owner

from

five to eleven hides had to serve on horseback, heavily

The most elaborate

chivalry was celebrated
at

festival attended

armed.

He was

required

to

have lance and shield,

by the German by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa

the

sword and dagger, as well as bow and arrows.

The

Mayence

in 1184,

when 70,000 knights witnessed

owner
the
field

of twelve hides of

had to serve with armor-plate, and

to take the

accolade, or conferring of knighthood on the two oldest

owner

more than twelve hides had

sons of the Emperor.

with helmet and coat of mail.

To

the landwehr

(militia)

name even then applied

all

to those

bound

to

serve in defence of the country against attacks of external foes

who could bear arms belonged, bond

as

The characteristics of the military system, practiced by the Saxon and Franconian kings, were retained throughout the Middle Ages. The commander-in-chief, The great in time of war, was the king or emperor.
suzerains of the crown led their knights, subject to them,

well as free.

This

new

military organization of
I.

Emperor Charles

and the
vassals.

latter

were followed by

their

men-at-arms and

was completed by King Henry

to

All his vassals had

The

chief or standard flag of the

army was

the

perform their military service on horseback, and even

servitors

"Imperial Banner," with the one-headed black eagle on

a yellow field, carried in battle

the

and

serfs

of

the

latter

had

to

appear

by

the Swabians.

The

mounted.
sable

This was instituted to prepare the indispenof freeing

defensive weapons were shield, helmet, body-armor, armlets,

means

ring inroads of the Magyars.

infantry; he introduced

Germany forever from the recurNor did he neglect the

improvements
in its organization

and greaves; the offensive weapons were the long

double-handed swords, battle-axes, maces, and clubs;

while the city militia fought with cross-bows, pikes, and
halberds.

and gave
tactics

it

a
to

new

training.
in large

The old

style of infantry to

The horses were

battering-towers,

also

armored.

In sieges

was

fight

masses

break by a

they used

battering-rams, catapults,
projectiles.

phalanx the ranks of the enemy and then to fight hand

to hand.

and other engines for throwing

The new mode

in

which Henry

I.

drilled the

The uniforming
times,

of

the

soldiers

dates

from feudal

infantry was to fight in serried ranks, not in deep col-

and

their origin

may be

traced back to the col-

umns, but in extended

lines.

He

also trained the foot-

ored sashes worn by the different clans over their coats

as a rallying sign.

soldiers to rapid motions

and quick evolutions.

Even

coats of the

same color were

in use

among

the separate elans; in

all

probability, the

body-armor, and a morion or head-piece.

They were

fol-

city mercenaries

were the

first to

be uniformed.
to

lowed by the "pikemen," provided with

have

cuirass, armlets,

The mercenary system

originated
in

in

Germany appears

and greaves, plate -aprons and morions or casques, and

the

twelfth

century, the feudal system

armed with

a short sword,

two wheel-lock

pistols,

and

being inadequate and rendering the introduction of a

force of regular soldiers a necessity.

heavy pike, or a two-handed broad-sword and halberd.

A
its

regiment of cavalry in the sixteenth century musIt

By
its

the invention of

gunpowder and

application to

tered 750 men, with 1,000 horse.

was divided into

and sixty light

projectile warfare in the fourteenth century, chivalry lost

guidons or ensigns; a guidon generally consisted of 180

prestige, having nourished from the period of the

heavy horsemen

(cuirassiers or lancers)

Crusades and the expeditions against Rome.

close of the fourteenth century the

At

the

horsemen or carbineers.
knights, rode on

The former,
stallions

like the mediseval

German

princes and

heavy

and carried a stout

the cities possessed bombards, carronades, culverins, and

lance, together with a

long sabre, two pistols and a

muskets.

In the year 1388

we

find in

Germany Tarras
The
era of the

mace; the

latter

rode on light horses and carried lighter

muskets, hacquebuts, and arquebuses, and even pistols,

arms, pistols and sabre, and as chief-weapon, a carbine.

hand-guns as they were then termed.

soldiery into that of a mercenary
tactics of the

The commander
field-marshal.

of the

combined cavalry was called the

Reformation completed the transformation of the feudal

The Schmalcadic

War

developed a pe-

army and replaced

the

culiar species of cavalry,

known

as the "

German

Riders."

Middle Ages by new and more effective

They wore open

and petronel.
the

casques, a light cuirass or a jerkin of

measures.
diers,

Battles were no
like walls

more decided by
of

foot-sol-

leather, with iron habergeon,

and were armed with sabre

deep columns, face

moving
but

and composed

Hussites and
of

They used

to ride in

Swiss,

by the premeditated co-operation

and

the
in-

enemy
retreat

at the distance of a pistol-shot, fire in sections

three
fantry,

different

branches of the military service

artillery.

and
a

around the wings of the army proper in such

cavalry,
in

Both
in

of the

battles at

way

that their front rank never ceased firing.

The great

Marignano
first

1515 and Pavia

1525, where for the

mobility of those
for

"German Riders"
The

fitted

them especially

time modern trained foot-soldiers fought, illustrate

independent expeditions and exploits, without the

martial spirit of the
first

fully the great changes which

had taken place

levies

in mili-

support of infantry.

modern

tary tactics.

The mercenary

of

Germany were

cavalry manifested itself

in those daring riders.

termed " Landsknechte."

Emperor Maximilian, aided

"

by Count

Eitel,

Frederick von Zollern, and especially

by George von Frundsberg (the father of the

chief of the

Lands-

The artillery made great strides at this period. Germany is indebted to the Hussites for the first cast cannon or field-pieces, which had previously been made of
wrought-iron staves.
ture of

knechte"), gave the levies a thorough organization..

Landsknechte bore the

title of

The commanding
re-

The

chief places for the manufac-

general

or

commander-in-chief, and

as

such was

powder and fire-arms were then Augsburg and Nuremberg. The artillery and the material for projectile

sponsible only to the sovereign or "pay-lord,"

The

warfare was under the direction of the master-general

general

staff

consisted of the war paymaster, the purser-

of the ordnance.

His subordinates were a lieutenant, a

general, the quartermaster-general, the surgeon-general,

the army-herald, the provost-marshal,

paymaster, a master of the ordnance, and several gunners.

and the function-

The

service of the single piece

was under a masor carronades

ary

who

levied the war-tax.

The Landsknechte were

ter of the

gun and

artificers.

The guns

divided into regiments, brought together by enlistment

were either field-guns or siege-guns.

The former were

by The

and commanded by pay

of

a colonel,

who

received a monthly
staff

the falconet, falcon, and the culverin, which, served

400 guilders.

The regimental

was formed

eighteen men, threw a ball of forty pounds weight.

latter

of the

lieutenant-colonel, the quartermaster, the regiser-

were called the great " quartan-culverin," the

mental chaplain, surgeon, regimental-provost, the

geant, and a special corporal,

songstress, the nightingale, the basilisk,

and the "sharfa

who had

to tend to the

metze," which threw an iron pounds.

Besides
those

ball,

weighing

hundred

camp-followers and

the

camp-prostitutes.

Each

regi-

there

were howitzers, which

ment had from ten

the

to sixteen

companies (Fiihnlein) of
Subordinated to

hurled stone balls of two hundred pounds weight.

400 men, commanded by a captain.

captain were
the

The use

of firearms at a siege necessitated a " bastion."

new mode

lieutenant, the standard-bearer,

of fortification, termed

This changed the

sergeant-major, chaplain, and corporal.

In front of each musketeers,

former castles or burghs into real fortresses and made

the cities also to conform to the
tion.

squadron marched from twelve to

fifteen

armed with

a small

double arquebus or musket.

These

The

typical form of a
:

new mode German city in

of fortifica-

the Middle

carried on a strap, thrown over the left shoulder, twelve

Ages was
in a

as follows

The

city's precincts

were enclosed

wooden

caps, each containing a charge of powder, also a

a

deep moat, defended by outlying towers.

Behind
battle-

pouch with bullets and

box with priming powder.

the

the

moat were the stone

walls,

turreted

and
were

The musketeers were followed by

with a match-lock, but

arquebusiers.

mented.

At more

or less regular intervals, rampart and

Their chief weapon, the arquebus, was formerly provided

walls were strengthened

by

turrets; there

also at

now

carried a wheel-lock, in-

and between these round and square

drawbridges, leading over the moat.

turrets, gates well

vented

at

Nuremberg

in 1517.

The arquebusiers and

guarded, battlemented and provided with portcullis and

musketeers wore a short two-edged sword, also a light

All these reforms were introduced during the fifteenth

century, but were completed by the
at the

so that the artillery posted in the rear

to

had more chance

Diet of

Worms

(1521).

Emperor Charles V. They became essential to

of

be brought into action.

the defence of the

three

German Empire during a period hundred years, when little change took place
of raising armies.

In Austria we find warriors like Prince Eugene, Ludwig von Baden, Daun, Lichtenstein, and Laudon occupied in introducing improvements in military tactics.

in

the

manner

In Prussia the Great Elector William was especially

the immediate knights
to serve, in lieu of to the

in-

Since the Diet of

of the empire

Worms, only
sum
of

strumental in giving the country high rank as a military

were personally bound

power.

At

his death, in 1688, the Prussian

army numFrederick

which they paid a certain

money

Emperor.

bered 26,850 men, with 140 field-pieces.

The

provincial estates, however, were obliged to put

William

I.,

his successor, steadily enlarged,

this

improved,

into service fixed contingents in the case of a general

and disciplined
of

army.

Old Dessauer, the inventor

its

war, which

could be
the

declared
princes,

only by a unanimous

the metallic ramrod, was

great instructor in tac-

decree of

electors,

and

cities,

with the

tics

and

discipline.

In his time the army numbered

approval

of

the

Emperor.

Since

the

Westphalian

Treaty (1648), each provincial estate was entitled to declare and make war independently of the others.

82,000 men, 26,000 of which were enlisted non-PrusEvery youth who was of the standard height sians.

was obliged
worth from

to

The
the

troopers

at

this

time

received twelve, the foot-

were the sons

wear "the king's coat"; exempted only of noblemen and of citizens who were
thousand dollars.

soldiers four, guilders

entire

monthly pay.

In the year 1681

to

six to ten

The way

the

imperial

army was decreed

off

consist

of

King's troops then went through the manual of arms was

40,000 men, and was portioned

circles.

to

the

imperial
existed,

something wonderful; the handling of the guns, the

uniformity of the
drill,

standing

imperial

army never
of

the firing in
off

files,

in battalions,

though the larger provincial

regular troops from the

estates

kept a body of
the

and by regiments, went

like

clock-work.

At

this

period

Westphalian

period the military institutions introduced by Louvois,

Treaty, while the southwestern imperial circle had inde-

Louis XIV. 's secretary of war, and the royal marshals

pendent troops from the year 1700.

after

The imperial army,

received the articles
of the

came

into vogue.

The

entire

infantry were supplied

being summoned, was sworn

in,

with fire-arms and bayonets; to the cavalry were added

uhlans and hussars.
Prior
to

of war,

body

of

and was made subject to the command There existed a plan imperial generals.

for the

1772 enlistment was the principal means

from then on conscrip-

organization of the army, which, however, was never

of recruiting the military force;

completely enacted.

The contingents

of

the smaller

tion supplied the chief material for the standing armies.

provincial estates were quite worthless so far as military

The splendidly organized

was raised
the Great.
to

force of Frederick
his successor,

William

I.

use was concerned, a regiment often representing soldiers of fifty different contingents.

200,000

men by

Frederick

The

officers

never

The

latter's

military genius inspired this

had a chance of advancement, having been selected

vast machine with proper spirit.

like Prince

Aided by able generals

of

by

the sovereign of the territory supplying the contin-

Henry, Winterfeld, Ferdinand

Brunswick,
in of

gent, so that, for instance, in a

company

of troops

from

Seydlitz, Schwerin, Zieten,

his battles his

and

others, he

succeeded

an imperial

circle,

one city would appoint the captain,

with almost

all

Europe by the rapidity

and the use

another the first-lieutenant, an abbess the second-lieutenant,

movements,

his iron discipline,

of the

and an abb the ensign.

Even

in

regard to

" oblique order " of battle.

He was
in

instrumental in rein

uniform and

arms the regiments differed, and discipline

deeming

the

German name

Europe and

placing

was comparatively unknown.

that

The consequence was

Prussia high in the ranks of European Powers.

the

imperial

army was Europe's laughing stock

during the entire eighteenth century, in spite of the

Prussians, the Hanoverians, the Saxons, and the Austrians exhibiting the

well-known prowess

of the

Germans

The work of Frederick the Great was in part effaced by the great French conqueror, Napoleon, who not only humbled Prussia but the entire German nation by the establishment of the "Rhenish Confederation," in 1806.
His power, however, was broken shortly afterwards,
especially through the heroic efforts and great sacrifices
of Prussia, the military service of

on the

battlefield.

The

technical and tactical

improvements

in military

science and warfare

made by

the Swedish King, Gus-

which was reorganized

tavus Adolphus, the most brilliant military leader of the

by men

like Scharnhorst, Stein,

and Gneisenau.

Jena

seventeenth century, were soon to be introduced into

all

and Auerstadt were swiftly followed by Leipsic and

Waterloo.
In the year 1806 Scharnhorst reduced the number

European armies.

These improvements were the equip-

ping of the bulk of the infantry with fire-arms, increasing

the usefulness of the cavalry
the

by reducing

the weight of

and the extent

of

exemptions from military service, and

armor and arms, introducing the light or horsereplacing the heavy culverins

abolished the enlistment of foreigners.

The compulsory
III.
five

artillery,

by

iron four-

personal service was introduced in Prussia, September

3d, 1814, a

pounders,

which

were

now loaded with

cartridges

memorable expedient

of

King William
;

instead of the old

method

of loading with loose

powder.

The

military service lasted nineteen years

namely,

The new

tactics also

gave the infantry, protected by

in the active

army, three in the ranks, two in the reserve,

in the landwehr.

cavalry, opportunity for

movements and quick

evolutions,

and fourteen

The Congress

of Vienna, in 1816, reunited the Ger-

place
the

on February 6th the crossing of the Schlei and

of the Danewerks by the Danes was The campaign proceeded speedily under com-

man

states with the

German Confederation
effected.

or

Bund.

evacuation

After preparations lasting for a few years, the organization of the Federal

effected.

army was

military com-

mand

of the Prussian field-marshal,

Wrangel, and the

mission, presided over

by an Austrian
Bund.

representative,

Austrian general, Gablenz.

The

fortifications at Du'ppel

was subordinated

to the Federal diet

which controlled

the military matters of the

were stormed heroically by Prince Frederick Charles, and on the twenty-ninth of June the glorious capture of
Alsen was effected.

the Federal states and

The Federal army was formed by the contingents of by the reserve. It was divided
which Austria and Prussia Hesse
fur-

by
of

the allies,

Schleswig and Jutland were taken and King Christian was compelled to con-

into ten army-corps, of

clude an armistice on July 20th, followed by the treaty

nished each three and Bavaria one.

The contingents
and
of

of

Vienna on the
all

thirtieth of October,

by which Denand Austria.

of

Wiirtemberg, Baden

and

the

Rhine,

mark ceded
The
1865.

her claims to Schleswig-Holstein and

to Prussia

Hohenzollern, Lichtenstein, Hesse -Homburg and Frankfort

Lauenburg, which were given

difficulties

formed the eighth

those of Saxony, Hesse-Cassel,

arising

from the possession

the

Nassau, Luxemburg, Saxony -Weimar, the three Saxon

duchies of Eeuss, Anhalt, and Schwarzburg, the ninth
;

duchies were appeased by the convention at Gastein in

Lauenburg was ceded

to Prussia,

and a money

and the contingents

burg,

of

Hanover, Holstein, and Lauen-

indemnity was paid to Austria, while Schleswig was to

be governed by the former power, and Holstein by the
latter.
later.

Brunswick,

Mecklenburg,

Oldenburg, Liibeck,

Bremen, Hamburg, Waldeck, Schaumburg-Lippe, and Lippe formed the tenth. By a Federal decree the main
contingent and the reserves were amalgamated and the
reserve contingent doubled
of the population.

But the old conflict broke out again one year The convening of the Holstein House of Deputies

by

the Austrian governor caused the Prussians to occupy

by one and

five-sixth per cent,

Holstein and to drive the Austrian troops out of the

From now on
to

to the dissolution of the

Bund
of

the strength of the Federal

which 452,474 belonged

army was 553,028 men, the main contingent and

The Confederation assembled at Vienna, and, on the adoption of a motion, put by Austria (fourteenth
duchy.
of June), for mobilizing the Federal

army against

Prussia,
dis-

100,554 to the reserve, together with 1,134 field-pieces.

the ambassador of that country declared the

Bund

The

various branches of the service were represented

solved because of

its

unconstitutional proceedings.
in Prussia

The
allies

as follows:

Sharpshooters, 28,438;

infantry, 398,197;

war began

at

once and resulted

and her

cavalry, 69,218; field-artillery, 50,254; pioneers, 6,921.

quickly winning the glorious victories of Podol, Miinchengratz, Gitschin, Trautenau, Skalitz, Schweinschiidel,

The German Federal army was

twice
;

called into service

namely, during the German-Danish wars of 1848

KOniginhof, and Koniggratz.

Austria, Saxony, and the

and 1864.

The

efforts

of

Denmark

to

" danize " the

Southern States were defeated

finely organized

population of Schleswig-Holstein in regard to language, customs, and government, resulted in an open revolt
of

in a short time by the and splendidly led armies of Prussia

and her

allies.

The peace
in

of

Prague, concluded Au-

the

people.

Holsteiners at

The Danes overcame the SchleswigBau. The Prussian General, Wrangel,

the

gust 23d, 1866, closed

Austria's

hegemony with her

and the forming
of a

predominancy

Germany.

Results of the most sub-

commander-in-chief of the German Federal troops in

Holstein, defeated

stantial kind, including annexations

Danes

at

Schleswig and conthe armistice

new

confederation, were secured to Prussia by this treaty.

quered
of

all

Jutland.

The war ended with

Malmo.
in

The

latter

having been terminated by Den-

mark

March, 1849, a Federal army of 35,000

field

then put in the

by the German

diet,

men was commanded by

the treaties of Berlin the Southern States received an independent national existence, and the opportunity of forming a Southern Confederation and of making secret
treaties,

By

of offensive

and defensive

alliance,
latter

with the

the Prussian General, von Prittwitz.

It consisted of a

North German Confederation, which

to be founded.

was about

Prussian division, a Saxon, and a Hanoverian brigade,

and three other mixed Federal contingents, including

15,000 troops of Schleswig-Holstein.
that the

Notwithstanding

The official dissolution of the German Bund with the dissolving of the Federal army took place at Augsburg on the twenty-fourth of August, 1866.

Danes were beaten

Christian

battleship

VIII

Eekernforde (where the was sunk and the frigate

at

On

the fifteenth of December,

1866,

Prussia,

after

having annexed Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Schleswig-Holstein, convened at

Qefion was captured), and also suffered defeat at Dijppel,

Holding, and Gudsoe, nothing more was accomplished

Berlin the deputies of

all

the States north of the

Main

owing

to the

shrewd moves

of diplomacy.

The Danes,

and agreed with them as

to the

new

constitution of the

furthermore, outnumbering the Germans, inflicted considerable losses on the latter near Fredericia, and the

North German Confederation.

This was sanctioned by

the Diet April 16th, and legalized July 1st, 1867.

ties

Trea-

war ended favorably

for

Denmark.

In spite of the strained relations between Austria and

Prussia at a later period,
little

were made with the South German States, securing more uniformity to the army and investing Prussia with
absolute control of the military forces in case of war.

two mighty Federal powers

cause against her.

in

Denmark provoked the 1864 to make common

of the latter year

The

constitution placed

all

the affairs of the

army and
exclusive

On February 2nd

navy under the

legislative control of the Confederation.

the bombarding of the fortifications at Missunde took

The Federal presidency

(Prussia)

had

the

right

of

delaring war and peace

and

of

concluding
for
al-

had expected, leagued

their

quickly mobilized forces

alliances.

The

constitution

also

made

provision

with the armies of the Confederation, and those of the

compulsory military service (no substitutes being

lowed), and for the disbursement of the army expenditure, service in the ranks, in the reserve, in the

King King

of Bavaria, the of

Grand Duke
(1870).

of

Baden, and the

Wurtemberg.

This occurred on the sixteenth

landwehr,

and seventeenth

of July

By

this

action the
of

the landsturm, and for regulating the extent of the

army
225

whole German army was placed under the command

the

on a peace-footing (one percentage of the population).

King

of Prussia, in

accordance with the

treaties.

The

The

military

budget was established on the

be

basis of

German
first

forces

numbered 447,000 men

as the

army

for the

thalers per soldier in time of peace, to

of the Federal commander-in-chief.

at the disposal of

offensive operations, while there were ready to follow

The organization King

as first reserve 188,000

men, as second reserve 160,000

the

army was

also regulated

and denned.

All Federal
of

men, and 226,000 depot troops,

grand

total of 1,021,-

troops were compelled to obey absolutely the

000 men.

Led by

the old hero-king and directed

of the

by

Prussia alike in time of war or peace, the oath of fidelity

to the colors containing a special provision to this effect.

General von Moltke the success

unprecedented
in the annals of

German army was

modern war.

The army
sisted,

of the

North German Confederation conof

This army of heroes during a period of 180 days not

on a peace-footing,

118 regiments, of 3 battal-

only demolished the throne of Napoleon, but forced

the French republic to agree to the terms of the treaty
of

ions each, of infantry (including 4 regiments of the

Grand

Duke
rifles,

of

Hesse of 2 battalions each), 18 battalions of

Frankfort, by which

France ceded to the victors

76 regiments of cavalry of 5 squadrons each, 13

1

Alsace and the

to

regiments and
regiments
sian)

(Hessian) division of field-artillery, 9

pay

to

German part of Lorraine, and agreed Germany five billion francs as a war ingreat lustre surrounds this eventful period

of siege-artillery,

13 battalions and 1 (Hes-

demnity.

company

of pioneers, 13 battalions

and

1 (Hessian)

in the history of the

German
its

nation and makes memor-

division of military train.

Accordingly, the army, didistricts,

able

the

names

of

heroes

Emperor William, the

Prince

vided into 216 landwehr battalion

comprised
rifles,

Crown

Prince

Frederick

William,

Frederick

350 battalions of infantry, 18 battalions of

squadrons of cavalry, 163 batteries of

380
39

field-artillery,

Crown Prince Albert of Saxony, Moltke, Blumenthal, Franseky, Werder, Goeben, Alvensleben,
Charles, the

battalions of horse-artillery, 88 companies of pioneers,

and Manteuffel.

and 27 companies of the military

breech-loading guns of cast

train.

The

infantry

The German Grand Army, which had completed

was divided
into three parts.

its

was armed with the needle-gun, the

rifled

field-artillery

with

disposition on the French frontier on the third of August,

steel.

The

first

army, called the

as its

The army was

classified into the corps of the

;

Guards,

Army

of the North,
;

had General Steinmetz

com-

twelve army-corps, and one Hessian division

each army-

mander
Prussia

the second army, or the

Army

of the Centre,

corps consisting of two divisions of infantry and one bri-

was under the command

;

of Prince Frederick Charles of

gade

of cavalry

while the cavalry of the Guards and the

the third army, or the the

Army

of the South,

was

twelfth (Saxon) army-eorps were consolidated into one

division of cavalry.
sisted
of

commanded by
of the
collision,

Crown Prince
heavy

of Prussia.

The Army
in the first

The peace-footing

of the

army con-

South had the honor of taking part

302,633

men (299,704 combatants), 73,212

and

it

inflicted

losses

on the French
of

horse,

and 808 guns.

officers,

On

a war-footing

it

consisted of

under Douay

at

Weissenburg on the fourth

at

August,

12,777
guns.

543,058 men, 155,896 horse, and 1,212

these there

and under McMahon

the
in

Worth two days

afterwards.

On

Besides

were depot and garrison men, 15,698

same day the bloody

battle of Spichern took place,

of the

troops, consisting of 6,376 officers, 198,678

which Steinmetz, the commander

Army

of the

horse,

and 234 guns

and reserve troops

of 3,280 officers,

North, routed and demoralized Frossard's Corps.

182,940 men, 22,545 horse, and 234 guns.

These
Glogau,

victories of the

Germans were followed by

three

The
were
Kosel,

fortresses

of the

North German Confederation

Posen,

sanguinary battles in front of Metz, which fortress was

held by Marshal Bazaine with 130,000 men.
the
battle
of

Konigsberg, Graudenz, Thorn,

Neisse, Glatz,
Kijnigstein,

Those were

Mayence, Koblenz,
Swinemiinde,
Kol-

Saarlouis, Cologne, Wesel, Wilhelmshaven, Sonderburg-

Colombey, fought on the fourteenth of August, that of Mars La Tour on the sixteenth, and the
decisive battle of Gravelotte on the eighteenth of August.

Diippel,

Friedrichsort,

Stralsund,

berg, Danzig, Pillau, Stettin, Kustrin, Spandau, Torgau,

At

the battle of

Mars La Tour,

in

which 67,000 Germans

Wittenberg, Magdeburg, Minden, and Erfurt.

with 222 guns fought against 138,000 French with 476

guns, the

The hour when the military organization of the North German Confederation and its Southern allies had to face its fiery ordeal was now approaching.
Napoleon
III.,

2,736 horse.

German loss was 711 officers, 15,097 men, and The French loss was 879 officers, 16,128
war included), and one gun.

men

(prisoners of

At

alarmed at the sudden

rise of the

Prus-

Gravelotte, where 178,818

men

of the

German

infantry,

sian power, readily found an alleged cause of declaring

24,584 cavalry, and 726 guns were engaged against

120,000 French troops, besides the garrison of Metz,
with
its

war against the King

result of this

of Prussia (July 15, 1870).

its

The
entire

was that the Federal diet placed

of

450 guns and

mitrailleuses, the

Germans
lost

lost
offi-

military resources at the disposal

the

government.

899
cers,

officers

and 19,260 men; the French

595

The South German

princes,

whose neutrality Napoleon

12,698 men, and 2,000 prisoners.

The

result of

these three terrible battles before

Metz was
with
at

that Bazaine,

On

the twenty-eighth of January, 1871, the capitula-

with his army shut up behind the fortifications of Metz,

tion of the capital of France, with the largest

fortress in the world, took

known
sur-

was prevented

from

cooperating

the

army

of

place under the following

McMahon, which had been gathered

the

Chalons.
left

On
at

conditions

All the
all

forts,

Vincennes excluded, were

twenty-fifth

of

August,

McMahon
the

camp

rendered, with

war-material, the regular troops and

Chalons and marched to the north with the design of

relieving Bazaine at Metz.

the marines, also the Garde-Mobile,

became prisoners

of

By

two battles of Beau30th,

war, surrendered their arms, field-artillery, and colors,

the fortifications of the city were, moreover, dismantled,

mont and Musson, August 29th and

was cut
off

McMahon
to fall

from the roads eastward to Metz and south

to Paris,

and the

city

was

to

pay an indemnity

of

two hundred

and southwestward
back on Sedan.

and was compelled

thirtieth

millions of francs.

During the
first

and

thirty-first of

In 180 days the

German armies had fought 156

officers

greater

August and
to the north

the

of

September, McMahon's army was

;

or lesser engagements, 17 pitched battles, had taken 20

fortified places,

completely surrounded by the Germans

even the road

three o'clock
of the

made 19,316

and 613,667 men

was barred.

Between two and

prisoners (the

army

of Paris included),

and captured

on the afternoon of September 1st the army

Crown

7,441 guns and 107 standards and other French colors.

Prince of Prussia and that of the Crown Prince of Saxony

On

the eighteenth of January, 1871, in the palace of

formed a junction.

The

fire

of five

hundred German
inflicting a terrible

the French

Kings

at Versailles,

King William

of Prussia

guns was concentrated on the French,

punishment.
of
all

was solemnly proclaimed chief regent

with the
title of all

of the Empire,

the

At five o'clock in the evening the heads German columns advanced on Sedan and
combatants up to
its

drove the

last
III.,

walls.

Upon

this,

"German Emperor," by the desire and German states and princes. The legal announcement of the German Empire had taken place on
consent of
the the
first

Napoleon

who was

inside the fortress, ordered the

of

January preceding.
at Versailles,

white flag to be displayed on the citadel, and surrendered

himself a prisoner of war to the

The preliminaries
of February,
fort,

on the twenty-sixth

By

the battle of Sedan the

King of Emperor

Prussia.
lost liberty

and the
of

definitive peace-treaty of Frank-

and

on the tenth
national

May, 1871, brought the glorious

to a close.

a throne, while

France bewailed the

loss of

an army of
in

German
attained

war

The immortal fame

135,000 men.

The

battle

and the capitulation placed

which Prince Bismarck, the great German statesman,

the hands of the conquerors 83,000 prisoners of war,

field-pieces, including

419

by

the founding of the

shall

70 mitrailleuses, 459 siege-guns,

and which

place the

new German Empire, German nation under evertoo well

66,000 28,000

rifles,

and other war-material.

During the

battle

lasting gratitude to him,

is

known

to

need

men had been cut off and made prisoners on the field. The dead included, there was an army, as we have said, of 135,000 men annihilated.
Still more fatal to France was the capitulation of Metz by Bazaine, on the twenty-seventh of October, 1870. His immense army, consisting of 3 marshals, 10 generals,

repeating here.

German
of

unification, so

long desired and sought

after,

became now
the

a matter of historical fact

under an emperor
similar union has

House

of Hohenzollern.
trivial

been effected, some

matters excepted, in the

reorganization of the military institutions of the

pire.

Emshow

6,000

officers,

and 173,000 men, were made prisoners

of

The

illustrations

of

the
still

present

work

war, upon the conditions of Sedan, and the fortress of

that a diversity in the uniforms

exists in the

German
a red

Metz, the greatest stronghold of France, surrendered

with
all its

imperial army; the light-blue color of the uniform hav-

war-material, including 53 eagles and other

ing been retained by Bavaria.

The Saxons wear

regimental colors, 541 field-pieces, 800 siege-guns, 100

mitrailleuses,

binding around the bottom of the tunic, while the

WUra

and 300,000
of the

rifles.

tembergians differ
created
helmet.

in

having their coat of arms on the

Federal states have reserved

by Gambetta and provided with arms bought from England

and the United States
Paris, invested
of the

The armies

now republican France,

of America, could

The

larger

somewhat independent administration

that four great divisions

of their troops, so

not prevail

may be made.
all

The Prussian
the states, with

against the victorious Germans.

All efforts to relieve

army comprises

the Federal troops of

by the

latter, failed.

The French Army

the exception of the three kingdoms, Bavaria, Saxony,

North, the

Army

of the

West, the

Army

of the

and Wurtemberg.

But

all

those
differ,

little

externals,

by

Loire, of the

Westward and Eastward army

St.

corps,

were

which the four contingents

disappear before the

defeated in the battles of Beaune-la-Rolande, Beaugency,

great achievements of the imperial army, as well as before the enthusiasm

Les Mans, and

Quentin

the intended invasion of

common

to the

German

nation, which

Southern Germany by Bourbaki's army was frustrated

everywhere welcomes the military forces of Germany

by the heroic
at Pontarlier,

efforts

of

General Werder's troops at

and goes out

soldiery in

in love

and esteem to the entire national

the

the battle of the Lisaine

and

of

General Manteuffel's
to enter neutral

all

parts of

Empire.

Faithfully and

which forced the French

bravely has this real national army, in whose ranks the

nation sees
its

The sorties of the invested Parisians, made at Fontainebleau, Champigny, Le Bourget, Drancy, Meudon, Clamart, and from Mont Valerien failed, with
Swiss territory.

own

sons and brothers, fought and bled

on a hundred
for

battlefields,

and by

its

heroism

it

has

won

the

German name

respect, esteem,

and admiration

heavy

losses to the French.

throughout Europe, nay throughout the world.

ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY

The

fundamental provisions
of

of the military organiza-

The German

military constitution

is

based on the im-

tion

the

North German Confederation were

perial military laws enacted during the years 1870-'71,

almost entirely embodied in the imperial constitution of

the sixteenth of April, 1871, repeatedly

only amended, as

we have

hinted, in consequence of

amended though
military institu-

the continual massing of French and Russian troops on

the

they were in the course of time.

tions of the

The

German

frontier.

German Empire

are, therefore,

founded on

The Emperor has absolute command

of the

united

the organization of the Prussian army.

German army,
this

alike in time of

war and

of peace, with of

Following the example of the Great Elector, Frederick

sole

restriction,

that

the

kingdom
in

Bavaria

is

William

of

Brandenburg, the founder of the Branden-

entitled

to

minor concessions

time of peace.
restriction,

The
under

burg-Prussian army, his successors, the kings of Prussia,

navy
the

is

exclusively,
of the

and without any

Emperor.

always took personal interest in the training and equip-

command

ment

of their military forces.

Frederick William

I.,

the

The land

forces of the empire form a union army, each

its

"Soldier King," had not only trained the functionaries

of State

regiment having

own

distinctive

and

its

officials in

the

ways

of the

most rigid
in the

whole being uniformly armed and equipped.

number and the The color

set the standard

integrity

and honesty, but had

drilled his

army

and cut

of the Prussian

army uniform

severest discipline and infused into the

called into existence

body

of officers,

for all, a

cockade with the German colors being worn

by

himself, the idea of

rectitude

by

officers

and men

alike, as a sign of the unity of the

and honorable dealing

in the

most exacting form.

Fred-

imperial forces.

erick the Great, the genial military leader,

had raised

The Emperor has

see to
it

the power, and

it
r

is is

his

duty, to
in

the tactical efficiency of this

little

army

to the highest

that

every part of the army

complete
is

standard and had led

it

to the height of military glory

numbers and equipment, and

lished

that uniformity

estab-

by

a successful defense of Prussia against half of

Europe

and maintained

as

to

organization,

formation,

in the

Seven Years' War.

Although the old forms had

at the be-

armament, and command.

the training of the soldiers
of the officers.

The Emperor

also regulates

crumbled away during the Napoleonic wars

ginning of the century, the same
spirit

and the proper

qualification

was maintained,
and obedience

and the virtues of piety, honor,

fidelity,

The army
to service,

is

formed on the general and exacting

continued to be the mainstay of the army, which rose

principle of liability to service.

Every German
this

is

liable

anew upon

the foundation of the universal liability to

and

in the

performance of

duty no subservice

service exacted at the regeneration of Prussia in her

stitute is allowed.
is

Exemption from compulsory

in the case of

long wars for liberty.

Reorganized with the utmost

permitted only

members

of the reigning

care and brought to almost absolute perfection

first

by

the

or formerly reigning sovereign houses, who, however,

soldier of Europe,

Emperor, the

King William I., most expert army officer

its

the late

German

almost without exception,

to enter the army. sian army, in the 1st
at

of his time, this

army proved

valor

in in

three

successful

wars,

in

deem it a duty and an honor They serve, as a rule, in the PrusRegiment of Foot-Guards stationed
army commences
divided bemilitia.

1804 against Denmark,

1866 against Austria, and,

es-

Potsdam.

pecially, in 1870-'71 against France.

Thus the Prussian

its

The general
forty-fifth

liability to serve in the

army, the nation under arms, having for

motto "with
the type for

with the completion of the seventeenth and closes with the

God
have

for

King and Fatherland," became

its

year of a man's
in the ranks

life.

The time

is

most of the European armies, and

said,

organization, as
constitution
of

we
the

tween service

and

in the

Landsturm or

was embodied

in

the

German Empire, united under

tion at Versailles,

the Emperor's proclama-

The

liability to serve in the

ranks and in the Landof the twentieth

January 18th, 1871.

wehr commences with the completion

year of a man's
life
;

it

lasts

until

the thirty-first of
his thirty-

Owing
to

to the increase of the

French and Russian

mili-

tary forces, the

German army was repeatedly subjected

March

of the year in
;

which

man completes
all

ninth year

he therefore serves in
a

nineteen years.

changes

it

may be

described, in regard to

its

com-

During the time

two years
in

man belongs

to the

army he

serves

position, organization, distribution,

armament, and equip-

the ranks, five in the reserve (with the

ment, in time of peace and war, as follows

cavalry and horse-artillery, three years in the ranks, and

four years in the reserve)
;

after

which he

is

attached for
to

five years to the first levy of the

I.

Landwehr, seven years

GENERAL ORGANIZATION, DUTY, AND TO SERVICE

LIABILITY

the second levy (with the cavalry and horse-artillery, three

years to the

first

levy,

and nine years

to the

second levy).

The standing army

reserve, the object of

is

formed by the ranks and the

is

is

determined by the number required to keep up the

which

the replenishing of the

peace establishment.

The number

is

estimated at from

army from

a peace footing into a of the first

war

footing.
for

240,000 to 250,000 men.

The Landwehr

and second levy serves

The

right to locate himself in

any part of the Empire

strengthening the standing army in time of war, and

is

gives the recruit the right to enroll himself in any corps

of his choice.

formed into regiments, brigades, and

divisions.

This privilege

is

the recruit's,
is

if

we

ex-

For the purpose

of preserving the fitness for war, every

is

cept the corps of the Guards, which

recruited through-

man
man

of the reserve

compelled, in time of peace, to take

out the Prussian provinces only, and to which are assigned

recruits

part in two field manoeuvres of eight weeks' duration.

in the
;

Each
two

of

superior physique
of five

and behavior and

feet.

of

Landwehr has

to turn out

from one

to

minimum height
it is

and one-half

Each armywhich
is

weeks

both are called out by a special imperial order.

(militia),

corps, excepting the Guards, has a district within

stationed, raised,

The Landsturm
the native
soil,

whose duty

it

is

to

defend
in case

and recruited.

This district

sub-

as well as to strengthen the

all

army

divided into brigade and Landwehr battalion

districts.

of necessity,

contains

men who have

or have not

The enrollment, examination, and

cording to
lists

distribution

by the
Those

served from their seventeenth to their forty-fifth year,

higher and lower district commissions takes place ac-

and who do not belong either

or the

to the ranks, the reserve

taken from the parish registers.

Landwehr.

They, however, do not have to take

found

fit

to serve in the

army

are selected for the service

part in the field manoeuvres in time of peace.

Exemptions from the above-named duties are legally

defined.

with arms, or without arms as hospital attendants and professionals, such as tailors, shoemakers, etc. Men be-

As

the

military

service

is

deemed one

of

low the regulation standard, but otherwise

fit

for duty,

honor,
it

all

criminals and state prisoners are excluded from

are passed to the Ersatzreserve, for the purpose of filling

as unworthy.

The bodily
called

unfit

men

are rejected.

The

up the army

in

time of war or for the formation of depot

sole supports of families,

and such

as cannot ieave their

or garrison troops, while those found physically unfit for

homes,

may be

upon

later or are altogether ex-

empted from

service.
at

any service are struck off the found unworthy are excluded.

list

altogether, and those

Those educated

government expense

at military in-

stitutes (academies,

medical schools, and schools for non-

Of the supernumerary recruits, those drawing the lucky numbers are temporarily exempt from service in
times of peace.

commissioned

officers) are

compelled to serve longer

in

The men drawn

for the

army

are then

the ranks (up to seven years).

Those expecting military

civil

told off to the different branches of service, according to

advancement, or who make a claim for some minor

office,

height, physique,

and former occupation.

is

have also to

enlist in the

army

for seven years

The

final

decision and allotment to the regiment

;

under special agreement (Kapitulation).

usually completed about the beginning of October

those

the

To prevent an

interruption in the studies of

in

passing into the reserve occurs generally in September,

educating themselves for the professions

serving the full

term of two or three years, every able-bodied German

may

serve as a volunteer for one year only, and in any troops.

Autumn manoeuvres. For the keeping of the and a continuous record, and for the passing of those from the reserve into the Landwehr, the larger
after the

rosters

Upon
tificate

passing an examination, or by producing a cer-

Landwehr
pany

battalion districts are subdivided into com-

from any one of the specially authorized educainstitutes,

tional

attesting his qualifications in one of

the upper classes of a high school (Realschule) or college, the youth

teer.

Each man of the reserve and of the Landwehr who changes his domicile has to report the same at the company district, that is, the district officer
districts.

need only serve

service

for

one year as a volunin the

and

district sergeant-major.

At

the latter place he re-

The one-year

ranks of

may be rendered any regiment which may be the choice

If

ceives continuously his necessary military papers (passport), also his

it,

of the

furlough pass, and permission,

if

he desires

volunteer, who, however, has to pay for his board and

to emigrate.

The

district

commands

or commissions

government equipment.

found proficient he may be

are charged with

keeping the register

reserve and

transferred after one year's service to the reserve (six

years).

addresses

of

all

Medical students desiring to enter the sanitary

respective districts

of the names and Landwehr men in their and with calling them into service

corps are allowed to serve a shorter time, namely, six

for manoeuvres or mobilization.

ing, collecting, tion falls

The labor

of

summon-

months under arms, and

after their graduation six

months

and forwarding the men

district

to their destina-

more with

non-commissioned rank or as under-surgeon.

on the

commissions.

By

semi-annual
the

Public school teachers are also required to serve in the

ranks for a period of one year only.

recruiting commissions,

composed

also

of officers,

military papers are approved

and completed, the

rosters

prepared, and the necessary steps taken to find out

II.

who

RECRUITING, ENLISTMENT, DISCHARGE, AND

are the missing men.

CONTROLLING ORGANIZATION
The
law,

peace footing of the army

III.

is,

according to imperial

THE ARMY ON A PEACE FOOTING

establishment,

one percentage of the population.

is

The annual

The army

defined

by the imperial

contingent of recruits

fixed

by an imperial decree and

budget, places the peace strength of non-commissioned

;: ;

offioers

and men (not including the one-year volunteers)

Each

division has normally

two brigades

of infantry
of

at

about 479,229 men.

The

entire peace

strength

is

and one brigade of cavalry, each brigade consisting

as follows

two regiments
consists on a peace footing of about
officers

of infantry or cavalry.

The German army

23,000
officers

The infantry regiments

are composed, as a rule, of

and 557,440 non-commissioned

all

three battalions (forty regiments lately organized have

and men.

Including

non-combatants,

there

are

only two) of four companies.

The

battalions have a

585,490 soldiers and 97,850 horse, as follows

peace footing of 570 men, and a war footing of 1,000

215 regiments of infantry and 19 battalions (Jager and Schtttzen),

men.
of
rifles

The cavalry regiments

war time
a
of four, the fifth

consist of five squadrons (in

total of

624 battalions

of infantry

forming the depot squadron)

93 regiments of cavalry and 4 detachments of mounted

rifles

with a peace footing of from 130 to 140 horses each, and

(Jager zu Pferde),

war footing

in all of

700 horses.

a
a a

total of

409 squadrons of cavalry

The
;

field-artillery

brigade consists of two regiments

divisions (Abteilungen), each

43 regiments

of field-artillery of

494

batteries

of generally three

mounted

17 regiments of foot-artillery and 1 battalion,

total of

usually of three batteries, and one division of horseartillery of

37 battalions of 149 companies;

two batteries each.

six,

Each battery
in

consists in of six guns.

23 battalions of pioneers of 96 companies

7 battalions of railroad troops

peace time of from four to

and

war time

and 2 detachments of

A
each,

foot-artillery

regiment

comprises
a

two battalions

balloon troops,
total of

rifle

battalion

and

pioneer battalion four

27 companies and 2 detachments of

consisting of 65

companies, with the military train battalion of three

companies.

balloon troops

21 battalions of the

military train

The

training

and

drilling,

commencing with
embraces
all

the
in-

companies, shortly to be augmented by 3 battalions of telegraph troops.

enrollment of the recruits in October, lasts without

terruption throughout the year
;

it

branches

The
model

infantry are

armed with the breech-loader

the calibre

(rifle

of the military service

and ends with the September

of 1888), allowing the simultaneous loading of

manoeuvres of the brigades, divisions, and army corps,

after

five cartridges,

united in one frame

rifle,

is

of

which follow the Emperor's manoeuvres, so called

0.31

in.

Besides the

the infantry soldier carries

to the rifle as a bayonet.

from the attendance of the commander-in-chief, and

assisted

a side arm,

which can be attached

by from one

to three

army corps

(armies) facing

A
is

uniform arming of the entire cavalry has been per-

and fighting each other For the thorough and

in sham-battles.
skilful training of the individual

fected

by an equipment

of lances.

The cavalry
;

soldier

armed

also with a carbine (model 1888)

the cuiras-

soldier in larger formations in each army-corps district,

siers carry a straight

heavy sabre (Pallasch); the hussars,

provided with uniform

there are provided large places for the instruction of the

dragoons, and uhlans have the regular cavalry sabre.

troops in shooting, drilling, and in regular evolutions.

The
guns

entire

field-artillery

is

In order to secure a uniform technical expertness in

the drill of every branch of the military service, there
are provided special general-inspections for each branch.

of 3.56

in. calibre,

made

of

improved

cast steel

and

mounted on a spring
charge
is

steel plated gun-carriage.

The
of
;

a shrapnell shell
is

and a canister shot

howitzers of 5.90

(case-shot).

For the warlike training

of the
;

army corps the comand

complete

The

foot-artillery
in.

equipped with heavy field-guns

;

manding general

is

responsible

for the perfection

its

from 4.72 to 5.90

mortars of 8.26

calibre

in.

calibre

readiness for war of the regiment, and for

in.

calibre;

and

as siege-guns pieces of

strength and the requisite qualification of the corps of

officers,

3.64, 4.72, 5.90 and 8.26

in. calibre,

mortars of 5.90
;

in.

the

commander
for

of

the

regiment

is

held

re-

calibre, turret-howitzers of 8.26 in. calibre

also, revolv-

sponsible.

ing and quick-firing guns.

The

foot-artillery soldier

As

model

the infantry a special battalion of

carries a short rifle for personal protection.

instructors

(Lehrbataillon),
officers,

composed
drilled

of

officers,

non-

The

pioneers,

who

are

armed with

the

Mauser

rifle

commissioned
is

and privates from the whole army,

under the personal
of

and side-arms, carry the portable materials necessary

fortification

for

formed

at

Potsdam and
general

and engineering.

supervision of the Emperor.

carbine,

For the training

the

The
The
five

military train,

armed with sabre and

army instructors
officers),

in

(officers

and non-commissioned
is

attends to the transport of the army.

entire

an infantry school of musketry

provided; for
is

army

consists, the Prussian corps

of

the

the field-artillery and foot-artillery there

a school of

Guards included, of twenty army corps.

From

three to

gunnery, while for the cavalry there

is

a riding

academy;

army corps form an army, named,

in time of peace,

and

for all there is the military

gymnasium.

For the
officers,

army -inspections. Each army corps numbers generally two

(infantry
divisions
of
rifles,

education

and training of non-commissioned

military orphan homes, institutes for the

educating of

and cavalry), besides one battalion

soldier-boys, are provided, also preparatory and normal

one battalion of pioneers, one battalion of the military

train,

schools for non-commissioned officers.

one brigade of

field-artillery,

and one regiment

After a

service

lasting

for

twelve years, the non-

of foot-artillery.

commissioned

officer receives a

bounty of one thousand

10

; ;

marks, with the right to claim some minor

sphere either of the State or of some
civil

office in

the

in

Berlin.

This

is

the

centre

from which issue

all

corporation.

measures of organization and administration.

istry, in

This min-

Following the tradition of feudal times and the days

of chivalry, the entire

connection with the lesser ministries of Bavaria,

nobility serves in the

German
Since the

Saxony, and Wilrtemberg, has to provide for the equip-

army and comprises

the main

body

of officers.

ment and maintenance

case of war.

of

the

entire

German army

in

great increase in the army, within the past forty years,

the sources for replenishing the staff of officers have

been necessarily extended.

officer is

Legally the career of an

IV.

open

to

every

man

THE ARMY ON A WAR FOOTING

when armies were
of the

of respectable parentage,

but none,

ing house,

not even a crown-prince or a prince of a reign can obtain an commission, save by

officer's

At
was
a

the time

raised

by enlistment,

it

happy idea

Great Elector of Brandenburg

district of the

passing the regular examination.

One exception only

is

possible, namely, for bravery in action

to assign to each
try.

regiment a defined

coun-

in face of the

As

enlistment was changed to conscription, the old

enemy.

practice
of
officers

was retained, though more and more developed

and
still

For the training and education

schools for cadets,

there are

in the Prussian army,

further developed in the

of the latter is there-

preparatory and normal institutes,

German army.
country.

The composition

such as those at Gross-Lichterfelde near Berlin.

these there are special military academies.

Besides

fore closely affiliated with the territorial divisions of the

The higher

training

is

provided by the military high schools, by the

artillery

Each army corps is recruited within its own army corps district and bears its name. The regiments
which bear besides the regular number of the military
branch to which they belong, the names of princes and

war academy, and by the

at Berlin.

and engineering school

Bavaria also has similar educational institutes.

is

The war academy

general
staff of the

the principal training school for

prominent generals, are also known by the names of the

province and the district from which they are recruited.

the higher commanders, especially for the officers of the

army.

The

latter, in

time of peace,
destined

As an

instance, the following are cited as examples

the

consists of about
to

two hundred and

fifty officers,

38th regiment of Fusiliers, Graf Moltke (Silesian)

7th regiment of Cuirassiers, von Seydlitz

the

attend to

all

matters touching the movement, the

of the troops, also the drawdis-

(Magdeburg)
(Pom-

quartering, and

engagement

the 3rd regiment of Hussars, von Zieten (Brandenburg)

the

ing up of orders governing the strategical and tactical

positions of the higher

5th

regiment of Hussars, Prince

Bliicher

commanders and
scientific

their enforcement.

eranian); the 114th regiment of infantry,

erick III.

Emperor Fred-

The greatest
been paid
to the

attention has, in the

German army,

also

(Baden No.

6).

thorough

and practical training

at the univer-

By

this

arrangement the history

of each family,

of each town, of each

is

of sanitary officers
sities,

and surgeons, not only

at the

village,

and even

closely connected

but especially

Kaiser Wilhelm Academy,

with the history of each regiment.

Often, not only in

located at Berlin.
fostered

This training has been furthermore

to attendance at garrison

the ranks of the nobility, but also in those of the com-

by appointing surgeons by

moners and peasantry,

the same regiment.
in the

whole generation

may

serve in
to enlist
is

hospitals as well as attendance at the lecture courses in

The grandson takes pride

his grandfather's

operative surgery, delivered

fessors.

the most eminent pro-

company
the

in

which

name

honor-

The

training of nurses and of

men
is

to bear off

ably mentioned in connection with earlier campaigns. Besides

ditional

the sick, and in war time the wounded,

hospitals

carried on in

inestimable

moral

value of these

tra-

by annual

practical instructions.

In the farrier

and

historical ties,

binding together nation and

and veterinary establishments horse-smiths and veterinary

surgeons receive their training.

army, the uniformity of the distribution of the troops,

their garrisoning in the recruiting districts, has an enor-

The

entire

war-material

is

furnished

by

the

gun-

mous advantage,
footing.

in that the

army can be transformed

is

factories, manufactories of

arms and of projectiles, and

of supplies, assigned

with the utmost speed from a peace organization to a war

This
is

by the powder-mills.
to each

The bureau

called "mobilization" and

prepared

army

corps, furnishes all the troops

with the

with the utmost care in time of peace, the initiative of

necessary clothing.

To

see to the sustenance of

man

war operations, nay, even the success

of the

war

itself,

and horse

is

the duty of each separate division of troops,

is

depending on the alertness and promptness with which

the mobilization
is

providing such

not done by the military bakeries, by

carried out.
lists

The

reserve district com-

the factories of canned-meats,

and the bureau

of supplies.

manders keep the parish

force

of each

man

of the reserve

A
trials

uniform martial law

army, also
a

is

maintained throughout the

and

of the

Landwehr.

When
are

the order to mobito this

entire

uniform military code regulating

lize is issued, the

summonses

handed directly

and court-martials.
of the spiritual welfare of
reli-

officer

and through him

to go. of the

to the soldier, instructing

him

The chaplains have charge

gious sentiment.

where and when

the army, and are expected to foster and promote

The transport
or to
ties

summoned

troops to the frontier

facili-

meet the enemy, with the necessary railway

in

All affairs regarding the administration, equipment,

and personnel, are mapped out and arranged

during peace time.

every
is

armament, clothing, and maintenance

forces are regulated and conducted

of

the

military

detail

The

entire railroad system

by the

War

Ministry

thus mobilized.

11

The whole equipment, armament, ammunition supplies,

(four for the infantry, six for the artillery), the military
train-battalion, three provision
trains, the

and general

fitting

out

of

the

forces

for

war

and seven transportation

purposes, including both the

troops
;

Landwehr and

the depot

depot of remounts, the field-bakery, the pon-

all

wagons, supplies for the medical department,

toon train, the sanitary train, the sanitary detachment of

also the entire rations for the first

few days' use

of the

army

in the field,

twelve field-hospitals.

Added

to these are the military

in short, all that is necessary

its

and

commissioners (intendantur) and the chaplains, with the

military

expedient for the fighting army, for

subsequent en-

largement, and for the defence of the country,

in readiness in a

it

pay chest and the

field post-office.

is is

kept
also
inis

One

division of infantry

comprises two brigades of

of cavalry,

complete and perfect state

infantry, each of

two regiments, one regiment

field-artillery of six batteries,

replenished and renovated from time to time.

spections, held

By

one regiment of

one or two
train,

only by generals, the whole army

its

companies of pioneers, one detachment of pontoon

one sanitary detachment, and one detachment of

tested in regard to

readiness for war

the entire

tele-

material

down

to the small

package

of

bandages carried

graph troops.

Besides those there are the military com-

by every man,
is

to every horse-shoe nail

and wagon-lantern,

missioners, the chaplains,

and

field-post.

subject to the most scrutinizing process of inspection.

In addition to the above-named columns and trains, each army corps has
its

The necessary completion

for,
still

of

the
is

force

of

officers

own wagons,

divided into two

from the time war breaks out

as
all

especially provided

columns or echelons

one, called the small

baggage

train,

of

the

officers

that

are of

the age liable

which carries everything necessary for the troops during a

battle or immediately after one, such as the ammunition,

to serve

upon leaving the ranks enter the reserve

or the Landwehr.

The most

able and efficient of the

provisions,

and medicine, while the heavy baggage follows

one-year volunteers, trained practically and theoretically

at a greater distance,

and

carries all supplies required

its

by
the

officers

during their service time, and having passed

examination to become
officers

for the sustenance of the

army during

operations in

necessary

of

the

the field, with the baggage, sutler, forage,

and provision

reserve, are also notified for service.

Trained further by

wagons.

repeated exercises, lasting several weeks, of which three

An army
ions

corps of two divisions comprises: 24 battal1

have

to

be made at least in the reserve and later on two

of infantry,

battalion

of

rifles,

8 squadrons of

in the

Landwehr, these reserve and Landwehr

peace a standing corps of
officers

officers

cavalry, from 18 to 20 batteries of artillery, about 25,000

form

in time of

under
This

infantry men, 1,400 horse, and from 108 to 120 guns.

the direct surveillance of the district commanders.

corps, infused with the proper martial spirit,
sufficient
is

In war time two of the recently formed forty regiments

of infantry remain with their respective
is

amply

army

corps.

It

to

supply the body of

officers

in

the lower

intended to bring up the strength of the latter to about

ranks in case of war.

For the position

and
leaders,

of the higher

30,000 infantry.

ranks of commanders
officers

the

Emperor has
immediate use

The regiments formed

in reserve divisions
;

of the surplus reserve are placed

and generals

at his disposal for

the Landwehr,

made up

also into
is

and

action.
is

regiments of battalions, squadrons, and batteries,

declared
in the

added,

In accordance with the aforesaid, when war

the mere telegraphic order of the

form of Landwehr brigades and divisions, to the

Emperor

is

sufficient

active army.

The war formations prepared and defined

in

"the army

is

mobilized;" and when a few days have

every detail are promulgated only at the outset of the war.

elapsed the entire

at

German army
is

stands ready for action

From
superior

three to five

whatever point the country

menaced.

Exempt from

army corps form an army under a army commander. The entire forces under the
of the

immediate mobilization are the troops retained for the

Ersatz, with all the depot

supreme command
Imperial

Emperor

are directed from the

and garrison troops.

is

Headquarters.

These are composed of the

In war time the army

divided into

the mobile
troops.

chief of the general staff of the army, the minister of

or active army, and the immobile

or garrison

war, the quartermaster-general, and the inspector-general

of the troops, with their respective staffs.
forces,

The

active

army

is

composed

of the troops of all ranks,

The garrison

including the reserve and the mobilized forces of the

composed

of the

immobile Landwehr of the second

Landwehr.
footing
is

The organization

of

the

army on
;

war

levy (from the thirty-second to the thirtv-ninth year of a

similar to that in time of peace

of

there are
divisions,

man's

life),

and the depot troops remain

the

in the country,

twenty army corps, composed

the

same

commanded by
erally

respective temporary

commanding
batteries,

brigades, regiments, and battalions for both occasions.

generals; they are completely equipped and clothed, gen-

The

additional formations are from

divisions,

two

to three inde-

formed into battalions, squadrons, and

pendent cavalry

consisting of

number

of

and may be

also called out in case of mobilization

and

cavalry regiments, withdrawn from the regular divisions

for strategical duties in front of

used for the defence of the Etappen (lines of base connecting the field-army with the rear), or to
fighting strength.
fill

and on the flanks

of the

up the

army.

Added

to these are in

war time the necessary

train, all of

columns and divisions of the military

which
a

The Landsturm (composed

to the forty-fifth year)
is

of

men from

the seventeenth

make up
rifles,

the following formation of an

:

army corps on

called

out by an

imperial

war footing

two divisions

of infantry, one battalion of

order, or, in case of

imminent danger, by the command-

the artillery of the corps, the ammunition trains

ing generals and commanders of the fortified posts.

The

12

Landsturm

is

also properly prepared in peace time (inofficers).

This immense military organization of the

pire,

German emis

eluding the appointment of

It is

completely

made

possible

by compulsory military

service,

the

equipped and armed, special attention being paid to the

fact that the
all

result of the cooperation of all the military authorities

Landsturm

of the

second levy shall hold

with those of the government, the corporations, and the

railroad administration bureaus.

men from
is,

their thirty-ninth to their forty-fifth year,

Without

this varied

and

that

all

soldiers
in

having passed through the regular

to

combined

assistance, well defined for all warlike purposes,

service.
is

Thus

from eighteen

twenty days

after

war
are

the complete disposition of the

army and

its

readiness for
of
this

declared, that

is,

after the order to mobilize has

been

war would be impossible.

For the founding

given, about 1,400,000

men

of the standing

army
go

great organization, so resolute and so tense, as well as

efficient in all its parts,

ready to take the

field.

After about four weeks another

into

Germany

is

especially indebted

body

of 900,000

men

of the reserves are ready to

to the ceaseless

and untiring
"his

efforts of the late

Emperor
chief

action,

being

in fighting trim to operate

on the threatened

William

and to

trusted and eminent advisers, the

frontier.

After a further lapse of from four to six weeks

two field-marshals, both now deceased

of the general staff,

von Moltke,
'

the entire

Landwehr and

the Landsturm, comprising

all

and von Roon, the secretary of war.

II strenuously endeavors not only

men
and

that have served,

a half millions of trained

may be summoned, so that four men are ready to defend

number can be
of

Emperor William
army.
"
is

to maintain but to raise

the

standard of the
in the scabbard,

German
but
its

the country.

On

great emergency this

He

keeps the sword

raised to seven millions

by calling out the remainder

edge

sharp," so that in the hour of peril no notch will

full

the Landsturm, including those

men who have

;

not served.
the nation
to

be found, while the national forces, in

will

equipment,

This

may

not be called an army merely

it is

be ready to defend German honor, together with

under arms.

Such

campaign would be equal

the

German

Fatherland.

Migration of Nations.

COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY

T *-'

ike
of

all

European armies, the German army

following

consists

pouches, the

feed-bag, cooking utensils, canteen, en-

the

branches

of

military

service
mili-

trenching tools, and parts of a tent.

In the knapsack
shirt,

infantry, cavalry, artillery, the engineers,

and the

and haversack are a pair of shoes, a

socks, pieces of linen, grease for the

a pair of

tary train.

rifle,

polishing and

scouring utensils, a pay-book, and

hymn

book.

The infantry
Its

is

provided with arms which enable the

troops to fight either at a long or at a short distance.

THE GERMAN INFANTRY

The
and
cuffs
a
;

ranks hold the

are

largest
rifle,

number

of

fighting men.

They
the

armed with a
as a bayonet.

capable of firing at a long

range, also with side-arms which can be attached to

entire

German

infantry wears the Prussian helmet,

rifle

The

infantry

is

the chief stay

dark blue tunic with red facings on collars and

the shoulder straps bear the color of the

of the army,

and

is

adaptable for service at any time

army
tops,

or

in

any country.
is

corps and the

are

number
gray

of the regiment.
cloth, the boots

The

trousers

infantry

The discipline of the German known throughout the world and is a

excelling
all

made

of dark
is

have leather

model
in

for other nations,

is

foreign
is,

troops

the overcoat

of a gray-colored frieze.

The Prussian

what

called "firing discipline," that

discipline

Guards have

collars to their tunics with braiding peculiar

under

fire.

In face of the enemy the

firing or

commands

are

to their corps,

and wear horse-hair plumes on parade.

obeyed as on parade, no
being
of

change of position

The

Jliger are distinguished

by wearing

a shako, with

allowed

without

explicit
to

orders.

a green tunic.

the

army extends
:

also
all

the

The unity weapon and sideofficers

rifle

The equipment (helmet excluded)

sists

of the infantry con-

arms of the infantry

non-commissioned
the quick-loading

and

of

the

belt

for

the

side-arms,

two ammunition

men

use a magazine

rifle,

'88

13

of 0.310 inch (about one-third of an inch) calibre

the
rifle

of the

knapsack has been likewise reduced.

sepa-

magazine being

filled

from a metal

clip containing five

rate waterproof

bag holds provisions

for

three

days.

cartridges chaTged with smokeless powder.

'88 signifies the infantry rifle

The

model

of the year 1888.

The cooking utensils are smaller and are made of aluminium and mounted on top of the knapsack, around
which, leaving the lower part free, the great coat
rolled.
is

The weight
49.01
sight

of

the

weapon
rifle

is

8.37 pounds, the length

inches.
is

The

has three sights.

The

fixed

The whole
is

outfit,

including the

ammunition

adjusted to 273 yards; the drop sight to 386

pouches,

strapped to the belt.

of

yards;

and the elevating Vernier sight

is

graduated

The weight
the tent,
is

the knapsack, including the parts of

from 490 to 2,238 yards.

The

rifle

covers a

maximum
bullet has

3.45 pounds.

The

entire

load, including

range of from 4,149 to 4,336 yards.

an
initial

The

clothing
infantry,

carried

by a

fully

equipped soldier of the

being considerably

velocity of 82.02 feet and a muzzle velocity

amounts
in

to 53.78 pounds,

of 2,034 feet.

reduced
is,

comparison with the weight borne in former

the knapsack
is

The

infantry side-arm '71, '84 (that

model

of 1871,

times.

When
is

left off

temporarily, the

improved in 1884) has a length of

without the scabbard.
scabbard.

15.2

inches,

and

troops can undertake field-operations for three or four

days, as
often necessitated during a state of siege;

weighs, scabbard included, 17.03 ounces, or 13.29 ounces

It
is

consists of blade, hilt,

and

they are then fully provided with pocket provisions

The blade

made

of cast steel, tempered,

flat-

and ammunition

sufficient for the interval.

is

blued, ground and polished, grooved on each side,

The German

infantry

essentially a unity

in equip-

backed, and two-edged at the point.

the handling of the weapon,
is

The made of

hilt, serving for

ment, armament, and employment.

The

difference in the

iron;

on the

uniform and the names of the various regiments are of

historic origin,

haft

are

side

plates

of

wood

(the

sword bayonet of

and are retained

for convenience or

on the

the Jager has side plates of leather), and has a guard

ground

of expediency. as

The regiments

are hence differ-

forged of highly carbonized iron, with a round hole for insertion round the muzzle of the gun, and held
tight

ently described

Grenadiers,

Musketeers, Fusiliers,

and Jager.
illustrations.

The

different types of the

German
are

infantry
in the

by a
is

steel

spring inside the hilt handle.

The

drawn from the separate contingents

shown

scabbard

made

of black, pliable sole-leather, formed

like the blade, at the

lower or pointed end

and has two mountings of steel-plate; is a frog mounting, and at the

are adjusted to the

The

elite forces of the

army
While

are the Guards, forming

in itself a complete

army

corps,

and located
the other

at Berlin,

upper end the chape with hook to be fastened into the

waist belt.

Potsdam, and Spandau.

are recruited from their

all

army corps
monarchy
regi-

The side-arms

rifle

as

own

districts, the

corps of the

a bayonet at the

command

before

the attack of "fix

Guards
and
of of

is

recruited throughout the Prussian

of superior physique.

bayonets!"

men

The Bavarian

The officers, who wear the silver sword-knot and the regular sword, together with the men who have charge of

sergeant-majors, sergeants, and ensigns

officer's

ment

body-guard Grenadiers and the Baden regiment

is

of the

body-guard

likewise recruited from provincial

the sick

sources.
is

The
1st
in

elite

regiment of the corps of Guards

This regiment

and wounded, are each provided with a revolver (model This is made, in its principal parts, of steel, of 1883).
with butt plates of walnut, a barrel with four grooves and of a length of 6.03 inches, a calibre of 0.42 inches,

the

regiment of Foot-guards.

was formed

1807 of the remainder of the original

these

Foot-guards, and

from the regiment known as

battalion
of

"Guards No. 15" and the

Guards No. 6."
of Frederick the

"Grenadier-

and a

cylinder holding

six

cartridges.

The

bullet,

The
I.

battalion dates back to the time

its

cylindric in form, with a point pressed out of spun lead,

Great and derives

title

from Fred-

weighs 0.59 ounces; the charge

powder.
length
yards.
is

is

23.14 grains of gunis

erick William's

guard of giants, known as the "Tall

The weight

of the

weapon

2.06 pounds, the

Fellows."

'9.25 inches, and the sight

is

adjusted to 21.3

The

first

regiment

of the

Guards

is,

as has

been

said,

the elite regiment of these elite troops.

of the infantry has

Apart from the

The equipment
reduced
in

been materially

general

"facings" of the Guards, the white braiding

weight since 1887, conforming to the changes introduced in modern war tactics. The helmet has been lightened and freed from all superfluous mountings.

upon

collars

and

cuffs, the

uniform

is

especially charac-

terized

by the white buttons, a reminiscence or relic of the original regiment of the Guards No. 15. Still more deserving of notice
is

The haversack is made of waterproof material, instead The ammunition is entirely separated from of linen. knapsack, being stowed away in two pouches the
fastened
tridges.
to

the head-dress

grenadier head-dress.
of the original,

worn on parade the The new model is an exact copy

era of Frederick the
;

worn during the

is

the

belt,

each

containing forty-five
sixty

car-

Great

the back

covered with red cloth

that of the

To

these

may be added
for

more cartridges

Fusiliers with yellow cloth.

This distinctive head-dress

II.

for field operations,

which are carried

in the knapsack.

was conferred upon the regiment by Emperor William

The
fore,

entire
of

ammunition

war purpose
fifty

consists, there-

The head-dress formerly worn by

of yellow metal,

the Grenadiers,
star

made

one hundred and

cartridges, which

may

adorned with crown and

and pro-

be

replenished
to

from the ammunition and company's

for

vided with chin strap, was transferred to the Alexander

wagons

two hundred

each

man.

The weight

regiment of the Grenadier-Guards.

Besides those two

14

regiments the Prussian Guards have seven more regiments

of infantry, one battalion of
rifles.

less.

At

this

moment General von Pape ordered

be placed
;

four

of

Jager, and one battalion

batteries

of artillery to

in

position at one

thousand paces from the village

trained
a

these were quickly

The Prussian Guards are commanders and constitute

sense of the word.

by

the best qualified

in the strictest

supported

by

the

entire

corps-artillery

and

also

by

model corps
later

the artillery of the tenth corps.

Soon the flames leaped

of
St.

During the
in the

great wars the

battle,

up within the battered walls

fire

Privat,

and the

Guards have often been put

their valorous
laurels, especially at

van of

and by

of

the

chassepots

became

fainter.

Firmly and

deeds have won for themselves unfading

KOniggratz,
St. Privat,

steadfastly the battalions of the Guards, unwilling to

and Sedan,

recede, yet

impeded
of

in their

advance, held their ground

and before

Paris.

The

brightest jewel in the crown of

is

amid

a storm

bullets, the

most trying

test

of dis-

glory gained by the Guards

for there they

the legend "St. Privat,"

won immortal
line of battle

honor.

The northern
sixth

parts

of the

French

Gravelotte and
by the
position.

which troops can ever be put. To fill up the gap, General von Pape placed the second regicipline to

St. Privat -

la-Montagne

were occupied
the

ment

of

Grenadier-Guards between the two; and

left

as

French army
;

reserves for the

brigade the
relief

fourth

regiment of

corps and the division Cissey of the fourth corps

Privat formed

St.

Guards followed.

But

soon came in the

now
their

key of the
duel

From

half-

advancing Saxon corps.

fire

Seven batteries opened

past two until half-past four o'clock in the afternoon

a

heavy
to

artillery

was raging, favorable, how-

upon the village. Intermingled with parts of the Guards, fifteen battalions of the 45th and 47th brigades

ever,

the

Germans.
lull set in

At

half-past

four

o'clock

an

now

encircled

almost perfect

the

the north and west side of St. Privat.

calm before the storm.

having been renewed
third
in

At
the

a little after five, the battle

Eighty-four Saxon guns belched out against the town, while the Fusilier-Guards, hitherto held in reserve at
Ste. Marie,

General von Manstein

ordered the

brigade

of

advanced to the support of

their sorely-tried

Guards

to the attack.

Advancing

well-formed

comrades.

columns and

in the best of order, the battalions

were

At

half-past seven in the evening, the general storming

received with a terrible shower of bullets, which thinned

their ranks in a frightful

of St. Privat took place; the decisive hour of the great battle had
assault
;

manner.

affording some shelter, were used to

after every halt there

The smallest ridges, good advantage

come

at last.

The drums beat

that

the general

the troops advanced with flying colors

up

to the

was another advance.

Up

to seven

village

and scaled the walls

surrounded the town

o'clock in the evening, the

brave soldiers had pushed

and yards; the houses were then stormed one by one.

themselves forward to within eight hundred paces of

Amanvillers, located to the south of St. Privat, which
place they could not take from sheer exhaustion.
half-past
five

At

o'clock

the

commander

of

the

second
in per-

The third battalion of the Body-guards and the ninth company of the fourth regiment assaulted the church, the third company of the fourth regiment of the Guards bore down on the cemetery, the Fusiliers of the first regiment
Guards advanced upon the farmsteads lying south of Jerusalem, and the Franz regiment took Jerusalem proper.
of the

division of the

Guards led the fourth brigade

son in the assault upon the advanced outwork Jerusalem, part of the village St. Privat stretching towards

In the battle 2,000 French were taken prisoners of

war.

Amanvillers.
tected

The enemy was found lying

rifle-pits,

there pro-

The

sixth

French army corps, now conquered,

relost

by hedges and

but beyond the reach

firing

treated to the valley of the Moselle.

The Guards

of the needle-gun.

The rapid

chassepots
as

made
it

almost one-third of their infantry, namely, 307

7,923

officers,

big gaps in the columns of

the

brigade

ad-

men and

2 surgeons.

In these total casualties the

vanced

in

regular fighting order.

Without the

slightest
lost

battalion of the Guards-Rifles,

lost the most,

engaged

at Amanvillers,

cover, the

brave battalions, having by this time

officers,

namely, 19

officers,

431 men and 1 sur-

almost all their

now pushed ahead

the

but only

geon

the second Foot-Guards lost 39 officers

and 1,076

the edge of the position could be taken

by the fourth
to

men
36

the third regiment of the Guards lost 36 officers

brigade,

which,

however, drove

enemy back

and 1,060 men.

officers

Jerusalem.
It

was found impossible

to reach the first line of the

officers

The first regiment of the Guards lost and 1,056 men; the Franz regiment lost 38 and 1,020 men the Augusta regiment lost
;

enemy

in spite of the fact that the

remains of the brigade

later,

27
lost

officers

and

902

men

the

Alexander regiment
loss of the fourth regi-

held the captured territory.

the fourth brigade had done

Half an hour
its

when
attack

27

officers

and 820 men; the

officers

task, the first division of

ment was 29
regiment 21
Just
as

and 524 men; of the Elizabeth

the Guards, under General von Kessel,

made an

officers

and 433 men.

though
less

on

St. Privat, that is

on Ste. Marie, lying towards the

the south side

glorious,

bloody was the part

.of

north.

The same spectacle seen on

was

taken by the corps of the Guards in the battle

Sedan.

seen also here.

The

route of the battalions was marked

Ordered by the commander-in-chief

to

proceed towards

of dead and wounded, and in a short time all commanders were hors-de-combat. The right wing, nevertheless, advanced up to within nine hundred paces, and the left to within six hundred paces of the enemy.

by heaps

Fleigneux and to press the enemy away from the Belgian frontier, the second division of the Guards were sent
against the northeastern part of Daigny, where concentrated masses of the
corps.

the

enemy fought

against the twelfth

The

fighting of the decimated

Germans grew

less

and

Only

after

having repulsed the French upon the

15

opposite bank of the valley, the Guards batteries were

able to occupy the heights, east of Givonne, and send

Geisberg

castle, a series of

massive buildings, surrounded

from that direction with eighty-four guns the deadly

shelis

against

their opponents.

In the meantime the

by a wall fifteen feet high and protected by embrasures, was stormed by the 7th regiment of the King's Grenadiers. The garden surrounding the castle was quickly
cleared of the enemy; the
rifles

sixth

company

of

the Fusilier-Guards

had succeeded
in dispersing

while attacking the castle

terrific
fire.

in taking the village of

La Chapelle and
it.

proper were received with a

Major von

the franctireurs, which held

artillery, riding

column of French
and

Kaisenberg

at the

head of the larger part of the Fusilier

into

Givonne without precautions was

of Fusilier-Guards,
1

battalion rushed towards the castle.

The color-bearer

held up bv the
officers

fifth

company

having

fallen,

the

major grasped the colors himself;

with about 200

men were made

prisoners, al-

three shots however laid

him low; again and again the

fol-

most without any resistance; 7 guns, 3 mitrailleuses,

banner changed hands; steadfastly the brave troops

many ammunition wagons and 124

at the

horses

were also

low their commanders who and shattered.

all

successively

fell,

crushed

same time captured.

the second position the batteries of the

The

castle

which was most obstinately

From
iron

Guards

defended could not be taken by storm.

At

this

moto

shelled the Bois-de-la-Garenne with a hail of lead and

ment General von Kirchbach ordered the building

be
fired
off

up

to the

hour of half-past two

in the afternoon.

upon from three

sides.

The

shells

tore the

The
left

fifth light

battery, the most exposed at the extreme

it

roof

and demolished the apartments, so that the

to seek shelter in the cellars.

wing, suffered heavily;

lost

during that time the

French had
assault the

At

the final

three officers
fire.

commanding

the platoons

by

heavy

rifle

Germans succeeded

in reaching the castle-

The

hostile masses,

suddenly rushing on

to effect

yard and in opening the gate with an axe from the

inside.

a breaking

through at Carrigan, were driven back by

fire

The troops then entered

the castle and forced

the

overwhelmingly rapid

of

the

batteries.

At

the remainder of the defenders to surrender.

The

regioffi-

nearly three o'clock the infantry finally reached the opposite heights of the valley

ment

of the King's Grenadiers in this affair lost 23

and the Bois-de-la-Garenne.

cers and 329 men.

On

the slope of the hill 10 officers

After a well-nigh instantaneous volley, fired by sixty

guns, the
first

lay dead.

division of the

Guards entered the woods,

and twelfth corps,

Another act
heroism,
is

of valor recorded in the annals of

German
(Red

meeting with hardly any resistance, and formed a junction with parts of the fifth, eleventh,

the

storming of the "Rote Berg"

Mountain)

at the battle of Spichern,

August
at

6th, 1870.

which from
at the

three

sides

pressed

farmstead of Querimont.

together the enemy More than 5,000 pris-

General Frossard, the commander

corps, so

of the

second French
Saarbriicken

who had deemed

that

his

position

oners

were here taken by the Guards.

About

five

perilous

he had notified

the

imperial

head-

o'clock the fight ended on this part of the battlefield.

quarters of the fact, had retired with his corps upon

the

The corps
Calvary
cers

of the

Guards

rallied its scattered troops at

Spichern Heights on the

fifth

of

August.

The

d'llly.

It alone delivered

up 111 French

offi-

ninth division of Laveaucoupet threw up entrenchments

and 8,500 men, who had been made prisoners,

also a

and constructed

rifle-pits

on these heights and lined the

Shortly after one
o'clock,

French standard, 17 guns, 3 mitrailleuses, and 17 wagons

of

Rote Berg with

soldiers.

ammunition.

General von Francois,

at

the head of only five com-

The deeds

of valor

performed by the Guards were

panies of the 74th regiment began to scale the mountain.

equaled by those of the infantry regiments of the line

in a self-sacrificing
call the

and death-defying

spirit.

We
castle

re-

infantry
shell.

heroism displayed by the 7th regiment of the

As they advanced they were received by the and artillery of the enemy with shot and They reached the base of the mountain and
and crevices of the
like

King's Grenadiers at the assault

upon the

of

tried to get a footing on the cliffs

Geisberg during the engagement

regiment
is

at

Weissenburg.

This

steep

rock,

appearing from

distance

hanging

now

in garrison at Liegnitz.
first

swallows.

On August
eral
first

4th the

important engagement of the

To support
teries

the storming columns, the

German

bat-

Franco-German

War

took place at Weissenburg.

Genof the

on the Galgenberg and the Folster HOhe quickly

Douay, the commander of the second division

Weissenburg, with eight
;

silenced the French guns on the Rote Berg, and com-

French corps (McMahon's) had occupied Geisberg,

battalions, eight

pelled them to be withdrawn, the French leaving five

a hill south of

guns between the German and French

tirailleur lines.

squadrons and eighteen guns

held only by one battalion.

whilst

Weissenburg was
shot was fired;

At

three o'clock in the afternoon General von

Kamecke
Without

At

eight o'clock in the

first

ordered a renewed assault of the Rote Berg.

morning
at

of the following

day the

delay, General von Francois personally led the ninth,

tenth, eleventh

one o'clock in the afternoon, the city was taken

of the fifth

and twelfth companies

of the 74th regi-

by regiments

and eleventh corps and the

first

ment up the steep and rocky heights.

Climbing from

second Bavarian corps, and the

battle

was won.
bat-

terrace to terrace they gradually reached the summit.

On

the Geisberg, defended at noontime

by seven
in

In a few minutes the outer entrenchments were gained,

talions, three batteries

and one brigade of cavalry were

from which the French Chasseurs, evidently taken by

surprise

in position

under General Pelle, who was

command,
The

were driven after a brief resistance.

led his small

With
body

vice General Douay, previously killed in battle.

drawn sword the gallant general

16

of Fusiliers towards the enemy.

lets

Pierced by

five bul-

At four

o'clock in the afternoon the brigade

Wedell

he however sank to the ground and died with the

his lips: I

(the 57th and 16th regiments) took part in the battle,

words on
battle!
is

"It

is

glorious to die on the field of

life,

20,000 Frenchmen opposing 4,700 Germans.

The

bri-

gladly give

my

as I see that the fight

his

gade advanced
the
its

steadily, after

having passed the burn-

taking a favorable turn."

Forward

brave Fusi-

ing village of Mars La Tour under a storm of shell and

fire of

liers

could not go, backward they would not go.

of strong supports of the

The

the mitrailleuses which calamitously reduced

arrival

enemy now became

ranks.
;

The
fifty

rear

division

thronged between the

apparent.

front one

after a run of

from one hundred to one hun-

General von Alvensleben having assumed the chief

dred and

paces the troops dropped on the ground,

command during

the progress of the battle could notice,

jumping
the

up

and

rushing

forward
feet

till

they

reached

looking upon the Rote Berg, only an extended line of

sharpshooters, giving no sign of an advance

edge

of a

ravine, fifty

deep and separating

traversed the

movement;

them from the enemy.

ravine,

They ran down,

opposite

they were warriors who had already laid

lives for their country.

down

their

and

scaled
in

the

banks,

where

they

The

third battalion of the 40th

were

met

mass

by Grenier's
of Cissey.

battalions,

and on

regiment now scaled the mountain; masses of the enemy

threatened
its

the left flanks

by those

The
fire of

five battalions

flanks; the situation of the five

companies

could not withstand the murderous

two

divisions.

required immediate action. The ammunition

to fall short,

commenced
of the

All mounted officers were laid low and the wounded and
killed lay in heaps on the ground.

and only the exemplary behavior

it

The

casualties,

which

troops

made

possible to hold the entrenchments on

included 72

officers

killed

and 2,542 men killed and

the crest of the hill previously taken.

General von Al-

vensleben

now ordered up

the regiment of the Bruns-

wounded, speak well for the bravery of the Westphalians. The commander-in-chief of the German army, King William, passed this

wick Hussars

to take part in the fight.

The regiment
it

encomium upon

the third

army

corps:

climbed the mountain, but could not deploy; nor could

effect a

"At every

occasion," said his Majesty, "I shall

deem
most

change and seemingly must now

retire.

At

this

and acknowledge the deeds achieved by the third army

corps on the sixteenth of

juncture, General von Billow asked permission to have

August

as part of the

some guns

of the third light battery

and the third heavy

heroic exploits of warfare, General von Alvensleben and

his corps

battery hauled up on the mountain, which was quickly

having shown a

spirit of sacrifice

only possible

accomplished, though with great loss and the utmost

efforts

when each
at stake

individual soldier felt conscious of what was

of

man and
to

horse.

The enemy was

at

last

on that day."
brief episode in

compelled

withdraw behind the entrenchments.

As
final

The following
ment
at

the bloody engage-

the division Laveaucoupet

made

renewed and
enemy.

Loigny, December 2nd, 1870, in which General

the

attack on the Germans,

it

was repulsed by fresh Prus-

Chanzy was defeated by

regiments.

Duke

of

Mecklenburg,

sian troops breaking into the flanks of the

The

bears witness to the bravery shown by the Hanseatic

74th regiment lost 36

officers

and 661 men on that day.

Just as Captain von Marschalk of the third

At

the battle of Vionville,

August

16th, one of the

bloodiest affairs not only of the late war, but of the century, on the

regiment of Uhlans (Brandenburg No. 3) had taken the advanced French batteries, and with them two mitrailleuses,

German

side five divisions of infantry

and

an aide-de-camp of General von der Tann gal-

two
and

divisions of cavalry, with 222 guns,

coped with a

loped up to General Tresckow asking for immediate

support, as the

superior opposing force of fifteen divisions of infantry

five divisions of cavalry,

enemy had already advanced

six

hundred

with 476 guns.

To

de-

paces toward the outer walls of Chateau Goury, where the

scribe the heroic deeds of that

memorable day would

Bavarian corps (von der Tann's) was being pressed very

hard.

exceed the scope of

tillery rivalled

this

book.

Infantry, cavalry, and ar-

Tresckow sent only three Hanseatic companies

Maurandy, which captured
a farmstead of the brigade to

each other in acts of gallantry.

The

after the division

battle at

first

comprised a series of offensive movements

;

and two guns, directing the main part

support the
led the

by the Germans afterwards

of the

it

took the form of a defence

Bavarians.

Major-General von Kottwitz

the

German
lasted

positions against a vastly superior

enemy,
corps,

76th

Hamburg regiment and

two

bat-

which

twelve
of

hours.

The

third

army

talions of the 75th regiment (Liibeck- Bremen) towards

under the command

till

General von Alvensleben, fought

its

Loigny.

noon with

its

main front against Metz,

rear

against Paris, and gave battle to two French corps.

loss of the corps

The
to

the

on that day was 310

officers

and 6,641

As if on parade, with drums beating, colors flying, and men hurrahing, the four battalions advanced upon Loigny. As they met the left wing of Bourdillon, his

men.

The

loss alone of the

52nd regiment attached

killed,

this corps
officers

was 18

officers

and 345 men

and 32

and 1,202 men wounded.

The

casualties of the

3rd Westphalian regiment No. 16, also an integral part

of the third

wing at once fell back; some columns then faced enemy and occupied the gravel-pits, but the first battalion of the Hamburg regiment drove them out at the point of the bayonet. The second battalion of the 76th
right

the

army

corps,

was 49

officers

and 1,736 men

regiment,

and the second of the 75th, now entered

killed

and wounded; the

loss of the

24th regiment was

lost

Loigny.

The

other

battalions,

in

conjunction
a full
first

with

47
41

officers

officers

and 1,099 men; the gallant 11th regiment and 1,119 men.

two Bavarian
Beauvilliers,

battalions,

coming on
at

run from

took Fougeu

the

onset,

where

17

many French were made

prisoners,
fire

and retained and

their

prisoners.

The advanced guard

(the

Brunswick

regi-

position in spite of the deadly

of shells

bullets.

ment), three squadrons and one battery, repulsed at

Rouille the eighth regiment of the Garde-Mobile, the
ter losing
lat-

hot fight raged at Loigny, the French offering a stub-

born resistance.
tary

Only

after repeated charges (the miliof the

230 prisoners.

On

January 9th,
of the 36th

at

L'Homme,

band heading the troops) were the outskirts

taken.

the

first

and second battalions

regiment suc-

village

Soon the buildings caught

fire,

the

ceeded

in driving the

enemy back over

the Brive creek

spreading flames thus narrowing the scene of action.

one battalion of the Brunswickers and the tenth battalion

of rifles repulsed the

The troops now struggled, with butt and bayonet,

looked as
if

to

French and drove them into the

reach the centre of the enemy's position, and for a time

it

woods
talions

of Bersay, with a loss of of

the

Germans would have

to

succumb.

At
bat-

50 prisoners. Five batand 92nd regiments chased the the 79th

of St.

this

moment, four Mecklenburg and one Bavarian

French out

Vincent-de-Lorouer taking 5

officers

talions rushed forward

from the southeast of Chateau

and 100 men prisoners.

having been taken.

On

the eleventh, the flanks of

Goury; and from three sides the Germans forced their way into Loigny. Only the cemetery, surrounded by a
high wall, was stubbornly defended by the enemy.
dusk, the French General Sonis advanced with
serves, of the

the tenth corps were also

endangered,

Ecommoy

not

The twentieth
and the

division

advanced

At
re-

on the great highway, protected on the right by the

tenth battalion of
rifles
first

new

battalion of the

among them

the Papal Zouaves.

At

the point

Brunswickers.
in

bayonet they stormed Loigny and carried some

the

At Mulsanne the roar of the guns direction of Le Mans was distinctly heard,
at

parts of the place.

The danger

for the brave

Germans

which moved General von Voigts-Rhetz

tack the

once to

at-

now

became imminent.

Tresckow made a
reserves,

moment General von forward movement with his entire

At
of

that

enemy

in front with the greatest possible force,

and

to effect

thereby a junction with the third army

two battalions

the

75th regiment going

corps, in action at
fication the

Le Mans.

Like the glacis of

to

a forti-

round the southern part of the village in the direcLieutenant Colonel von Bohn, with tion of Fougeu.
eight companies of the 75th, 76th, and 89th regiments,

ground over which the troops had

march

rises to the heights of

no shelter

for

Les Morts-Aures, thus affording A French battery, the advancing force.

broke in

on the

left

flank

of

the

advancing hostile

posted across the road, enfiladed the

while masked lines of
rifles

German advance,
The 17th

masses, forcing the French to retreat, with a loss of

covered the ridge.

1,100 officers

and men.

Twenty
;

officers

and
also

2,500
lost 1

regiment and the Brunswick Fusiliers however scaled

the heights,

men were taken

standard, 8 guns,

prisoners
1

the

French

and the

first

battalion of the 53rd regiment

mitrailleuse,

and 7 wagons of am-

finished the fight at the point of the bayonet.

Once more

munition.
assault.

The cemetery was surrounded and taken by

infantry
is

the defenders tried to regain the lost position, but they

were
is

That the German

obstacle,
sault
of

not to be daunted by any

as-

however
the

great,

proved by the midnight

in

received by a terrific rifle-fire, many hundred Frenchmen being made prisoners. The heights of Les fipinettes, thickly lined with riflepits and masked guns,
are

tenth

army corps
Its

the

battle

of

Le

however not taken

of the

yet.

Major von Erichsen decided

a

Mans, January 11th, 1871.

commander, General

on a surprise

enemy by

midnight attack.

In

Voigts-Rhetz, had received orders to advance on the night

of the eleventh

carrying out his project the troops silently advanced; no

rifleman, no sharpshooter, uttered a sound.
line rolled

on the Mulsanne-Vendome high road and

brigade of cavat

The long

to effect the junction of his fourteenth

on

at

two o'clock
the hill;
signal
a

in the early
far

morning towards

alry with the third corps on the

highway

Parigne.

the

summit

of

away sounding hurrah

Since January 6th, the tenth army corps had been continually beset

was
the

heard the

that

the

Germans were
an

vic-

by obstacles;

divisions

of

the

enemy,

torious.

The

assault
of

made by

the tenth corps under

which

like

themselves were eager to reach Le Mans,

its left flanks.

darkness

midnight

upon

unusual

strong
splen-

threatening

The 92nd regiment

of Bruns-

position of the enemy, could only be

made by

wickers, together with the 17th regiment, had dispersed

the

didly trained, veteran troops, which were able to find

enemy

at

Le Tertre and Les Roches and had taken 80

itself

cover

at

night,

barred

to

them

by daylight.

The

prisoners.

This former corps had distinguished

on

capture of
tion

the strong bastion on the right of the posi-

the tenth of

December while acting

Beaugency.
the
14th,

as

advance guard for

brought about the decisive result of the next day

the tenth corps at

In the fight of
of

Vend&me,

(January 12th).
Just as bravely as the Prussian regiments of the line

December

Fusilier battalion

the Bruns-

wickers, aided by two companies of the 17th regiment,

fought the infantry of the allied troops (those of the

Bavarian, Saxon, Wtlrtemberg, and Baden contingents).

took the village of Orgue.

fifth
fire

On

the sixteenth instant the

company of the 92nd regiment, by a well-directed at La Tuilerie, compelled the enemy to abandon
the tenth battalion
of

Already
rivalled

Weissenburg and Worth the Bavarians had their North-German brethren-in-arms by deeds of
at

eight of their guns;

Jitger

at-

tacked near Courtriras a wagon-train, driving back the

cavalry and a battalion of infantry which protected the

bravery and had given ample proof of their heroism. Preparatory to the decisive battle at Sedan, General von
der Tann, the commander of the
first

Bavarian army corps,

for the

column;
illeuse,

it

captured 63 of the wagons, with one mitra-

had been ordered

to

occupy Bazeilles,

purpose of

and a wagon of

ammunition, and took

100

preventing the departure of the French forces.

At four

18

o'clock in the morning the Bavarians with hurrahs en-

French divisions

of

Lartigun and Lacratelle pressed

at

tered the village, held

of the twelfth corps,

by a brigade of marine infantry and were received with a tremen-

against the eastern banks of the Givonne

Daigny.
of mitra-

Dense swarms
illeuses

of tirailleurs

and

few batteries

dous

fire.

The

street fighting lasted for six hours.

By

broke through the village and forced the Saxon

seven o'clock not half of the town was taken, the fight-

batteries to

make

temporary

retreat.

ing in some places, for instance around the Villa Beur-

The now advancing

the

battalion of Jager

however drove
fire,

mann, being especially

on the

fierce.

The French

batteries

and

enemy back by
The

a well-directed

and rapid

and the

mitrailleuses, posted north of Bazeilles,

poured a

hail of

thirteenth battalion of Jager attacked the left flank of

projectiles

Germans.
to

The gallant Bavarians

of

the enemy.

latter

captured two mitrailleuses and

having been forced

zeilles,

abandon the southern part

Ba-

one gun, whilst the sixth and seventh companies of the

107th regiment took two guns from the enemy.
right

three fresh battalions of the fourth brigade arrived

in the direc-

On

the

and drove the enemy back upon the heights

tion of Balan.

wing

of the artillery line,

now

consisting of thirteen

Villa

At Beurmann by

last

an entrance was gained to the

batteries, the

104th regiment arrived about eight o'clock,

three battalions of the 10th regiment

attacking Daigny, together with parts of the 105th and

and parts of the 13th and the defenders were captured.

107th regiments and the battalion of Jager.

fight with the

In a hard

little

after ten o'clock Bazeilles fell into the

hands of

Zouaves and Turkos, a Turko standard

the Bavarian
first

army

corps.

After
fight

its

occupation by the
for a

was captured.

On

the left

wing

of the

Saxon battle

and fourth brigade the

was continued

line the forty-sixth

brigade of infantry also took part in

while only by the artillery,

its

till

the third division

made

the battle, arriving at nine o'clock at Bazeilles.

The

appearance under orders to press forward on the botof the valley

enemy made repeated

the heights of Balan.
battalions
of

feints,

but were driven back upon

tom lands
heights.

towards Balan and the adjoining

battalions, supported

On

the arrival of the

two additional

The Bavarian
French
to

by the

first

sharpshooters

whole lowlands were

Bavarian brigade, had to retreat before the renewed

forts of the

ef-

taken by ten o'clock.

break through.

did not succeed in their design to

While the French reach beyond Balan,

five,

At

eight o'clock in the

morning the Crown Prince

Albert had given orders to the twelfth army corps, after

capturing a section of the Givonne, to advance across Illy
to the heights near Givonne, to surround, with the corps of

the Bavarians at five o'clock in the afternoon pluckily

regained the town.

ceased.

About

half-past

the

firing

The Bavarian corps camped on

the blood-stained
fire

the Guards, the enemy, so as to prevent their escape into

ground, after having been continually under

for

Belgian

territory.

This task was assigned to the twenty-

three days, and having lost 121 officers and about 2,000

third division of the twelfth

army

corps, the sixth

com-

men.
Villa

To-day only

a simple

monument on
of

the road to

pany

of

which succeeded

in

capturing two guns.

When

Beurmann reminds one

first

of the gallantry

shown by

the division marched

the Bavarians on the

short epitaph reads:

September, 1870.

The

and batteries
solid

"Here

rest

500 brave Bavarians."

up towards Daigny, the battalions enemy moved out and pushed on in ranks towards the Givonne Valley. Here a terrible
of the
in.

Of the second Bavarian

corps, situate south of Sedan,

struggle ensued

the

narrow space which environs

with orders to protect the "Great Bavarian Battery"

stationed between Frenois and Vadelincourt, the third
division suffered the considerable loss of

Daigny, Haybes, and Fond-de-Givonne.

The Saxon

Grenadiers advanced up to Fond-de-Givonne, though

they could not hold
it

87

officers

and

permanently.
first

1,829 men.

Previous to
of the line of the

this,

the

company

of the

Body-Grenaa

The regiments

Saxon (twelfth) army

the
battles
of

diers, led

by First-Lieutenant Kirchhof, had stormed some

infantry.

corps took a praiseworthy part in

the

small entrenchment west of Haybes, defended

mitrailleuses and

by two

Franco-German War.

The timely
in the

action of this corps on

St. Privat, as

August 18th resulted

been mentioned.

capture of

has

the North, which had already begun,

The movement toward was abandoned, the

As

a contingent of the

Army

of the

French gradually retreating into Sedan.

in the afternoon

At

four o'clock

Meuse, commanded by the Crown Prince Albert of Saxony, the twelfth army corps rendered eminent services at
the battle of Sedan (September 1st, 1870). three o'clock in the

the

Saxon

corps,

together with the

forty-fifth infantry

brigade and eleven batteries, gained

At

half -past

positions to the west of

sixth pressed forward to

Haybes and Daigny;

the forty-

morning

of that

day the corps had

an ad-

Givonne and the twenty-fourth

half-past four the struggle
front.

taken up position at Douzy and

at five o'clock

division to Daigny.

At

comof

vanced guard of the twenty-fourth division of infantry

menced anew on
zeilles

the

Saxon

The

last effort

had been despatched

in the direction of

La Moncelle,
in-

the French to break through

between Balan and Baforty-fifth

which place was occupied an hour

tention of obstructing the

later with the

in
its

was frustrated by the

infantry

bri-

enemy

retreat

upon
of

gade, supported by the Saxon batteries and by some of

the Guards.

Mezieres.
the
first

The opposing

forces

were the right wing

French corps (Ducrot) and the twelfth corps

Only

at sunset did the twenty-third division at

encamp

at

(Lebrun), which were stationed between

La Moncelle

Givonne and the twenty-fourth

junction with the fourth corps.

Daigny, forming a
sus-

and Bazeilles.

La Moncelle was taken after a short enAt 6:30 A. M. the 105th regiment joined in the fray. At this time the two
gagement by the 107th regiment.

The Saxon corps The French

tained a loss of 62 officers and 1,365 men, and bore a

glorious part in the decisive battle.
loss

19

included

2,000

men made

prisoners

of

war,

besides

utmost expedition and so prevented the entrance of the

eleven guns and one standard.

French
fought

infantry.

The
fies to

battle

of

Villiers-Champigny,

on the

The

assault of the

Hunting-Lodge by three Wilrtem-

thirtieth of

November and
to

the second of December, testithe

berg companies met with better success.

troops soon ousted the French,

The

assailing

the bravery

shown by

Wilrtemberg

infantry.

who

fled

towards Chambrigade,

According
the Paris
tion

news received November

in a southerly

29th, a sortie of

pigny.

staff-officer

of

the

Wiirtemberg
tho

army

or

southeasterly direcof the

being present, noticed the perilous position of the troops

fighting at Coeuilly;
at his

was contemplated.

The commander

Army

request

Wiirtemberg

of the

Meuse had

therefore received orders to support

companies wheeled about

to the right
flanks.

and attacked the

this

with

all

necessary force the Wiirtembergers, occupying

French

at Coeuilly

on the

At

moment

the

the line of Villiers-Coeuilly-Ohampigny. the thirtieth of

At dawn on
of

Saxon batteries appeared

French, unable to
loss of

to the south of Villiers.

The
with a

November

the Saxons had relieved the

resist the shock, fell to the rear

pickets of the Wiirtembergers to the north

Chamdi-

more than 2,000 men.

At two

o'clock a renewed
division

pigny.

The main part

of the latter rested at Villiers a deafening

onslaught was

made upon

Villiers

by the French

and

at Coeuilly.

Under

cannonade the

visions of
after

Faron and Malroy

of the first

French corps,

Maussion and by the division Berthaut on the neighboring quarries, both however being repulsed by the Saxons

having crossed the Marne together with the second

and the Wiirtembergers.

corps,

and having on

their left

wing the

divisions Bert-

The
Brie.

division Bellemare of the third French corps, after

haut and Maussion of the second corps, advanced towards

having effected a passage over the Marne, advanced to

Champigny.

The Saxon pickets thereupon

and the French gained

fell

back
Faron

The Saxons, threatened

in

their rear,

at

three

upon

Villiers,

at ten o'clock the

o'clock withdrew from their positions on the heights of

Brie- Villiers, and retreated towards the cemetery, north

crest of the plateau of the town.

The

division

having reached Champigny

at

dawn, the Saxon pickets

had

to fall

back upon the Hunting-Lodge.

of Coeuilly, the

While the
the utmost
at Coeuilly

French scaled the slopes

Wiirtembergers

To hinder the French from breaking through, moved at four o'clock on the plateau between Noisy and Villiers. At dusk the division Belof Villiers.

the Saxon artillery

moved forward

to the
it

Hunting-Lodge with

lemare scaled the slopes of Brie, designing to attack

Villiers.
artillery,

speed, occupying

and the entrenchments

heavy

fire

by the Saxon and Wiirtemberg

the
last

and also the splendid

destructive
position.
fire

fortifications of Villiers.

Under

however, frustrated

French

effort.

the French were driven back from this

All attempts to storm Villiers finally came to naught, with a loss of over 600 men.

General

Ducrot,

commander-in-chief,
Villiers.

now

The

infantry of the

enemy

threw his troops upon the park of

They rushed

advancing

at four o'clock

upon

the railroad

embankment,

onward with great gallantry only

terrific

to

be received with a

was

also repulsed

by

the artillery

and by the Saxon and

there.

shower

of bullets,

and to be driven back upon

regimental

Wiirtemberg companies engaged

The

loss

was and

the protecting slopes of the plateau, with a loss of 500

very heavy, that of the Germans being 66

1,627

officers

dead and wounded, including two

manders.

com-

men;

the loss of the French exceeded 4,000 men.

nevertheless, a glorious one for the Wiir-

Simultaneously with

this

movement, Bert-

The day was,

French.

haut's division failed in an attack on the south end of

tembergers, 10,000 Germans having coped with 70,000

the park and were repulsed

a loss of 400 dead and wounded.

by the Wiirtembergers with The Germans at this

The

contests of the second

day

of

time received the support of two companies and a battery, sent

a like character with those of the thirtieth of

December were of November.

Villiers

Wilrtemberg
the heights
to fall

by General von Obernitz, commander of the Further enforced by four comdivision.

Wiirtembergers stormed
;

The Wiirtemberg brigade, occupying

Hunting-Lodge, entered Champigny
the morning, taking
at

and the

seven o'clock in

panies of Saxon infantry the

many

prisoners.

The rout

of the

known

as

No. 100

but they were compelled

loss.

French toward Joinville occasioned great disorder and

almost a panic
;

back upon Villiers with a heavy

all their

The Saxons
men.
this

it

was stopped only by the resolute

alone lost

officers

and half

of their

The
time

action of General Ducrot,

who

finally

succeeded in

in-

batteries of the

French division Faron had by

fusing into the masses of his retreating soldiery some

arrived at the heights of the Hunting-Lodge, east of

sign of order and arousing the division Faron to a more

successful resistance at a ravine close to

Champigny, when shortly

attack

after twelve o'clock the general

Champigny.

by

the Wiirtembergers

was made, under orders

After having forced

With
the

like success

some Wiirtemberg companies reached

re-

from General von Reitzenstein.

neighborhood of Bois-de-la-Lande, but were

the French artillery to retreat, the troops were caught

pulsed by superior forces of the enemy.

In the fur-

by

a terrible fire

from the French chassepots.

fell,

Colonel

ther course of the fray the Saxons, fighting with great

von Berger here

ing advanced

mortally wounded.

After hav-

gallantry at Brie, suffered such heavy losses that General

with great
fifty

bravery up to within one

von Franseky was induced

to

draw nearer the

the second corps.

hundred and

meters of the enemy, the WiirtemFrightin

three divisions and the artillery of

bergers had themselves to retreat to Coeuilly.

fully

reduced though they

were,

they

succeeded

reaching the park there which they occupied with the

The Wiirtembergers, having fought since dawn at Champigny, marched to Coeuilly, where they were reThe second lieved by the infantry of the second corps.

20

Wflrtemberg brigade arrived

afternoon.

at Chennevriers

in

the

Three companies of the

fifth

Wtlrtemberg regiment
of Jager, frustrated

however fell pierced by three bullets, while his aide-decamp also was killed. Baron von Gemmingen, the commander of the 3rd regiment of dragoons, also received a
mortal wound.

and the third Wtlrtemberg battalion

the

same afternoon the

efforts of the

French
1st

to scale the

The

infantry advanced 1,500 paces

down

the sloping
his

walls of the park at Villiers.

The

Wtlrtemberg
;

banks of the Meuzin creek, each soldier leaping

way

regiment

lost in

two days 23

officers

and 580 men

lost

the

down

the descent,
halt

some 50 paces

at a time,

and

after a

second Wtlrtemberg battalion of Jager

17

officers

momentary

pushing on again.

The

last

400 paces

and 253 men

officers

the 7th

Wflrtemberg regiment

lost

19

were covered

at a run.

The cut

itself,

and, later on, the

and 413 men.

The Germans won the second

loss

defence behind the long wall on the east side of the

fight,

with a sacrifice of 156 officers and 3,373 men, dead

dep6t were taken after a terrible hand-to-hand

fight.

and wounded.
9,053 men.

The French

was 426

officers

and

On

the second of

December 30,000 GerBaden regiments

At four o'clock the enemy retreated in disorder to Nuits. The Fusiliers of the 2nd regiment then advanced against
the southern part of the town, but only with the support-

mans repulsed 90,000 French.

On December
engagement

18th (1870) the

of

ing

fire of

two batteries could they enter the place, which

given up by the defenders at
of
five o'clock.

infantry fought with a death-defying gallantry in the

at Nuits.

was

finally

On

the sixteenth of the month,

rail-

Another column
highway,
third
it

Baden

troops having arrived on the

;

General von Werder had been ordered to protect the

dashed into the town at the same moment

road lines in the rear by occupying the region of Nuits-

column took Vosne,

to the north of Nuits; a fourth

sur-Armancon and Sernur.

As

the

enemy once more

field.

tried in vain to storm the heights of

of

Chaux,

to the

west

showed

activity south of Dijon,

General Werder directed

Nuits, which were occupied

at Nuits,

by Cremer's

batteries.

General von Gltlmer again to take the

The

latter

The Badeners rested

square.

encamping

in the public

had been recently wounded but was now restored.

took
it

He

Several hundred
in the town.

rifles

and much ammunition

suffered the loss of
pris-

command

of the

Baden

division

and proceeded with

transferred his

were found
16
officers

The French
loss of the

in the direction of Dijon, while

Werder

and 1,700 men, among

whom were 650

depot or base lines to the right bank of the Sa&ne.

Gltimer
left

oners not wounded.

to 18 officers,

The

Germans amounted

Dijon on the eighteenth with the

first

and

second Baden brigades, seven squadrons, and

teries,

six bat-

and moved southward upon

different roads.

Werat the

211 men killed, and 37 officers and 656 men wounded 18 men were missing. The total German casualties were 55 officers and 885 men.
;

der himself kept with the principal column, marching

The

history of the late

war abounds

in

like

heroic

through Saulon-La-Rue and Epernay.

Already

deeds, for almost every regiment had the opportunity

by

enemy appeared, which, however, were quickly dispersed by the regiment

creek small detachments of the
of

Vouge

honorable distinction to gain the gratitude and love of

the entire

German

nation.

Body-Grenadiers forming the advanced guard.

In

Our
order.

illustrations represent Prussian

regiments of

in-

front of Boncourt, east of Nuits,

more stubborn resistance

oc-

fantry in parade uniform as well as in full marching

was encountered.

The French General, Cromer, had

cupied Nuits and Boncourt, and his batteries were posted

their dress

The Wllrtembergers who formerly differed in by the double-breasted tunic, are now known
Another picture

on the steep heights west of Nuits.

During the engage-

only by slight differences in the helmet.

ment

by rail, aggregating about 10,000 men. Shortly after noon on the same day Colonel Baron von Wechmar stormed Boncourt with a battalion of Fusiliers.

the remainder of his division arrived

represents the Bavarian infantry, distinguished

light-blue color of their uniform and
teristics of

by

the

by some charac-

The French who

by the second The six batin driv-

the helmet. The Saxon infantry is known by the red-striped binding round the tunic and by the

defended the place escaped towards the farmstead of

coat of arms on the helmet.

Since 1860, the

first

twelve

La Berchere
teries of the

this, later on,

was

also taken

infantry regiments of the line bear the designation of

battalion and two companies of Fusiliers.

Grenadiers.

As

a characteristic mark, they bear on the

Baden

artillery

were fully occupied

breast of the eagle affixed to the helmet a small oval

shield with the entwined initials F.

ing the dense masses of hostile sharpshooters from the

vicinity of the railroad

W.

R. and wear on
This
history

embankment.
of the

After a while, the

parade black horse-hair plumes in the helmet.

bulk of the troops having arrived, Gltlmer ordered the

first

mark
line,

of distinction can be traced far

back

in

and second battalions

2nd regiment

to

advance

to these regiments, since they are the oldest troops of the

in line of battle

on the right, the battalion of Fusiliers beleft.

and were created

at the reorganization, in 1808, out

ing posted on the

Gltlmer then extended the right

of the 3rd regiment,

of the old regiments

which then in part went out of

wing by sending out two companies

while
left five

existence.

squadrons of dragoons meanwhile flanked the

of the

Besides these regiments four other regiments of the

Prussian Guards (Emperor Alexander, Emperor Franz,

enemy near Quincey. A general assault was now ordered by General Gltlmer, in which the General and Prince William of Baden were wounded. Werder now assumed the command, Colonel von Renz
wing
taking the place of Prince William.

Queen

Elisabeth, and

Grenadier regiments.
of the Foot-Guards

Queen Augusta) bear the name of The first and second battalions
and
of the just

named regiments

Von Renz,

himself

of infantry Nos. 1 to 12 are designated battalions of

21

Grenadiers and wear white leather belts and straps.

THE GERMAN CAVALRY

The remaining infantry wear black leather belts and The name Grenadier regiments is also common straps.
to the

two Saxon regiments, Nos. 100 and 101

;

to

two

Wiirtemberg regiments, Nos. 119 and 123

to

two

Baden regiments Nos. 109 and 110; and

lenburg regiment, No. 89.

to

one Meck-

In the infantry

the

armed
is

foot-soldier represents the

combatant; the cavalryman

thirteen regiments of

only equal to his task when

in

There are
Fusiliers

in the

German army

he

is

in

the saddle.

The great expense incurred

and one of equal rank (Royal Saxon), the

In Prussia Fred-

supplying and maintaining the mounts, necessarily limits

the cavalry of

regiment of Schiitzen (sharpshooters).

erick I formerly

had

guard

any army

to a

fraction of the

whole.

of

Fusiliers

Frederick

the Great created, in 1773, five regiments of Fusiliers;

in 1808 every Prussian regiment received a battalion of

The

tasks of the cavalry in war time are various and

;

manifold

among
position,

these

are

the

reconnoitring of the
surprise
all

Fusiliers, each of

which was especially trained to fight

This special service however
"Fusiliers" was
fell

enemy's

guarding

against

by

the

in skirmishing lines.

enemy, establishing and

munications,
solid
forces.

maintaining
entering
the

army comin

into
for

disuse,

but the name

battalion,

retained
leather

and,

finally,

battlefield

the

third

these

wearing

black

array with

the

purpose of crushing the hostile

is

belts

and
the

straps.

By

an imperial decree, of January,

belts

matter of the utmost importance

to
is

the re-

1889,

white

leather

and straps of the

in-

connoissance, which falls

the duty of the cavalry.

fantry were abolished, except in the case of the afore-

This branch of the service

the

rightly called "the eyes of

to
veil

named

battalions of the four regiments of Foot-Guards

of

army."

Its

mission

is

the the

army's

movere-

and the twelve regiments

are called "Fusiliers."

Grenadiers.

Since then

ments from the enemy, while

porting those of the
latter,

at

same time

only the third battalion of the aforenamed regiments

and

this

with the utmost

is

The above mentioned Saxon regiment of Schiitzen (sharpshooters), which bears the regular number of 108,
is

speed and certainty.

training of the

Special attention

paid to the

German cavalryman
The

in such a
his

manner

the only infantry regiment wearing a green uniform

a shako.

that he learns to observe

and report

observations
larger

and

An

identical uniform, but with white but-

quickly and accurately.

reconnoitring

responsibility of

tons, is

In the

common to the Saxon battalion of Jiiger (rifles). German army the word "Schiitzen" is synony"Jiiger."

parties will, in
officer;

almost every instance, be

borne by an

but cavalry patrols, consisting of

officer

mous with
ence at the

The formation

of

special regi-

only one noncommissioned

and

few

privates,

ments, battalions, and companies of Schiitzen

first

half of the century

in exist-

have proven equal

to the

most

difficult tasks.

The

late

is

not any longer

the battalion

war demonstrated

that the

German cavalryman

not only

customary
of

in

the

Prussian

army,

only

knows how

to ride, but that he possesses the qualities

the

Guards-Schiitzen

(rifles)

retaining
is

the
elite

above
body,

of resoluteness, coolness, courage bordering

on rashness,

name.

The Saxon regiment

of Schiitzen

an

adroitness, cleverness,

and the proper

reference

spirit of self-denial.

recruited from superior social material.

The

horse-hair
is

As an
an

instance of

this,

may be made

to the

plume, fastened to the

parade ornament, but

left side of the

shako,

not a
officer of the

bold reconnoitring expedition

a

part of

the regular uniform.

The shako

is

usually provided with a black cover.

The

made by Count Zeppelin, Wiirtemberg general staff, in company

Wechmar, Baron von
Villiers,

Jiiger can trace

back the history

of their organization to

with three Baden officers of the 2nd regiment of Dragoons, Winsloe, Baron von

the year 1740.

lished a

At

that time Frederick the Great estabof

detachment of 00 men, consisting

1795 a regiment
of Jiiger of

trained
of

and three privates.

It

was undertaken from the advance

in Alsace, in

foresters; in

was formed,
at

guard near Hagenbach,

the direction of the little

which a part was taken prisoners

1806.

war

Liibeck in

Hagenau and Niederbronn.

galloped, swinging

On July 24th

band

At

present the Prussian foresters serve with the

their sabres with hurrahs, first

through

battalions of Ja'ger, the latter receiving

by the above

Lauterburg, the border-town of Alsace, situated near the

Rhine.

regulation splendid recruiting material and a good corps

of

At Neuweiler,

half a mile southeast of the former

noncommissioned

officers.

The Prussian
in

battalions

place, they encountered a

French
at

patrol, consisting of a
fire.

of Jiiger, together with the battalion of

Guards- Jiiger

gendarme and

a lancer,

who

once opened

The

and Guards-Schiitzen are fourteen

distributed unequally

number, and are

gendarme, missing
afterwards released

his aim,
;

was taken prisoner but was

among

the different

army

corps.

the lancer, after having

wounded

Like the infantry they are equipped and trained under

the

same rules

of drill

and exercise with the gun.

is

In

Zeppelin's horse, was put hors de combat.

They found

regard to marksmanship more

required of these troops.

the Selzbach, about three-quarters of a mile to the south,

thinly lined with cavalry.

Bavaria has two battalions of

Jiiger,
;

Saxony has
all

three,

Turning, therefore, to the

and Mecklenburg one battalion

but

of

them contain
Prussian

westward, and approaching the town of Hundsbach, one

fewer foresters in their ranks than do the

battalions.

and a quarter miles south

of

Weissenburg, they cut

22

the

telegraph

wires

connecting Hagenau with Stras-

advanced along the highway

suit of the

of

Nancy-Strasburg
at

in purthis

burg.

The

riders then reached the watering-place of

French army, defeated

Worth.
to

At

Niederbronn, north of Reichshofen, occupied by Chasseurs of the 12th regiment.

moment
The
with

a small cavalry patrol

was ordered

recon-

Sabre in hand they gal-

noitre the country on the right side of the highway.

little

loped at full speed through the place and passed the

night at the Scheuerlenhof, a farmstead south of Reichshofen.

troop trotted gaily along, between hills clad

vine,

wood and

and reached the village

to

of

Buchs-

The clergyman

of

Niederbronn having informed

weiler.

The place seemed

;

be occupied by large

General Bernis, commander of a brigade belonging to

Failly's

detachments of the enemy

their exit
tinels,

nevertheless, the patrol

made

corps and consisting of the 5th regiment of

raid,

from the town

they

at a point

guarded by two sen-

Hussars and the 12th regiment of Chasseurs, of the

the

whom

made

prisoners.

The leader

of the

French surrounded the farmstead while the German

were
at breakfast.
first

patrol sent the captives under escort of a hussar back to

riders

Wechmar, looking
but

after the

the squadron riding in the rear.

Not being

satisfied

horses,
into

was the

to espy the

enemy; the others rushed

fierce

with

this

coup de main, the leader dashed, with

his hus-

the

yard, where a short

a

fray ensued.
officer,

sars brandishing their sabres,

back into the town, which

Wechmar dropped
bullets.

French noncommissioned

was now densely

filled

with soldiers.

Reaching the

and another French lieutenant received two revolver

Winsloe, however, was laid low, while Wechin the side
;

public square, our daring riders rushed upon some infantry, gathered in panic-stricken groups,

which sought

mar was wounded

Villiers

was injured

in

shelter in the houses.

ter of necessity, the

speedy retreat became a matrallying

the nose, and he and

Wechmar were

taken prisoners,

enemy

upon

their front

and

together with the dragoons.

a horse

Zeppelin alone, dragging

officer,

also firing
ers

from the houses.

But

as quickly as the troop-

along which he had captured from an

had arrived, as quickly they disappeared before the

cut

his

way through

the

enemy.

Followed by the
pace towards

eyes of the dumbfounded French, having secured valuable information for their captain.

French chasseurs, he galloped

the frontier, where he the

at a furious

was welcomed with cheers by

On December
ment
of

11th, 1870, the 1st Hanoverian

regi-

exultant

Germans.

The pluck

of the

little

band

Uhlans sent from Courville

noncommissioned

a patrol, consisting

impressed Marshal Leboef so forcibly that he invited the

of an officer, a

officer,

and four uhlans,

its

two captive

officers to

dine with him and treated them

with the purpose of reconnoitring Le

urbs.

Mans and

sub-

with the -utmost courtesy.

of the

Winsloe, unfortunately, died

the fight.

The
to

patrol rode through Champront, leaving the

wounds received during

discover the

highway
garrisoned

the

right.

Having been

fired

upon by

To
at

strength of the

troops

franctireurs in the woods, they turned about

and reached
arrived
at

Bitsch, Lieutenant

von Miinchhausen, of the 13th

Nogent-le-Rotron,

La Ferte-Bernard, and

regiment of Schleswig-Holstein Dragoons, crossed the

frontier
at

Conneray, close to Le Mans.

Coming

in contact with

night with a platoon of horse and posted

the enemy's pickets, they ascertained that about 15,000

soldiers of the

them

in the adjoining

woods.

At

the

same time he

sta-

Garde-Mobile were in position before Le

having rested for a time
at

tioned a private on the top of a

hill

overlooking the sur-

Mans.

The

patrol, after

rounding country, from which he was enabled to observe

the French
ress.

Le Fert^-Bernard

to feed their horses, returned

by a

camp and

the principal

gateway

of the fort-

circuitous road in order to evade the enemy,

and safely
the saddle

Wearing

a waterproof cloak

and cap, he himself

French pickets.

reached

its

regiment.
six in the

They had been

morning
till

in

stole

through the

not

overwatchful

from half-past

three o'clock on the

Penetrating the camp, he put on his helmet and called

out at the top of his voice
:

following morning, and had covered during these nineteen hours twenty-three
miles.

"Long
the

live his

Majesty, the
in a scorn-

German

or ninety-three English

king of Prussia!" Wheeling about, he saluted

ful

way and

rode- off

mocking

amazed crowd, but

bullets that

On
ment

the

morning

of

November

24th, 1870, the 6th regi-

unharmed by the numerous chassepot

whistling after him.

came
the

of Cuirassiers despatched

from Neuville-aux-Bois,

By

the discharge of the

;

rifles

near Orleans, a patrol of ten horse on a reconnoitring

expedition towards Chateaudun.

whole camp became alarmed

of troops
this

at the

same time a number

fortress.

They were ordered

if

to

and a battery marched out of the

the private

In

draw
it.

close to the latter

patrol,

town and,
fired

possible, to enter
at

way
the

was enabled

to give a fair estimate

The
it

though

upon

every village

of

garrison's

strength.

He

informed

his

daring
there

which

passed, rode along without taking any notice,

lieutenant of having seen

more troops gathered

according to their instructions.

The bridge over

The

the

than

at

any autumn

manoeuvre.

Hence they must

Loire, situated on the highway, they discovered was held

have numbered about 20,000 men, the corps being that

of General Failly.

by

a strong

detachment

of the

enemy.

patrol there-

fore forded the stream south of

Chateaudun and reached

troops,

On August

7th, 1870, the third

2,

squadron of the sec-

the town proper.

It

was crowded with regular

Garde-Mobile

ond Body-Hussars No.

under Captain von Zastrow,

besides some

of

the

and

franctireurs,

23

also with

some

artillery

and cavalry.

Returning, the

thrice

made by

the divisions of Gallifet and Margueritte

of the

patrol found the passage over the Loire again blocked,

at Floing,

were foiled by the steadfastness

opposing

compelling them once more to cross the stream.

next village to be passed was held by

The

German
to

troops.

When

the division Liebert

commenced
to

many

franctireurs,

waver, Ducrot

summoned General Margueritte

whose

fire inflicted

on the patrol a

loss of four

men and

make an

assault with his cavalry division in the direction

five horses.

To

rest the

fagged animals and exhausted

of

of Floing.

Margueritte having been mortally wounded

men, the night of the 24th-25th

in the adjacent

November was passed

of the next
close

while reconnoitring in the neighborhood, General Gallifet

woods.

At dawn

day the

took

command
1st

of the horse, the troopers calling out

:

remnant
skirts of

of the patrol once

more rode

up

to the out-

at the top of their voices

"

Go ahead revenge
!

the

Gen-

Chateaudun, again gathering valuable informa-

eral!"

The

regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique, with-

tion about the

enemy, and returned

to their

regiment at

out waiting for further orders, dashed madly upon the

noon

of the following day.

German
illustrate the great

lines.

Gallifet, with a farewell to his officers,

These examples, selected from a number of similar exploits

put himself

at the

head of the 3rd and 4th regiments

performed by German troopers,

of Chasseurs d'Afrique, followed (the 1st regiment of Hussars

by

the brigade Tilliard

difficulty

and

risk of reconnoitring, the

duty of which, as

and the 6th of Chasseurs

we have
service

said, falls

upon the

cavalry.

For

this particular

d'Afrique), the brigade Lavaresse (the 1st and 7th regi-

special

formations of " Meldereiter" (troopers

ments

of Lancers),

and

also

by

several other squadrons

carrying information) also

named "Mounted Jager"

are

of cavalry.

hurricane of riders, 4,000 in number,

sac-

employed, according to a recent imperial decree.

are

They
of

swept down the slope towards Floing, only to

rifice

independent mounted detachments, composed

themselves as they did at Worth.

lines,

Before they
disorder;
rifle

specially trained
ligence.

men

of superior physique

and

intel-

reached the German

bullets

they

fell into

Such detachments
officers,

of "Meldereiter," comprisofficers

and

shell crashed into their ranks,

throwing the

ing four

twelve noncommissioned

and

riders into confusion;

but they wildly dashed upon a

ninety-six men, are, as yet, to be found with only a few

battery of eight guns.

The men who served

the pieces

army corps

;-

though they are henceforth

to

be established
into a special

defended themselves with their side-arms and sponges.

in all imperial

army corps and developed

The
tain
fire.

fifth

company

of the

Weimar

regiment, under Capriders

branch of service.
ently, the

They

are to be recruited independ-

von Schellenbiihel, repulsed the

Attacked in the rear by the

by

its

rapid

troopers being liable to a service of three

is

cuirassiers, the

com-

years.

Each detachment

to consist of

800 horse.

pany faced about and drove them back.

lines of the Hessians
at

The skirmishing

In open battle, either in an engagement with infantry

and Nassauers were broken through

companies
in the rear dispersed

and

artillery or with horse, the cavalry

is

employed

in

some

points, but the

larger or smaller force, according to circumstances.

As

the bulk of the French horse with well-directed volleys,

general thing,

it

may be

asserted that a charge of cavalry

little

many

falling

down

the steep heights to destruction in

against well-disciplined intact infantry has

or no
at-

the stone-quarries.

Two

squadrons of cuirassiers broke

chance.

The chances

of success

would be better in an

through the Prussian infantry lines and charged two

squadrons of the 18th Hussars.

tack

made on

artillery or

on infantry having fallen into

Major von Griesheim

disorder.

In the late war the French cavalry met with

its

faced them with two platoons and attacked them with

the other platoons on their right flank
;

only very slight success, in spite of

most heroic

efforts.

they then fled

At

the battle of Worth,

August

6th, 1870,

McMahon

towards Floing, where the remainder were either captured or killed.

ordered the cuirassier regiments of the brigade Michel

As badly

fared the

lancers

in

their

and Nansouty's regiment

of Lancers to attack the ad-

attack on the 83rd regiment; they overran the skirmish-

vancing infantry of the eleventh army corps (HessianNassau-Thuringian).

ing
at

lines,

but succumbed to the rapid

fire

of the infantry

With
:

a death-defying spirit the

distance of thirty paces.

Other squadrons were

regiment and the

regiments led the charge

ing columns were the
the lancers.
parts of the
corps,

in the first line of the attack-

annihilated
fifth

by the

fire

of the 46th

cuirassiers, in rear of

whom were

battalion of Jager.

The tremendous shock was

32nd and 80th regiments
of the

directed against
of the eleventh

The second cavalry charge was directed against the

same troops
as those attacked

by the
scaled

first.

Three comheights

and the pioneers

same

corps.

Without

panies of JSger, having just

the

near

forming any squares the infantry received the assailing

Floing, a squadron of cuirassiers dashed upon their left

French cavalry indiscriminately. The

well-directed,

effect of the steady

wing and by

also on the 46th regiment, and

were followed
cuirassiers

and rapid

fire

was

terrific.

The

three

several

squadrons

of

chasseurs.

The

French regiments were annihilated

having reached the infantry
In

in short order, without

were almost swept

to the left.

off the field,

while the chasseurs fled

line at all.

A troop
their

of

French hussars found themselves

much

the

same way, on the

1st of

September, 1870,

opposed

in

advance by some German infantry

left

at the battle of

Sedan, the stupendous cavalry charges,

they then wheeled round the

wing, but the

German

/A

; ;

rifles,

turning about

checked their further progress

of the hussars

and
shell

that of the 9th regiment

in front

they had to face

and

in a

moment most

succumbed, the

and shrapnel.

Of the

first

battery only two pieces

this

remainder escaping towards the lowlands.

Before the third attack, Gallifet remonstrating with

had time

to limber up,

but before

happened the

cui-

rassiers fell

upon them

like a hurricane.

Ahead
of

of all

Ducrot against the unavailing

latter replied:

sacrifice of the riders, the

was Schmettow, with Lieutenant Craignish

at his side,

Campbell

"Sacrifice the horse

by

all

means

for the

and

noncommissioned

officer.

Schmettow
ser-

honor of our arms!"

"Well

then," answered Gallifet,

is

unhorsed the French major, while Campbell and the

geant put another
officer
;

"we

shall

charge as long as a rider

his

left,"

and

off

he
the

hors de combat.
the "wild

In the battery

dashed with
front, their

men.

But before they could reach

fire

everything was laid low

hunt" dashed against

ranks were broken by the

of

two Ger-

the infantry of Lonnay's brigade, formed in two columns,

man

batteries, which, reaching the

shells

summit
of

of the hill,

on the side of which was a battery.

rode

The

cuirassiers
fire;

poured their

into the flanks

the

advancing
horse

down

the front column, breaking through their

French
fell in

riders.

In the ensuing turmoil

man and

the uhlans

closing up, the battery was captured and

flight

a blood-weltering mass;

the remainder escaped

everything that did not take to

was cut

to pieces.

into the

Garenne woods and on towards Oazal.

In the

The second
after an

line of the

French was now attacked.

Here,

three charges the French lost 83 officers

and 709 men

advance of three thousand paces, the small body

the generals Girard and Tilliars were also killed.

King

of horse

was surrounded on

all sides, first

by

the division

William,

who

closely

watched the

fight,

exclaimed:

Forton and the division Valabregue breaking forth from

an opening in the woods.
cuirassiers (the 10th) fell

"Alas, the brave

men!"

as he observed the repeated,

Two

squadrons of the French

of

but

fruitless, attacks of the

feat,

French troopers.

upon the rear

Schmettow's

The
failed,

however, in which the French cavalry had

riders, the 7th Cuirassiers fell

on their flanks, the brigade

in front, fol-

both at

Worth and

at

Sedan, was accomplished

Murat

of the

Dragoons threw themselves

at Vionville,

on August I6th, 1870, by the death-defying

lowed by Valabregue's Chasseurs and Hussars, 3,100

horse against 800 of the six squadrons.

valor and self-sacrificing spirit of the

German

cavalry.

The German

infantry, the strength of

which had been

The exhausted

riders

had now

to cut their

way

back.

reduced to a minimum by incessant assaults made by

vastly superior French forces, and lasting for hours,
at Vionville at the point of

After rally had been

sounded, General

von Bredow

was

retreated a short distance to the valley of Rezonville,

succumbing.
at
this

The

cavalry,

then wheeled about to the right.

Schmettow's aide-de-

under General von Bredow,

orders
to

juncture received

camp
shot

fell

from

his horse

wounded, one trumpeter was

after

ride

down

the French.

"You must break

General von

down, Captain von Heister was unhorsed

through at the woods, General!" were the instructions

delivered by Colonel von Voigts-Rhetz.

receiving thirteen wounds.

Campbell

tried to wrest a

standard from the French cuirassiers and was rescued

Bredow
the

replied:

"I

shall

break through the infantry at

only by the most heroic efforts of his men.

Count von

woods?"

"Certainly," was the reply:

"We

have

Kalckreuth received

fifteen

wounds, Major von Dollen

already taken the village and cannot draw close to the

was unhorsed and taken

of

prisoner, while Captain

Mayer

woods the
;

fate of the battle

depends on your cleaning

the cuirassiers
its

was

killed.

The brigade, however,

the batteries previously

up everything

that yet stands along the road.

You

forced

way back through

must attack, and that most energetically!"

General von

ridden down, and through the columns of infantry which followed them up and fired several volleys into them.

Bredow looked

at his riders

and

at the route to

be taken

he knew that only a few of his brave

men would

return.

Unpursued by
Vionville.

the enemy, however, they arrived

beyond
and

Into two orders of battle his columns were formed: in the

first

The wounded and unhorsed

by
Schmettow ordered the

riders,

were three squadrons

of the

Magdeburg regiment
the left

those detained
to surrender.

the exhaustion of their horses, had

first

of Cuirassiers, led

by Count von Schmettow, on

of the

trumpeter

wing along the border

woods

and

in the

second
of

whom

he met to sound the regimental signal.

The
its

were three squadrons of the Altmarkische regiment

trumpet was found to be pierced by a bullet, and

Uhlans No.

16, led

by Major von Dollen, on the right

sound was

like that of a dirge, penetrating to the very

wing, one hundred paces to the rear; the gallant Bredow

with his
staff

marrow

of the bones.

Of eleven platoons

of cuirassiers
officers

keeping about

in line

with the cuirassiers.

only three could be mustered, consisting of seven

With loud hurrahs

the six squadrons started on a trot,

left in the valley.

and seventy men, and

uhlans.

six officers

and eighty men of the

wheeling about to the

Traversing the

Later on

it

was ascertained that the Cuirassiers

slope they deployed to the right.

After having reached

had
lost

lost 7 officers,

189 men and 209 horses, the Uhlans

of the total force
officers in-

the plateau, they rode at breakneck speed against the

batteries of Tixier

officers,

174 men and 200 horses;

left

and those

of the

sixth corps,

and
re-

of

800 men, 363 were

dead

or

wounded,

against the division of Lafont de Villiers.

They

cluded.

The

sacrifice of the gallant

in vain, a

band

of heroes had,

ceived on the

left

the chassepot

fire

of Tixier's infantry

however, not been made

breathing spell having

25

been accorded to the almost exhausted Brandenburg

infantry.

under Major von Trotha, followed by the fourth squadron of the second Dragoon-Guards.

They drew somehalf to the left

Another successful charge

the French infantry

of the

German

cavalry on

what

to the right

and wheeled about

was effected

in the afternoon of the

towards Montagu's brigade of Hussars.

Barby's brigade appeared, wheeling to the

In the rear
left

same day.

Again the
critical

situation of the

German army had

around

become

one after the onset of the brigade

it

Mars-la-Tour, followed by the 4th Westphalian Cuirassiers,

Wedell, and again

bring
relief.

fell

to the lot of the cavalry to

the 13th Hanoverian Uhlans, and the 19th Olden;

At

six o'clock

General von Brandenburg

to

burg Dragoons

in the

second rear column were the 16th

and General von Rheinbaben received orders

reckless charge.

make

Hanoverian Dragoons and the 10th Magdeburg Hussars.

Colonel von Auerswald, accompanied

led forth three squadrons of
at a trot to attack the

As

the 3,000

German horsemen,

after

having reached

by Count von Brandenburg,

the
first

the heights north of Mars-la-Tour, sighted the enemy,

Dragoon-Guards, going

they broke forth in triumphal cheers: "There they are,

there they are!"

right flank of the French.

In the face of the enemy's

they cried.

The Schleswig-Holstein
and dashed upon
cheers.

galling

fire,

Auerswald rushed upon the 13th regiment

brigade Bellecourt, the Dragoons breaking

Dragoons, waiting majestically for the charge of Montagu's brigade of Hussars, delivered
the enemy, sabre in
fire

of Grenier's

through and riding down a part of the French infantry.

hand and with deafening

terrible pell-mell

ensued around the eagles, and from

terrible conflict ensued, the small horses of the

French

all sides

the projectiles crashed into the dragoons; but

being run over by the heavy German steeds.

The French

the 57th regiment (brigade

Wedell)

effected its retreat

succeeded in breaking through, only to be received and

cut to pieces

over the highway, the enemy's infantry being compelled

to

by

the

Magdeburg
prisoner.

Hussars.

General von

countermarch through the ravine.

Of

the

Dragoonfive

Montagu was taken

The squadrons separated;

at-

Guards, who rallied in the rear of the batteries,

of

out

wheeling about, the Dragoons also took part in the

tack.

thirteen officers

were

killed, the

remainder being

General Legrand now rushed forward with the

;

wounded, while 125 men and 220 horses were disabled.

French Dragoons

the

first

squadron of the Oldenburg

of

Here many

of the Prussian nobility,

worthy of their an-

Dragoons
as

fell

upon them, most

riders

them being unhorsed,

saddles.

cestors, laid

down

their lives: Colonel

von Auerswald,

only

sixty

kept
;

their

But

the

who, though mortally wounded and compelled to surrender his

lern,

French

shock

was checked

furious

hand-to-hand

command

to

Captain the Prince Hohenzol-

encounter took place.

cut
to

General Legrand's riders were

;

cheered the King.

Major von

Kleist, Captain the

of Reuss,

pieces

by

the Oldenburgers

the Hanoverian
victorious.

Count Westarp, Prince Henry

XVII

Count

Dragoons

also closing up, the

left

Germans were

von Wesdehlen, one Schwerin, one Flemming, and the

On
fell

from the extreme

swept the 13th Uhlans and

the
fifth

two brothers von Tresckow, were among the

slain.

on the flank

of

the Empress' Dragoons,

In the meantime, the second regiment of Chasseurs

d'Afrique
attacked, from the north, the
battery, protected
in
left

squadron of the second Dragoon-Guards moving against

flank of

them from another quarter.

leader of

Colonel von Schack, the

mounted Guards'

front

by the

the Hanoverian Uhlans, rode deep into the

fell.

fourth squadron of the Dragoon-Guards.

Captain von

ranks of the enemy, where he

The bulk

of the

Hindenburg

of the

Guards faced the four squadrons of

Chasseurs d'Afrique rushed upon the Hanoverian Uhlans, but at

this

the enemy; of his 140

men 67 were

laid low,

Hinden-

moment

the Westphalian Cuirassiers broke

burg being one

of them; but the battery

was saved, and

into the Chasseurs in a

wedge-shaped mass, the Hano-

could proceed to Mars-la-Tour.

The Dragoon-Guards

verian Dragoons also attacked them on flank and rear.

were relieved by the 13th (Schleswig-Holstein) regiment

of

The

earth trembled under the stamping

of

the 6,000

Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Count Finkenstein.

to

horse,

man fought

against

man

with long sword, sabre,

the furious melee
first

The Chasseurs d'Afrique were repulsed and pursued

the heights of Ville sur Yron.

carbine, and revolver.

last
;

Not long did

the enemy's horsemen extricating themselves,

There now appeared on the open ridge of Ville sur

one by one, then in squads, and soon the whole mass

escaped, disappearing like a huge cloud of dust in a
northerly direction, pursued

Yron

a large force of

French cavalry.

Ladmirault led
Bareil's division,

forth the Chasseurs d'Afrique of

Du

by

the

German

riders to the

the cavalry division

Legrand and the brigade Garde de

about to the

woods
field

of Bruville.

The trumpets sounded

enemy.

the rally, the

France upon the plateau stretching towards the Yron

creek.

was cleared

of the

The regiments drew up

on to Puxieux.

He wheeled

left

and then advanced

and returned

to Mars-la-Tour, later

The
fol-

to the right in four

compact masses overlapping each

Montagu's Hussars forming the
side the cavalry forces

Schleswig-Holstein Dragoons covered the retreat,

other, the brigade of

lowed

at a considerable distance

by Clerembault's French

van.

On

the

German

drawn up

troopers.
stein

Of the second Dragoon-Guards, Count Finkenfallen

;

between Trouville and Puxieux started

in front

to give battle:

had

Colonel von Schack of the Hanoverian

in the battle,

were the 13th (Schleswig-Holstein) Dragoons

Uhlans was killed

and

his

body was not

26

recovered for some time.

officers

The Oldenburgers

lost

13

German

cavalry, Major-General von Specht, a prominent

and 104 men.

carbine,

military author,
"

comments upon

it

as follows

The German cavalryman, being armed with a

and trained
to its use,
is

at the

same time
is

qualified for

With

the lance of the

Roman

legionary the side of the

the duties of a foot-soldier.

in the use of firearms

He

thoroughly drilled
in the duties of

and well versed

the tirailleur and picket service.

The cavalry

carbine,

model
shorter

'88,

now

also

known

as rifle '91, is
rifle
it

somewhat

and lighter than the infantry

of '88, with

was pierced. In commemoration of this the Holy Lance of Longinus was incorporated with the consecrated arms, and the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the festival of the arms of Christ festum armorum Christi. "This weapon is a primeval one. Armed with the spear of pointed wood, provided by progressive skillfulcrucified Christ

a sight adjusted to 1,317 yards; otherwise

has the con-

ness with a point of sharpened horn, bone, or

flint,

the

struction
the

and

calibre of the

infantry

rifle,
it

and
is

uses

same ammunition.

In light warfare

the duty

of the

German

cavalry to seize and carry

surprise
;

off

outposts of

the

enemy by

to destroy telegraph lines in the

went forth to kill the game for his sustenance, or to ward off animals of pre_y. With the bronze-headed spear the Persians and Greeks fought at Marathon, and provided with an iron point was the hasta and the later lancea, besides the sword, the main
of the stone-age

man

enemy's country; to blow up viaducts and bridges; and

to

weapon

of the

Roman

armies.

Under

the clash of the

do the foraging.

For the purpose

of destroying teleis

lances the Visigoths chose their king on the battlefield

graph and railroad connections the German cavalry

provided with the necessary tools and explosives.
not alone
is it their

while to the Franks the 'King's Lance' was the symbol

of sovereignty
;

the

Holy Lance with

the imperial sword

But
inter-

duty

to

wreck the means of

it is

being the coronation insignia of Charles the Great. "Since the time of Alexander the Great's lancers
sophores,' the

'Sari-

course in a hostile country, but

reconstruct,

also their
lines

duty

to

lance was pre-eminently the

weapon

of

where necessary, telegraph

bridges.

and erect
is

new and temporary

cavalry in the open

Of much moment

the

laying of telegraph lines, performed by detachments of

field.

Several riders provided with

coils of wire gallop ahead,

followed by others carrying

the necessary material, including insulators.

Stopping

was used by the knights at the tournaments, those warlike games of times of peace, and on the battlefield especially was it used by the knightly crusaders, the retinue of each being termed so many It remained the chief weapon throughout the lances.' Middle Ages in the pike of the foot-soldier (Pikeniers) and in the spear of the Spear-riders (Spiessers) and
the cavalry;
it
; '

every hundred yards, a lance

the wire
is

is

thrust in the

ground and

Kyrissers (Cuirassiers).

fastened thereon.

As

a matter of course,

"With

the

decay of chivalry and the introduction of

lance disappeared from the army.
it

trees, stakes,

and the
is

like, if

near by, serve the same

the whole

purpose.

This

continued

till

work

is

done,

and that within

a very short time.

The

construction of
little

Gusfrom the Swedish cavalry, his example being followed by most of the European Powers. With the Slavs, however, as with the Cossacks,
firearms, the

tavus Adolphus banished

a temporary bridge also takes surprisingly

it

time

it

continued to be the national weapon, the Polish cavalry

skill in its use.
'

is

accomplished by laying across the stream a sawn

trestle,

showing great prowess and

poleon
I his

After their

wood

or in an emergency by the throwing across

model, Frederick the Great created his

Bosniaks,' Nainsti-

of two lances, or
of tin or

by the laying down

Lancers; in Austria the Uhlans were

of hollow cylinders

tuted and their numbers gradually increased.

the continual improvement of firearms,

But by

aluminium.
as,

The cavalry does not need these

it

by the steady

bridges,

under favorable circumstances,

merely

increase of infantry, and their efficiency and usefulness

in battle, the

crosses the streams

by swimming the
Drills
for

horses, even in the

case of large detachments.

for

on an extensive scale
this feat

and

its

power

employment of cavalry in actual fighting The of attack seemed greatly reduced.

so fully demonstrated that the value

training

man and
all

horse

take place

necessity of the cavalry being provided with an accuratefiring

annually at

weapon was

the depots of cavalry regiments.

is

The German cavalry

distinguished as Cuirassiers,

Uhlans, Hussars, and Dragoons.

While

the existence of

these various classes of the fighting service cannot be

called an absolute necessity, especially since the drill,
tactics,

dwindled into insignificance, though the Uhlan had gained fame by his menacing lance during the Franco-German war of 1870-71. "But, on Emperor William II ascending the throne, a Being himself a splenthorough innovation took place.
of the side-arm relatively

and employment

of the different regiments in

historical tradition

did cavalryman, he recognized the importance of the

lance as the 'queen' of weapons, and in 1889 the equip-

war have become uniform,

and

differ-

ment

of the entire cavalry with the lance, previously used

ence in the uniforms favor and justify the retention of

this classification.
is

The

principle of unity in the cavalry

only by the Uhlans, was ordered. Unchanged in its measurement, the wooden shaft buried a thousand years

absolutely followed in the

German army and

is

exem-

in the remains of the pile-workers

was about ten

feet

plified

by

their arms, of a uniform pattern, consisting

of the lance, with a small flag

colors, the carbine, sabre,

showing the provincial

and long sword

the

heavy

the German lance now weighs three pounds nine inches. ten Originally ounces, with length and made wood, the Austrian weapon was of the French kings' bamboo from Tonkin, the German
long,
a of
feet five

of

ash,

of

straight sabre of the cuirassiers.

The lance having been

lance

is

now

a tube,

made
its

of rolled steel-plate.
flag,

The

introduced as the uniform thrusting-weapon in the eatire

weapon

carries

below

head a small

showing the

27

provincial colors, and

tinction of the

is

adorned with an eagle, as the

officers.

dis-

side,

and towards the ground, the hand pushes forward

noncommissioned

Thus the lance

the lance, which hangs on the arm, strongly and with a

represents the uniform

its

weapon of the German cavalry, weapons being acknowledged by some and disputed by others. "The advantage of the lance in single combat and in
superiority over other

burrowing motion. "After thorough preparatory exercises on

foot, calcu-

lated to strengthen the muscles of the arm,

and daily

the pursuit of an enemy, either on foot or on horseback,

is

repeated during the entire service of the cavalryman, This is so systhe training on horseback commences.
tematically increased, that the horseman, riding at full
gallop, can strike any stationary or advancing object with
is able, at the same time, to cope two or more adversaries, either on horse or on foot, and armed with lance, sword, and bayonet. Thus the lance, handled every day easily and play-

undoubtedly great, and the shock of a

forest of lances,
It
is,

striking in appearance, seems to be irresistible.

however, claimed that the excitement of

completely excludes
proper
full

man and man

horse

never-failing skill, and

in the rider a correct

judgment and
riding at

successfully with

command
is is

of the situation; that the

speed

liable to miss his aim, and, fearing to be

unhorsed,

unable to thrust with the necessary force.

it is

fully,

becomes a

terrible

weapon, giving

the

rider

Furthermore,

asserted that the rider thrusts

to

less,

but awaits the onset,

ing less serious,

the wounds and thus the

is

be

inflicted prov-

such self-confidence that nothing appears to him unatThis was the main point containable or irresistible.
sidered at the introduction of the lance as the weapon The chief functions of of the entire German cavalry.
the cavalry in time of war, besides the protection of
its

importance

and

ef-

fectiveness of the lance

close combat, following

greatly overestimated.

For

the inroad of the enemy, the

be too long and cumbersome. Too much is required of the muscles too much is expected of the agility and training of man and horse, which are
lance
is

deemed

to

own army and

cavalry.

the reconnoissance of the enemy, also infield

clude the task of clearing the

of

the

enemy's

absolutely necessary for a successful handling of the

weapon;
sabre,

finally, it is

claimed that the load which the

carbine,
of light-

duty of the army, due

result.
result.'
'

The fight with the hostile cavalry is the first the superior leading of this arm of the service
;

horse has to carry

and lance

the man being armed with excessive. The question

is

an effective reconnoissance, is the final Without such first duty there can be no afterto
is

Bereft of the cavalry, the hostile army

lion','

ening the horse's load is now in a fair way to be solved, improvements having been made from time to
time to effect a lightening.

'blind

unfit for

any offensive movements.

issue.

On

the other side of the

argument,

it is

insisted that the tax put

horse has proven a blessing.

upon the exercise with the

senting those

upon rider and The high value bestowed lance and expressed by prebrought the training of the

weight For the shock, Conthe lance is without doubt the superior weapon. vinced of the superior power of thrusting, and morally
" In the encounter of cavalry with cavalry the
is,

of the clash

however, the main

raised to the point of invincibility, the wall of riders,

bristling with lances

men who

excel in the drill with special

and rushing on

like a torrent, will

be

marks of horseman

distinction, has

indeed

irresistible.

The

after-thrusts

made

in pursuit of

in power, agility,

and control of the horse to

the enemy, will be felt

by

their deadly effects.

The

the goal of perfection, assuring the

German
is

cavalry a fu-

cavalry, thus having fulfilled its strategical task, will

also,

ture of glorious results. This efficiency

the consequence

when

tactically

employed

in the battle,

of a training at once thorough, unceasing,

"The

lance-shaft,

which has

at

and practical. the upper end a fourof well-tempered

ing the

maximum
of

of physical

and possessand moral power, achieve

will prove to be the real

the highest points.

The lance

edged point 12.9 inches long and

steel, is also

made

weapon

the battlefield, whose

thrusts

prostrate

pointed at the butt-end, so that, at close

combat, thrusts can be made to the rear as well as to the

front,

without the necessity of reversing the lance.

is

When

enemy, though out of reach of the sabre, cannot escape. " In view of these facts, the importance of the lance begins to dawn upon European armies, and the apprehension of the superiority of the
to

the rider

mounting or dismounting during a

is

halt, the

German

cavalry has risen

butt-end of the lance

thrust in the ground.

Mounted,
'attention!'

the lance rests in the socket, fastened to the stirrup.

such a degree, that the reinstatement of the lance and the increase of lancer regiments are now actually in progress.

On

parade, at reviews, and at the

is

command

But the weapon alone

spirit

is

not the deciding point.

the lance
tion;

held with the right hand in a vertical posiit

Its effectiveness

on the march

hangs
'

in the lance-knot
! '

on the

and the

depends on the hand which wields it Emperor Wilwhich controls the arm.

During in active service the lance is seized by the drill middle of the shaft, and carried by the hand held upon the right thigh in such a manner that the head-end,
right

arm and

at the

command

lances on arms

liam has been instrumental in reviving and fostering the

old martial spirit of the cavalry.
feet,
fit

To put

it

on

its

own

for all strategical tasks,

it

ent of the infantry,

firearm

and render it independhas been provided with a good

carbine.

slightly slanting, rests near the horse's

ear,

while the

an

excellent

To equip

it

for

the

downward to the rear. This is the mode in which the weapon is held at the command 'lances on From this position, at the command 'lower the thigh!'
butt-end points
lance to the charge!' the head
the butt-end
is is

highest deeds of valor on the battlefield, the

Emperor

has supplied the cavalry with the best thrusting-weapon the lance; at the same time infusing into this branch

brought

to a level,

of the service a confidence

and enthusiasm

for the

weapon
This
it

adjusted to the arm and pressed upon

that in

the future will insure the best results.

the body, while the right

hand grasps the lance by the The lance retains centre of the shaft back of the ring. this position when the horseman rides at a rapid gait when he towards a stationary or an advancing object, In the thrust to front, rear, and thrusts at a full run.

enthusiasm the

German

cavalry will retain as long as

preserves the energetic equestrian spirit and

to the saying of the old field-marshal,

adheres
:

Wrangel

'Every

day

a cavalryman, on which he does not drill " or exercise with horse and weapon.'
is lost to

28

According

to the lighter

and heavier material of horse

of the

Horse-Guards are white, those of the Carabiniers

and men, and for the purpose of easier training and

greater efficiency of the different regiments in war time,

are black.

Though

the cuirassiers originated in the heavily

armed
to

they are distinguished as heavy and light cavalry.

of the

Out

riders of the

Middle Ages, the uhlans and hussars are

typical
of

mediasval knight, heavily armed with

armlets,

be traced back to the national light troopers of Poland and

a
of

coat

mail,

and

greaves,
the

the

cuirassier

Hungary.

Until recently, the uhlans alone carried the

to-day has developed.

Of

former iron-armor
useless against

lance as a characteristic weapon,

now common

to all

only a comparatively light cuirass

is left,

mounted

troops.

Besides the lance, the uhlans wear the

modern weapons,
been brought

the

penetrating force of which has

of perfection
;

traditional uniform,

reminding one of the Polish national

to such a high state

the

dress and consisting of the "ulanka," "chapka," and the

overcoat, and, in place of the shoulder-straps, epaulets.

modern
the

cuirass serves

only for parade purposes.

In

Seven Years'

War

the Seydlitz regiment of Cuiras-

In Prussia, Frederick the Great

of uhlans in the year 1741
;

first

instituted a regiment

siers, at

the head of which

was General von Seydlitz,

which, however, not having

won

special distinction for their brilliant charges against

proved

itself

worthy

in the face of the

enemy, was transIn the year

the French

and Russians

at the battles of

Rossbach and
of

formed into a regiment of hussars

of

in 1742.

Zorndorf.

The German army has ten regiments

1808 two Prussian regiments of uhlans were formed.

present the

Prussian Cuirassiers, including the regiment Gardes du

At

German army

has twenty-five regiments

Corps, and the regiment of Cuirassier-Guards.

To

the

of uhlans.

Prussia has three regiments of Uhlan-Guards

line the

same

class

belong the two regiments of Bavarian "Heavy

and of the

regiments 1st to 16th (see picture),

Riders,"the Saxon Horse-Guards, and the Saxon Carabiniers

;

Bavaria owns two regiments, Saxony the 17th and 18th

regiments, and Wtlrtemberg the 19th and 20th regiments.

making

a total of fourteen heavy regiments.

Apart from the Saxon and Bavarian regiments, the

white or blue jerkins of leather with colored collars, the white
steel

In the late war, the French soldiers and country people stood aghast at the uhlans.

With

surprising quickthere,

leather

trousers,

high riding-boots, and

are

heavy

ness

their

patrols

appeared here

and

always
suf-

cuirassier helmet

common

to the cuirassiers.

unexpectedly; the cry "les ulans,

ficient to strike terror

les ulans,"

was

The regiment Gardes du Corps deserves special notice. A Garde du Corps was in existence under the first
Prussian king, Frederick
I,

everywhere.

Poland being the abode of the uhlans, Hungary may

rightly be called the native seat of the hussars.
find

but

it

was disbanded by

his

We

economical successor.
corps in 1740,

Frederick the Great revived the

it

the

first

Prussian hussars during Frederick Wil-

making
five

one squadron strong.

rest.

To-day the

liam's time, in the year 1721.

thirty hussars

At

that period a troop of

regiment has
at

squadrons, like the

It is stationed

was attached to a regiment of uhlans.

Potsdam, and

is

recruited from choice material of both

It

Frederick the Great raised the hussars to high rank as

riders

men and
for

horses, the latter being chestnut in color.

and organized nine regiments.

are the heroic
exploits of

Well known

in

has the proud distinction of having the

its

King

of Prussia

folklore

the

Zietenhussars,

honorary colonel, who

is

also honorary captain of

which regiment shared

in nearly all the pitched battles of

the

first

squadron, hence called the body-squadron.

of the 7th

the Silesian and Seven Years' wars.

The

third Prussian

Another picture shows the Cuirassier

(Mag-

Hussars of to-day bear the name " Zietenhussars."

present, the
sars
;

At

deburg) regiment of Seydlitz, which, together with the

16th (AltmHrkische) Uhlans, at the battle of Vionville-

German army

has twenty regiments of hus-

the Prussian contingent has a regiment of

Body-

Mars-la-Tour

lost

more than

half of

its

men

while riding

Hussars, also the regiments 1st to 16th, and the 17th

into the veTj jaws of death

on that ever memorable day.

Bismarck, was the

regiment of Brunswick Hussars.

Saxony owns the 18th

The

late imperial chancellor, Prince

and 19th regiments of Hussars, the other contingents having none.

honorary colonel of the regiment since the twenty-seventh

of January, 1894, the twenty-fifth military jubilee of the

The

traditional uniform

and equipment

of the

hussars include the braided tunic and busby or fur cap,

tightly-fitting trousers,

present Emperor, William II, and

this

it

was the uniform

Still

of

and a sabretasche.
is

On

the front

regiment that he always preferred.

another

of the cap

is

a ribbon

on which
first

the star of the guards

picture represents a soldier of the

Saxon Horse-Guards.

or a

monogram.

The

and second Body-Hussars and

Especially striking

is

the well-fitting light-blue tunic

the 17th regiment of Brunswick Hussars wear, as a special

distinction, a skull as a traditional sign of this

with broad white braiding.

regiment

The Horse-Guards belong

to the oldest troops, their

giving no quarter.
first

On the picture we
skull.

see a soldier of the

history reaching back to the year 1680.

The present

Body-Hussars with the

The black

hussars

name

" Gardereiter " was

conferred upon them in the

were called by the French, who dreaded them on account

of their great boldness, "JTussards de la mort."

year 1822.

The other Saxon heavy cavalry regiment,

is

previously mentioned,

called "Carabiniers."

The

uni-

The dragoons

are

descendants of
foot,

the

arkebusiers,

form has the color of the cornflower; while the facings

who

often

fought

on

and on some occasions

29

acted as mounted infantry.

as the

These troops existed as early

legers, perfectly

conforming to the above regiments of

time of the Great Elector, the

name

of

"Old

Derflinger" being closely associated with the history of

that branch;

dragoons. The name "Chevaulegers" is derived from the French of the time of Henry IV, designating light
cavalry equipped

but not until the time of Frederick the

with firearms.

During Napoleon's

Great were the dragoons considered cavalrymen in the

proper sense of the word.

time the higher princes of the Rhenish Confederation

conferred the French

The German army has

in all

name upon
of

their light cavalry regi-

twenty-eight regiments of dragoons, of which the follow-

ments,

which has been retained

Characteristic

and

officially

used

ing belong to the Prussian contingent

two bodies

of

by Bavaria.

the

dragoons are the

Dragoon-Guards and the regiments

and 18th (Mecklenburg) regiments
burg) regiment
ments;
;

1st to 16th; the 17th

;

helmet and blue tunic of the infantry.

The

different

the 19th (Olden-

regiments are distinguished by the color upon their

collars

the 20th, 21st, and

22nd (Baden)

regi-

and

cuffs.

An

illustration in the

book depicts

and the 23rd and 24th (Hessian) regiments.

;

the Hessian dragoons, another depicts the Hanoverian

Wilrtemberg has the 25th and 26th regiments

has no dragoons
;

Saxony

dragoons, distinguished by the small flag on the lance.

Bavaria has six

regiments of Chevau-

HOUSE

ARTTr.LEllY

THE GERMAN ARTILLERY

The
is

third of the chief branches of the army's service

strength of the field-artillery

into 43 regiments, with

is

173 divisions, formed

the artillery.

Equipped with cannon,

it

forms, with
cavalry, the
artillery is

447 mounted batteries and 47

the other

two branches, the infantry and

of

horse-batteries.

The
are

single batteries vary on a peacefour, others

main combatant force

the army.

The

footing.
a certain

Some

drawn by

by

six horses

clothed similarly with the infantry, with this distinction,

number have two ammunition wagons.

There

however, that the helmet

of a spike.

is

surmounted by

a ball instead

are in time of

peace 2,542 guns and 97 ammunition

The

collar

and

cuffs of the tunic are black,

wagons.

Prussia furnishes 346 mounted batteries and

the shoulder-straps are red and bear the

number

of the

38 horse-batteries, formed into 2 regiments of the Guards

regiment.

The

artillery

is

classified into

manoeuvring

and 31 regiments
distinguished by

of the line.
its

The Guards

artillery is

and garrison corps, according

to its

employment, either

yellow braiding and by the eagle

to fight closely associated with other troops

and

in posi-

peculiar to the Guards affixed to the helmet.

hair

The

horse-

tions subject to change, or independently in positions of a stable or stationary character.

artillery is

plumes worn by these troops on parade are white,

Bavaria has

The manceuvringand
is,

while those of the horse-artillery are black.

employed

chiefly in field operations,

48 mounted
hair

batteries,

and 6 horse-batteries; the horse-

for this reason, called field-artillery.

As

stated under

plumes of the

latter are red.

The Saxon

artillery

the organization of the army,

of a uniform pattern,

it is

armed with a field-gun

cast steel, with

consists of

30 mounted batteries and

3 horse-batteries,

made

of

improved
is

forming 3 regiments.
tions, the

As may be

seen in the illustra-

steel-plate caissons.
fires

The gun

of 3.56 in. calibre

and

Saxon

artillery

wear a green uniform with red

a shrapnel shell and canister shot (case shot).

consist

The

facings.

This equipment, only to be found in the Saxon year 1714, and

is

field-artillery brigades

each of two regiments;

contingent, was introduced in the

retained

the eleventh, twelfth, and second Bavarian brigades, however, consist each of three regiments. prise from three to four

up

to the present time, regardless of

changes

The regiments com-

made

in

the cut of

the uniform and in the style of

of

mounted
;

divisions (Abteilungen),

the head-dress.

Wilrtemberg furnishes 2 regiments

divided into 23 batteries.

each of two to three batteries

while twenty-two regi-

mounted

field-artillery,

The

ments have each one division

of horse-artillery.

The

total

changes made

in the organization

and composition of the

30

field-artillery,

and going
in the

into effect

on October
article

1st, 1889,

suffered increased

losses,

to

withdraw

to

the rear of

are treated

upon

supplementary

by Major-

La Cusse woods.
utmost coolness.

The order was executed with the

General von Specht.

In the late war the

One

of the batteries, while limbering

German

field-artillery

decided
superior
efficient

up, was riddled with case shot, killing the captain and

many

of the pitched battles, not only

by

its

wounding many men, but

it

continued firing on the

artillery lost, in

material,
service,

but by

its

great

accuracy of aim,

enemy while

it

withdrew.

The

about

and masterly handling.

Of

this,

the battle of

three hours, 17 officers, 2 surgeons, 187 men, and 370

horses.

Gravelotte furnishes a vivid and convincing illustration.

Three batteries

of the

Hessian division did not

The ninth German

of August.
talions,

corps,

which ushered

in the battle,

leave the scene of action, but stood their ground, the

occupied Verneville on the forenoon of the eighteenth

This corps, consisting of twenty-three bat-

French making no further

sally in this direction.

While

the

action described was going on, a heavy

with about 21,000 men, was opposed by at least

artillery fight

was raging on the right wing

of the first
all the

50,000 French, with 162 guns.

The French

troops

army.

At noon, General von Steinmetz ordered

to enter the duel

occupied strong positions, and were supported by Canrobert's batteries posted

at
St.

guns

with the seventh French corps.

Privat.

The Germans

Four batteries

of the fourteenth division,

under General

deployed east of Verneville and opened the battle with a heavy artillery fire. The first shells fell short, the
following, however, found their range in the midst of the

von Zastrow, drew up between the woods of Ogeon and

Gravelotte, and opened
fire

on the French positions

at

Point du Jour.

From two

o'clock

onward the

artillery,

enemy's camp.

The

latter, visibly surprised,

all

hurried to

coming from the direction

of Ars, fell into line of battle.

his staff

the fortified positions and rifle-pits,

the heights being

General von Steinmetz and

kept near these bata

lined with batteries in a short time.

As, by this mafor the

teries in the heaviest fire of the

hail of shell

enemy, who poured

noeuvre, the distance

became too great

German

and mitrailleuse bullets upon the Prussian

loss,

gunners, General von Puttkammer ordered ten batteries

to

guns, inflicting a heavy

especially on their left wing.

;

draw up
heavy

closer to the

enemy.
at the

The

latter replied
inflicting

But

the

French also suffered heavily

caissons were de-

furiously, the
a
loss

French riflemen
on the Prussian

same time

molished and ammunition wagons were blown up.

The

artillery.

At one

o'clock

Germans soon received support from

division also

three batteries of

two Hessian batteries

of the advance-guard, stationed

the third division, while four batteries of the fifteenth

south of Habonville, took part against Canrobert's guns,

drew nearer the scene

of action

by order

of

which were posted south of

St. Privat.

After the arrival

General von Goeben.

They took

position

between

of three additional foot-batteries, the Hessian artillery

Malmaison and Gravelotte and were followed by the

remainder of the corps
artillery.

moved towards

a ridge east of Habonville, while eight

The

battle

now took

batteries of the Guards,

48 pieces strong, took position

such a grave turn that some higher commanders, among

north of Habonville.
of

Repeatedly the French battalions

them General von Hindersin,

of
artillery,

the inspecting General

Grennier and Cissey sallied forth against the Hessian

directed the operations

to
lose

personally.

The
their

division

commanded by Prince Louis who

of Hesse,

and were
situation

French commenced
mitrailleuses

ground.

Some

of

repulsed only with the greatest difficulty.

of the Hessian troops,

The

became
the rear.
fired

so disabled that they had to be

suffered terribly and were

removed

to

At
its

the

same time the enemy

hospital,

almost unable to replenish their ammunition, became

by mistake

upon

own

which lay be-

more and more

critical.
fire

Their

left

wing, especially, was

exposed to a galling

from some French mitrailleuses.

which were
in action at
loss

tween Malmaison and Gravelotte, where several hundred French and German soldiers, who had been wounded
at the battle of Vionville,

The four Hessian

this

foot-batteries

met

a horrible death

by the

period

of

the

engagement sustained the

of

French

fire.

several officers, and 5 chief gunners and

40 men were put

In the storming of

St.

Hubert, which followed shortly

hors de combat.

At

this

moment, the French infantry

artillery.

afterwards, the field-artillery and horse-artillery took a

rushed upon the Hessian

The captain

of one
in

praiseworthy part.

The

batteries of the eighth corps

of the batteries, though badly

wounded, succeeded

advanced over the road on

a hill-top

of Jarny; five of

them drew up
of the

bringing two of his pieces to the border of the woods,

near Mogadore.

The horse-battery
its

where they were saved only by the heroic

Hessian troops which had just arrived.
ever,

efforts of

some

first

cavalry division took the lead, joined on

foot-batteries.

right

Four guns, how-

wing by two

Three additional horse-

were

lost,

two

of

which were subsequently taken to

batteries rode through Gravelotte

and took up favorable

it

Metz by the French.

batteries

Although the

chief

danger

to the

positions south of the highway.

Soon

became evident
silenced

was averted by the

brilliant

charge of the

that the concerted

fire of

the

Germans

some

of

fusilier battalion
officers

of the 85th regiment, which lost 12

in the action, artillery,

the French guns, and prevented others from getting into

position.

and 400 men

Lieutenant-Colonel
this

All efforts were

at St.

now

concentrated against the

Darausky ordered the

which by

time had

enemy's position

Hubert.

Though

the advanced

31

German

horse-battery fared badly from the

fire of

some

battery pressed on in the tirailleur

fire

of

the enemy.

mitrailleuses, the artillery of the

seventh corps pressed

With

hurrahs the infantry attacked the burning farm-

through the ravine of Ars, and formed a junction with

the eighth corps.
fire

stead and routed the enemy,

resistance.

who

offered a stubborn

The

effect of the

combined German

By
the

this

brilliant

charge the artillery line

now commenced
and

to tell.

French batteries were forced

was made secure.

their
fire

Seventy-eight guns covered with

to retreat

their fire gradually

became

fainter.

The

territory stretching

from the Genivaux

German

shells burst into the reserves standing

back of

woods
fire

to the Bois de la Cusse,

and silenced the enemy's

Point du Jour, which soon had to be given up by the de-

on

this part of the battle line.

The energetic

co-

fending troops.

St.

Hubert was gradually reached by the

operation of the artillery at the capture of St. Privat has

guns

of the eighth corps.

The well-defended place was

face of a tremendous

been mentioned under the chapter on "The Storming of

the Prussian Guards upon St. Privat."

stormed by detachments of the 33rd, 60th, and 67th regiments, and the Rhenish
fire

rifles, in

The surrounding and capture

of the

army

of

CMlons,
in con-

and with

a terrible loss.

which was achieved by the German third army,

While these events were happening, a success was

gained by the
artillery

nection with the army of the Meuse, at Sedan on Sep-

on the

left

wing

of the second
or-

tember
of the

1st,

1870, was chiefly due to the efficient service

field-artillery.

army which opposed

dered

St. Privat.

General von Pape

German

Lebrun's batteries, num-

the artillery of the first division of the

its

Guards

to

bering some 160 guns and mitrailleuses, had taken position

take position south of Habonville with

St. Privat.

front toward

on the heights

of

La Moncelles

rising to the north

fire

Supported by some

artillery

which had just

artillery,

of Bazeilles.

Their right wing directed a heavy

on

arrived, sixty

guns were trained upon the French

the Bavarian troops, which advanced under great

diffi-

which by

this

time had made a forward movement, comfall

culty (see under Infantry

"The Bavarians
a

at Bazeilles").

pelling the latter to

back upon

its

former position.

Whilst a hot

fight

was raging,

Saxon battery arrived

After the arrival of the twenty-fourth division, a general

assault

and took position

to the northeast of Moncelles.

The

was made upon

Ste. Marie,

which contained many Three bat-

Bavarian batteries, thus supported, engaged a vastly

superior force
of

massive buildings surrounded by high walls.

teries of the

French

artillery.

Somewhat

later,

twenty-fourth division took position north-

Prince George of Saxony ordered the entire artillery

of the twelfth corps to advance

west of the Guards, while the bulk of the artillery

beyond Douzy.

By

this

wheeled round west

of the ravine leading to

Auboue.
to

manoeuvre twelve batteries were brought into action

east of Moncelles, thus securing a

Three batteries of the twenty-third division deployed

the left of the twenty-fourth division's firing line.
this

good foothold

to the

By
firing

Bavarian infantry which took Bazeilles after a stubborn

resistance.

manoeuvre 180 guns formed one solid

of

line

At noon

the last two batteries of the twelfth

from the woods

La Ousse upon Canrobert's and

The German
fire

corps passed through Moncelles and drove back some

Cissey's batteries at Ste. Marie.

was
be

French guns posted before Balan.

this

It

happened about
to

so effective that the latter places soon

were able

to

time

that

some

shells

had burst close

his
staff

where
their
ter-

stormed by nine battalions of the Guards, of the fortyseventh brigade and of the 108th regiment.
this assault the

the Emperor Napoleon and

positions, near Balan.

had taken

During

Seeing a brigade suffering

Guards

artillery

moved

to the southeast

ribly from the

fire

of the

Germans, Napoleon asked

of Ste. Marie, while shortly afterwards the

teries

Saxon batMarie, and

"From what

place do these shells

come?"

An

artillery

advanced on the west side

line,

of Ste.

officer replied that

they came from a battery posted at a

formed a long
united
fire

with

its

front facing the east.

Their

distance of 4,900 metres.

The Emperor, unwilling

to

was

far superior to that of the

opposing sixth
manner.

believe in so terrible an effect at that distance,

diately ordered a strong
batteries
at
fire to

imme-

corps and told on the

enemy

in a destructive
artillery,

be directed against the

shots,

The

right

wing
the

of the
fire of

German
the

however, suffered
the farmstead

Wadelincourt.

The

however,

fell

greatly
of

by

enemy holding

short at a distance of 1,500 metres, dropping in the river

Champenois, and General von Manstein ordered an

Meuse.
General von Wimpffen, after having taken the chief

attack to be

made on

the latter.

To accomplish

this,

Hessian horse-battery took position to the south of the

farmstead, and was shortly afterwards supported

command
the

of the

French army,

in place of the

wounded

by some

General McMahon, endeavored

in vain to

break through

guns

of the third

and ninth army

corps.

The Guards
fire

German
at

lines, first to the east

and afterwards to the

also closing up with the Hessian battery, a

of fifty-

north

Givonne.

At nine
first

o'clock in the morning,

nine guns was directed against Champenois, which was

in a short time in flames.

three batteries of the

division of the

Guards took
and were

The German The

batteries lost

up

position at the

woods

of Villers-Cernay
at the

heavily as they advanced, and the infantry was at this

joined by a fourth deploying

Chevalier woods.
artillery of the

juncture ordered into action.

first

battalion of the

These batteries were augmented by some

first

2nd regiment rushed forward, while a Brandenburg

corps,

which

fired

with great havoc at a distance of

32

4,000 paces upon

the

French

infantry,
of

cavalry,

and

Prussians against the heights of Balan.

fifth

The
hill,

fire

of the

artillery stationed in the

woods

Givonne.

The Ger-

corps was directed against Calvary

which lay

man

firing line

was

also regnforced

by four

foot-batteries
of the

towards Fleigneux and was held by Ducrot with a strong

force of artillery.

of the second division

first

and some horse-artillery

The French guns were, in consequence,

corps,

which took position to the north of the

dismounted and deprived of their men and horses, ammunition wagons exploded, and even the reserve batteries

Chevalier woods.
the
batteries,

Ninety guns threw

their shells

upon

earthworks,
left

and troops

of

the

enemy,

were compelled

to

retreat.

Of the

artillery
left

of

the

while on the

twelve Bavarian and ninety Saxon

Guards, ten batteries deployed on the

bank

of the

guns came into

the

action.

By noon
in the

all

passages over

Givonne, joined by

five additional

batteries on the left

Givonne

river

were

hands of the Germans,

wing, also by seven Saxon and two Bavarian batteries,

so that from that direction
their
shell

who prevented Wimpffen's escape here as well as at Mezieres. To the southwest, at Bazeilles, the German
guns also covered by
their fire the fortress of

144 German guns hurled

into

the

Garenne woods, which was defirst

Sedan.
of

fended by 120 guns of the

artillery of the

French

corps.

The

Two

batteries

were posted near the railroad south'

five

second Bavarian corps and that of the

Vilette;

one was trained upon Torcy,

lined the

fourth corps joined in this operation against the Garenne

heights of Frenois, while two

commanded
the

the territory

woods.

From

all

sides death

and destruction faced the

south of Wadelincourt.

enemy, which was now being pressed together closer

fell

At

this

juncture

it

to

lot of

the

German

and

closer,

with no chance of escape.

To make
some

the

artillery to cut off the

enemy's retreat towards the north

Illy.

situation

more

intolerable for the French,

of the

at

St.

Menges, Fleigneux, and

fifth

This task was

German

artillery crossed the

Givonne

river

and moved
Sixty guns

assigned to the
the
river

and eleventh corps, which crossed

upon the heights

to the west of the valley.

Meuse

at

Donchery and marched towards

formed here the right wing of the Prussian and Bavarian

artillery line.

Menges by order

of the

Crown

Prince.

Three batteries
to the north-

These guns covered with

their fire every

of the fifth corps took position

on the slope

section of the

Garenne woods so

effectually that not the

west of the Hattois woods, where they engaged a superior

force of

smallest patch of the

effect of the

wooded plateau could escape

shells.

the

French

artillery posted

on the slope, stretching

German

The French,

retreating at

from Illy towards Floing.

After several guns had been

Daigny, were horrified

at seeing

themselves confronted

disabled, General von Gersdorf ordered the entire corps

artillery into action.

by

the iron jaws of the guns posted at Floing,

and those

In a short time eighty-three guns

fleeing from Illy in the direction of

Sedan were received

crowned the long plateau opposite the Hattois woods.

by a

hail of shot fired

from Wadelincourt.

While

the

One

of the

German

batteries suffered such a loss that a

destruction of five divisions and two brigades was being

effected

reserve of

men and

horses had to be brought up.

But
fire

on the plateau of Illy and

in

the

Garenne

soon the German artillery received support from the

of

woods, the fight at Balan, where General von Wimpffen

two horse-batteries stationed on the

Meuse.

left

bank
and

of the of the

made
had

his last effort to

break through the German

lines,

river

The

artillery of the fifth corps

took once more a

to

critical turn.

Here, too, the artillery

tenth division also took part in the battle, deploying on

the heights between Illy

speak the

last

and deciding word.

The Bavarians

and Fleigneux, and forming

of the eleventh corps.

holding the town of Bazeilles, situated to the southeast of

Balan, were compelled to retreat in the face of superior

junction with the

left

wing

One
noise
like

hundred

and

thirty-two

guns

crowned

the

heights

French

forces,

which sallied forth and pressed the Ba-

stretching from Illy to the Ardennes woods.

of this great outstretched line of artillery that of a
flash,

The

varians so hard that for a time only the outskirts of

Bazeilles could be held
critical

rumbled
flash

by

the Bavarian Jager.

At

this

heavy thunderstorm, sending forth

upon
of

moment

three

Bavarian batteries arrived and

while the

German

shells

prevented

all

means

took up position near Balan.

They were soon supported

in

escape to the enemy.

the

Meantime the havoc was appalling,

being almost annihilated.

by

five other batteries,

which deployed

the

valley,

enemy's

artillery

The

and also by thirty-six guns of the fourth corps, which

only chance of escape for the French army was towards

Mezieres,
division,

poured a

hail of shells into

Balan from the heights of

General von

but

this

was

barred

by

the

Wurtemberg
army
at

Ailieourt, to the west of the river Meuse.

which covered the rear

of the third

Wimpffen, seeing
derous
fire

his troops thus

reduced by the murordered a general

Mezieres.

of

nineteen

batteries,

The

iron circle around the

French army was thus closed

retreat,

though he and
fire at

his staff

remained in the thickest

successfully, and

became

tighter as the

day passed.

On
its

of the

German

Balan.
into the fortified

the heights to the right of Moncelles-Balan, the artillery

of the eighth division took

Every French soldier now thronged

up

position and trained

town

of

Sedan.

To

effect a speedier

surrender of the
artillery

guns on the French massed

in front of

Fonde-de-Givonne.
fire

fortress,

King William ordered

the

Wurtemberg

Six Bavarian batteries here united their

with the

to

draw nearer and

direct its fire

upon Sedan.

The

33

shells

fell

on the masses sheltering themselves in the

bombardment.

The

area in the vicinity of the town was

crowded
the right

streets,

throwing them into dire confusion.

of the
all

On

more accessible on
damming.

the north and west than on the south,

of

bank

Meuse, by order of the Crown

where a great sheet

artificial

water could

be created by

Prince of Saxony,
the twelfth corps
fate of

the artillery of the Guards and of

close

Perilous to the fortress itself were

moved

up

to the fortress.
its

The

the suburbs, adjacent to the glacis, and favoring an

assault in close quarters.
frontier-fortress,

the

French army was now sealed,

uncon-

The defence

of this important

ditional surrender, including the

self, to

French Emperor hima certainty.

badly neglected by the French governdevolved upon General Uhrich,

the victorious

Germans became

In

ment

in time of peace,

the battle 683

German guns had opposed 419 French

and 139 siege-guns,
all of

an energetic, yet cautious, soldier.

The garrison numofficers.

guns and
fell into

mitrailleuses,

which

bered about 20,000 men, including 450

Their

the hands of the victors.

is

usefulness in defending the town was questioned, as a

in

The

garrison-artillery

employed

engagements of

sufficiently strong corps of engineers

was lacking.

This

a less varying character, such as occur in offensive and

explains

how

the

Baden contingent,

detailed to observe

defensive operations of fortified towns or of the sea-coast,

Strasburg and consisting of but one division, twelve

squadrons,

where the positions, both of points of attack and the

and nine

batteries,

advanced

almost

un-

weapons used, are subject

to

little

material

change.
its

checked upon those points which

assault

facilitated a successful

The
and

garrison-artillery

is

classified,

according to

em-

upon the plains known

as Robertsau, Schiltigof the fortress

of the

ployment, into siege-artillery, garrison-artillery proper,

artillery for

heim, and Konigshofen.

The armament

coast-defence.

Siege and garrison-

was ample.

Twelve hundred mortars and guns

artillery

are almost identical in material

and employalso rightly

heaviest calibre and of the latest construction were in

position,
artillery.

ment, while artillery for coast-defence

may

though these were no match for the German

be considered a branch of the garrison-artillery.

Siege
to the

On August

13th, 1870, a

besieging army

and garrison -artillery are served by troops similar

infantry,

arrived, consisting of

46

battalions, 24 squadrons,

and

which are called foot-artillery

foot-artillery
is

in the

German

18

field -batteries.

They were soon followed by

a siege-

army.

The

provided with ordnance of

train of

200 field-pieces and 88 mortars, with 30 com-

from 4.72

to 5.90 in. calibre, with howitzers of 5.90 in.

panies of foot-artillery, 1 siege-train of engineers, and

calibre, with mortars of 8.26 in. calibre, with siege-guns

10 companies of sappers and miners,

40,000 men

in all.

of 3.64, 4.72,
in. calibre,

and 8.26

in. calibre,

with mortars of 5.90

in. calibre,

On August
Strasburg.
staff,

15th the

commander

of the besieging army,

at

with turret-howitzers of 8.26

and,
foot-

General von Werder, arrived

Mundolsheim, near

in addition, revolving

and quick-firing guns.

The

He was

attended by the chief of his general

artillery soldier carries a short rifle for personal protection.

Lieutenant-Colonel von Leszczynski.

first

The next

Our

illustrations

represent

the

Rhenish

foot-artillery.

day the enemy made the

the

important sortie .towards

There are seventeen

talions,

foot-artillery regiments, of

two bat-

south against Illkirch, losing three guns in this

each of four companies, while the 2nd regiment

enterprise.

On August
town

18th, the siege-train

was put

in to

and the 2nd Bavarian regiment have three companies.

position, after General

von Werder had determined

The

second battalion of the 12th regiment has five com-

force

the

to surrender

by bombarding

it.

The
of

panies.

The 13th (Royal Wtlrtemberg) was

The
and

transferred

heavy siege-guns, posted near Kehl, on the right bank

the Rhine, and the field-guns on the left
river

to the Prussian organization in 1893.

is

foot-artillery
is

bank

of the

uniformed similar

to the infantry,

character-

now engaged

the fortress

while these operations

istically distinguished

by white

shoulder-straps.

White
foot-

were going

on, the erection of thirteen batteries for the

of the northwestern front of the city

horse-hair plumes are

artillery of the

worn on parade only by the

bombardment
begun.

was

Guards.
the

The uniform
as

of the of

Saxon conthe

On the evening of the twenty-fourth, the Germans

to

tingent

is

of

same color

that

Saxon

were able

open

fire

upon the town, a part

of

which was

field-artillery.

The Bavarian uniform

differs

from the

soon in flames.

At

this crisis, the

Bishop of Strasburg

Prussian in the mountings on the helmet, which has a

spike in place of the ball
;

craved quarter for the citizens, but was unsuccessful in

his mission,

it

has black instead of dark-

inasmuch as the Governor was not yet ready

blue facings, and dark-blue trousers.

for terms of surrender.

its

The

fire

was continued through

The bombardment
surrender, the

of Strasburg,

which resulted in

the night of the twenty-fifth, ending at two o'clock,

was

a splendid

example

of the efficiency of

when

it

was

at its hottest.

The

effect

was

terrific.

The

German

siege-artillery.

Prior to the late

war with

depot, the

new
;

church, and the valuable library had been

France, Strasburg had been considered a fortress of the

first

destroyed
fire.

the roof of the Cathedral

had also caught

rank, and was France's sally-port against southern

But, in spite of these disasters, General Uhrich

Germany.
It

The town was

fortified

on Vauban's system.

refused to surrender.

After

this,

the

fire

of the siege-

was provided with deep moats, but not with advanced

city secure in case of a

guns was directed upon the

fortifications proper,

and the

works which could make the

more deliberate methods

of a regular siege

commenced,

34

according to the plans of Captain

of engineers.

Wagner
at this

of the corps

into the hands of the victors.

The garrison

also

became

The

assault

was

time directed

prisoners of war.

The

walls lying in the line of attack

against the northwest corner of the fortress.

were
first

so battered that they

were now useless

for defence.

During the night

allel

of

August 29th-30th, the

Soon the German
its

par-

Under

the wreck of the front face of the fortification lay

was opened, and the number

of siege-batteries

was

scattered
lost

guns and gun-carriages.

The garrison had

dead.

increased by eleven others.

artillery

2,500 men,

among whom were 661

was 39
officers

The

loss

proved

its

superior qualities, as regards both

material

of the besiegers

and 894 men dead and

and

its

advantageous employment.

On

the night of the

wounded.

thirty-first of

August, the second parallel was opened.

The most memorable

feat,

however, achieved by the

At dawn

a strong sortie

made by

the garrison failed, the

German
world.

artillery,

was the successful investment and

Paris,

Germans losing

7 officers

and 149 men.

On
all

the ninth of

bombardment

of

the

largest

fortress

of

the

September, the second parallel, with

connections, was completed.
ninety-six

its

rearward

All efforts on the part of the Paris garrison to

failed.

The Germans had now

and thirty-eight mortars

break through the lines of the besieging Germans

Sorties took place at Chatillon on

mounted

field-pieces

September 19th,

at

in full fire,

doing apparently effective work.

The guns

Chevilly on September 30th, at

13th, at

Bagneux on October

of lunette No.

44 were soon silenced, the large Finkmatt

fire,
it

Malmaison on October
at Villiers at

21st, at

Le Bourget on

barracks was destroyed by

and the Steinthor gate

to

October 30th,

on November 30th and De21st.

was so much injured

sand bags.

that
of

had

be buttressed with
to

cember 2nd, and

Le Bourget again on December

The part
was now

the

town subjected

the

bombardment
all

of Paris

was now agreed upon by the

German

fire

in ruins.

The garrison thereupon

fired

Germans,

necessary material for the batteries was

in

withdrew

their

guns behind the parapet, and

only

brought up during the month of December and put

readiness

their mortars.

During the night

of the llth-12th, the

at the foot of

by

the twenty-sixth of the month.

fire

On

the fol-

opening of the third parallel was begun

lowing day seventy-six guns opened

on Mount Avron

the glacis between lunettes Nos. 53 and 55.

By

the

and the neighboring

forts.

These replied promptly and

fourteenth of the month this work was finished and more

batteries

rapidly, the former with seventy-four guns.

But soon

it

were put

in position, so that the crest of the

became apparent

that

Mount Avron,

in spite of the nu-

glacis could

now be reached and occupied by

infantry.

merically greater strength of the French artillery, could

The

assault, henceforth,

was exclusively directed against

not for any length of time withstand the concentrated

of the
firing

fire

bastion No. 11, beyond lunettes 52 and 53, leaving the

German guns.
became
faint;

At noon on

the twenty-seventh the

work

of reducing the flank defences

on the east

to the
fire

towards evening, and during the

siege-artillery.

After the fourteenth, a breaching shot

of lunette 53.

night following, only irregular shots were heard, whilst

the

was opened against the escarpment

The

Germans kept up

a steady

fire.

On the

twenty-eighth

indirect breach shot against the hidden walls stood the

first

Mount Avron was almost

to the

silenced, the forts only replying

effect of the

severe

test.

The taking

of

lunettes

52 and 53

German

fire.

The moral

bombardment,

marked a decided feature

in the progress of the attack.

by which

the French suffered only a nominal loss of 160

that

Both lunettes were now equipped by the Germans with

batteries of mortars

dead and wounded, was so great

gether with the other
the twenty-eighth.
forts, Issy, forts,

Mount Avron,

to-

and guns,

in the

hope

of silencing

was evacuated on the night

of

the

fire

from the redoubts and counter-guards of the

in
front,

The

artillery attack

on the southern

attack

against which

dismounted guns and

Vanves, and Mount Rouge, was next begun.

4th, 98

counter-batteries were also directed.

a breach shot

At

the

same time
flank of

On January

guns were ready

to

open

fire

upon
which

was opened against the eastern

350 heavy French siege-guns, the

efficiency of

bastion No. 11 and the western side of bastion No. 12.

was much impeded by the great distance.

Notwith-

The

walls of bastion No. 11 fell in on the twenty-fourth

standing the greater numerical strength of the French

guns, the
tion, of a

of the

month, after a shelling of 500 rounds.

The

de-

German
of

artillery

had the advantage of

posi-

struction of the earthworks at the angle which remained

splendid observation, and of superior material.

standing was postponed

till

the storming of the place.

fortress proper
to

On

the

morning

January

5th, the

German

batteries
fire,

The

assault

upon the inner wall and the

as there

stationed on the plateau of Chatillon opened

fol-

was now imminent,

was but a short distance

lowed by the remainder of the batteries posted in the

neighborhood.

the breach of bastion No. 11, which intervened between

the besieging

The French replied

at

once and directed

army and

the town.

a terrible counter-fire, especially against the batteries at

On

the twenty-seventh of September, at five in the

Chatillon, inflicting

heavy

losses.

At noon, however,

the

afternoon, a white flag was seen flying from the tower of

situation gradually improved, for the greater accuracy of

the Cathedral.
the

By
at

the capitulation, which

was signed

the

German aim began

fire

to tell.

Fort Issy was silenced

lost force gradually,

same night

Konigshofen, 1,200 guns, 200,000

by two o'clock, the

while only

of

Vanves

small arms, and 2,000,000 francs in the bank passed

Mount Rouge

replied with vigor.

On the right,

35

the

Germans succeeded

in silencing the

French

artillery

THE GERMAN ENGINEERS

situated at Les Hautes-Bruyeres.

The German battery

from the

No.
this

1,

isolated in the park of St. Cloud, suffered most in

in front
city's

engagement, being shelled

left flank

parapet and on the

Valerien.

by

the

fire

from Mount

After the forts had been reduced, the Ger-

All

technical military

work

to

be performed by the

man

fire

was
city

chiefly directed against the outer batteries

troops in the field falls to the lot of the pioneers.

battalion of pioneers includes in
its

Each
are

equipment, sappers,

and the

ramparts

this

necessitated, however, an

advance of the German

the city proper

artillery.

The bombardment
by from

miners, and a pontoon train.

of

The engineer troops

was ushered

in

forty to fifty

charged with the building and maintenance of fortified places, with the erection of field redoubts, with the construction of bridges

rounds of exploding shells

of the city.

fired against the nearest parts

and

railroads, with the

repair of

The

last sortie,

which was made by the

in-

railway and telegraph lines destroyed by the enemy, and

vested French

army from Mount Valerien,

utterly failed.

with the demolition of others,

necessity.

when

this

becomes a

The siege-guns, no longer needed on the northern side of Paris after the evacuation of Mount Avron, became now
available on the southern investing line.
fifty

These troops are also engaged in time of war

digging trenches, the

in all kinds of siege-work, such as

From

forty to

construction of batteries, and the laying

down

of mines.

guns, which had been used against the recently

surrendered town of Mezieres, were also brought up and

utilized against the forts of St. Denis.
at

Of the twenty-three battalions of pioneers, Prussia has nineteen, Bavaria two, Saxony one, and Wiirtemberg
one.

Fire was also

To

the engineer troops also belongs the Prussian

once opened upon the

latter,

and was likewise directed

railway brigade of three regiments, one

is

company of which
Be-

against the old castle of Villetaneuse, and against Aubervillers

furnished by Saxony and one by Wtirtemberg.

sides these, there are a Bavarian railway battalion,

and a

and other exposed parts

of the northern side of

at Villiers-le-

Prussian and a Bavarian detachment of balloon troops.

Paris.

The siege-park was established

It

The uniform
artillery,

of the pioneers

is

similar to that of the field-

Bel.

required 700 farmers' wagons to bring up the

characteristically distinguished,

however, by

necessary material.

On

January

21st, at
fire

nine in the
forts,

the white buttons and white mountings attached to the

morning,

all

the batteries opened

upon the

helmet, which has a spike instead of a ball on top, and

which replied only for a short time.

After a successful

by black

leather belts

and

straps.

The railway troops

attack on Villetaneuse castle, the entire French artillery

are clothed similarly to the pioneers of the Guards, the

was silenced by the Germans

showing

in a

few days, the

in

latter

shoulder-straps showing an

"E"

their superiority over the

enemy

every respect.

regiment in
the

Roman

letters.

and the number of the The balloon troops wear

more energetic bombardment

this

of Paris

which had been

same uniform
Guards

as the railroad troops do, with an

"L"

aoreed upon at

juncture by the Germans, and which

on the shoulder-straps.
the
rifles.

Their head-dress

is

the shako of are distin-

was

to

be ushered

in

by the capture

of St. Denis, did not

The Bavarian pioneers

take place.

By

order of the commander-in-chief of the

guished both by the form of the mountings upon the

helmet and by their dark-blue trousers.

The Saxon

pio-

German

forces, all hostilities

were suspended on the night

neers are clothed like the

Saxon

field-artillery,

which wear

of the twenty-seventh of January.

The defences
city walls

of the a

green uniform with red facings, distinguished, however,

enemy had

suffered greatly.

The

were de-

stroyed, the casemates demolished, the garrison buildings

ruined and burned,

a
The

great feat accomplished by the

loss of the

by white buttons, and by white mountings on the helmet. The successful investment of Paris testifies to the The German efficiency of the German engineer corps.
investing line extended for thirty-four miles;
the tele-

German

artillery.

Germans

in the as-

sault included 30

officers,

and 350 dead and wounded,

graph

lines

connecting the headquarters of the three

while the French loss amounted to about 800 men.

loss of the city's

The

armies had a length of nearly sixty miles.

The army

population was given

at

97 dead and 278

wounded.
appearance

On

the twenty-third, Jules Favre had

made

his

which surrounded Paris numbered, on October 21st, 1870, 202,030 foot-soldiers, 33,734 horses, and 898 cannon.

at Versailles for the

purpose of negotiating
the stroke of the midfire

As soon
tion,

as the

German

troops had taken up their posia

the capitulation of Paris.

With

they

constructed

double

tier

of

fortification

night hour on the twenty-seventh, the

batteries

of the

German

works, which was declared by General Trochu, the defender of Paris, to be a masterpiece of military engineering.

was suspended.

On

the following day a gen-

The

villages,

castles,

and public parks,

forts,

situate in a

eral armistice

commenced,

after Paris
rifles,

had surrendered

within reach of the guns of the Paris

were put

with 602 field-guns, 177,000

1,200 ammunition
garrison, which

condition that they could be defended by infantry troops.

wagons, and 1,362 siege-guns.

The

All the streets were provided with abattis by felling

trees

consisted of 7,456 officers and 241,686 men, were declared prisoners of war.

and placing them

in

a line

with their branches

after

The troops

of the line

were

to

pointed against the enemy.

built

Redoubt

redoubt were

lay

down

their arms, only 12,000

men and

the National

and equipped both with heavy and with light

Guard were

to retain

them

for the preservation of order.

batteries.

On

the north side of Paris the Mor<5e creek

36

was dammed, and the mass

further increased

of the stream thus gained

was

occupied by a company of the 34th regiment.

pioneers closed the gorge and

The

by conducting

the water of the

Orqu

dug underground passages

canal into the creek.

By

this operation the

land lying

in the direction of the counterscarp.

On

the

same day

between Sevran and Dugny was inundated, so that the roadbed of the highway leading towards Le Bourget was visible only at Pont Iblon, the water at that place barring
the entrance to a defile.
of

a battery

was constructed immediately

in front of the

glacis of lunette No. 52.

battery of mortars

upon the
juncture
of

crest of the glacis on the next day.

it

moved At this

At the outlet, on the Le Bourget, some earthworks were thrown

other side
up.

was decided

to construct a bridge of barrels,

The

which a large number was on hand.

at

This work was

banks of the Mulette creek, flowing through Le Bourget, were lined with fortifications, which were occupied by
the
infantry.

begun

dusk, under no better protection than a screen

of boards to

prevent observation, and

it

was

finished

South of Paris, the Bavarians prepared

lines.

on the same night by Pomeranian pioneers.

Lunette

three

investing

The

batteries
off

posted

on

the

south side of Paris were 2,500 paces

fortifications,

from the

city's

No. 52 was found deserted by the enenrjt and occupied by some troops of the 34th regiment, and by pioneers and artillerymen.

while those on the north side were stationed

The seven guns

a

in the lunette

were

at a distance of

4,000 paces.

All the positions were Outposts,

spiked and the gorge was closed.

The bridge

of casks

equipped with telegraphic communication.

was now replaced by

dam.

Based upon

a report

by

provided with telescopes, were placed at advantageous

places
;

Captain Ledebur, who made a reconnoitring tour, swim-

a light-signal service

was likewise established.

river Marne,

ming through
was decided
the

the sheet of water back of the lunettes,

to

it

A
six

trestle-bridge

was constructed over the

direct operations against the crest of

pontoon bridges were constructed over the river Seine,

glacis

in

front

of

lunette

No. 51.

From

the

while the service of three ferries was also organized.

twenty-second to the twenty-fifth of September the Ger-

The investment

of the fortress of Strasburg also fully

mans advanced by means

ing the glacis,
in

of "flying saps"

and "sap

demonstrates that the German engineer corps was equal

to the task falling to its lot in the late war.

rollers" against lunette No. 51, and succeeded in gain-

On

Sep-

which operation the gallant Captain

tember

9th, the

work

of the

second parallel, somewhat

Ninety-six

Ledebur was
teries

killed.

The

lunettes Nos. 52 and 53 were

hindered by rainy weather, was completed.

rifled

now equipped with

effect of

batteries

and mortars, and new batNo.

54.

cannon and thirty-eight mortars were ready for

were constructed
their fire

in front of lunette

The

action.

Without delay, the preliminary work

was then begun.

of

the

on the fortress has been described

third parallel

In order to lower the

minutely under the section on " The German Artillery."

In the late war with France, the engineer troops dis-

water of the inundation and the water in the ditches,

the

Rhine-Rhone canal near Erstein and the "crooked"

111

played great proficiency

is

in constructing railroads,

which

Rhine, together with the upper waters of the

the Schwarz, were
parallel, trenches

and

the

first

and most important object

of the general

dammed and
were dug

led

off.

In the second
suitable

inspection of the lines of base.

third army's
lines
first

At

the period of the

for the

men and

advance over the Vosges, several railroad

in the northern part of

wooden quarters were erected

for the officers.

The

zig-

were built

Alsace by the
After the

zags leading to the third parallel were constructed and

and second division

of railway troops.
all

occupied on the night of the tenth of September, the

parallel proper

tunnel at Zabern was cleared of

obstructions, the rail-

was occupied between the twelfth and

loss.

road

track

between Bruchsal and Germersheim, and

to

fourteenth of September, without any

During

the

from there August.

Nancy, was completed by the eighteenth

of

night of the ninth, Captain Ledebur had discovered a

mined gallery near lunette No.

serted

53,

which had been delet

new line of base was likewise established, beginning at Colomby and passing through Void to Bar
le

by the enemy.
of

The captain was

powder.

down by

Due, rounding the

This

fortress of Toul,
line

which barred comon extended

to

ropes into the trenches, and, with the aid of some sappers,

munication.

new

was

later

removed the charges

this gallery to the third parallel

Communication from was effected by driving

Nogent lArtaud.

In order to finish the road, two via-

ducts 120 feet long had to be built near Vitry.

As
it

a shaft through the stone work.

secondary parallel,

passage could not be effected through the tunnel at

Nanteuil, thus preventing a continuous route,

212 paces long and four and one-half feet wide, was
dug, beginning at the centre of the third parallel and
reaching to the glacis of lunette No. 53.

was

found necessary
the tunnel.

to build a

new road by going around

of the

The crownin four days.

This was done to prevent the reloading of

ing of the covered

way
of

of this lunette

was begun by

the transports for the

army

Meuse

at

Chateau-

means

of

double traverse-saps, and finished

Thierry and of the third army at Nanteuil, from which

all material had to be carried on wagons. This work was finished by the twenty-third of November. On August 25th the railroad between Nancy and Are, which

During the night

fired,

the nineteenth, two mines were

places

which blew up part of the counterscarp opposite

it

lunette No. 53 and laid

level with the water line.

On

the twentieth of the month, the

Germans began laying an

was
killed.

was

of

importance

in establishing

communication between

earth and fascine

dam across the moat, during which opera-

the second

and third armies, was ready for operations.

tion the captain of the engineers

party

In order to avoid the fortress of Metz, the general inspection of lines of base caused the building of a

sent across in boats closed the breach

by throwing down
scaled and

new
first

rail-

some earth and stone work.

The breach was

road from Remilly to Pont-a-Musson.

The

and

37

second divisions of railway troops completed the road,

cylinder after the other

is

transferred to the balloon,

which was sixteen miles long,

in forty days. to

A viaduct

which

is

able to

make an

ascent in about one hour's time.

in

50 feet long and 12 feet high had

be built over the

At

the

manoeuvres and

war time only captive

is

bal-

ravine near Remilly; another one, 500 feet long and 23

feet high, to

loons are used, while at fortified places and at camps

was

built over a valley.

Two

trestles

had

also

enclosed by the

enemy
fair

the unfettered balloon

to

be

be erected, one 50 feet and the other 280 feet long.

forest three miles

employed.
rise to a

During

weather the captive balloon may

of a

wide and dense with beech wood

to

height of 1,800 feet, thus allowing a splendid

observation.

and heavy underbrush had

be cleared.

To procure
Meuse, a
Soissons, to

By means

good telescope the uniforms

better railroad facilities for the

railroad from Ohalous, through

army

of the

advancing enemy can be distinguished from the The reports from balloon at a distance of nine miles.
of an

Reims and

the captive balloon are transmitted to headquarters on the ground

Mitry, near Paris, and another line from Reims, through

by

a telephone, the wires of which are in-

Laon and La Fere,

Blesmes
to

to

Gonesse, near Paris, were

also finished the line
it

built.

closed in the guy-rope.

The

captive balloon can rise

by

The German railway troops

to Chatillon.
off in a

from

the aid of a single wire-rope, which ought to be strong,

Chaumont and extended

further southwest

but not very thick.

quires,

The manipulation

of the rope re-

From

the latter place the road branched

northwesterly direction to Troyes and Paris, and

Particular attention

however, a wagon especially constructed and provided with a windlass, which brings the balloon back
at a

southwest to Joigny and Monterau.

uniform rate by winding the rope on a drum.

If

was

also paid to the construction of a southern road

from

the balloon rises only to the height of from 300 to 450

feet, the

Chatillon, via Montargis on the Loing, to Orleans.

line

The

wagon with
is

the windlass

is

not needed, as the

balloon

then held by soldiers with four ropes.

By
any

Blesmes-Chaumont-Chatillon was opened on Decem-

the aid of these ropes the balloon

direction, the troops

may be moved

in

ber 2nd, the section from Chaumont to Troyes on December 25th, while the rest of the line was finished by the

middle of January.

The

line

Reims-Soissons-Mitry was
line

ready for operation on November 21st; the

from

Reims
end
of

to

Gonesse, touching Laon and La Fere, at the

All these railroad connections had the

keeping pace with the movement of These movements are important in time of war, as the balloon can be reached by infantry fire at a height of 6,000 feet, and by artillery fire at a In order to keep the height of about three miles.
the balloon.

December.

balloon out of range of

constantly changed.
bullet
large.
it

fire,

its

position

has to be
hit

one great drawback, that not more than sixteen trains

could be despatched daily because the direct line was
still

Should the balloon be

by
it

a
is

descends slowly, unless the rent made in

of a

occupied by the French and the trains were com-

pelled to run over the section from Frouard to Blesmes.

"Experiments
recently been

decidedly novel character have

a balloon which differs in form

made with

This inconvenience, which delayed the siege and bom-

from

all

balloons hitherto used.

The new model

is

bardment

of

Paris for three months,

was not removed

had fallen
into

large balloon, cylindric in form, at the end of which two

until all the northern

French

fortresses

small balloons are attached and suspended in a horizontal

position.

the hands of the Germans.

An

interesting feature of the engineer corps

is

the

balloon troops.

In a recent issue of the "Illustrated

Connected with the main balloon by several hangs the gondola, which can be shifted to the The swinging opposite side by a simple contrivance.
ropes,

Zeitung," of Berlin, that journal comments upon these

troops and their doings as follows
:

motion of the balloon and the gondola, common to balloons of the older type, is avoided by the peculiar construction of this novel invention.

The

shifting of the

"Very seldom

the public at large hears of the manoeu-

vres of these troops, although they are

constantly en-

gaged in working and experimenting along their lines in This much may be the Tempelhof drilling-grounds. asserted, that in the event of war the achievements of the German balloon troops will not be outrivalled by those of other nations. A uniform system of balloon-filling and
manoeuvring has been effected throughout the armies of The system is that known as the the Triple Alliance.

two small balloons, which are manipulated from the basket by means of ropes, gets rid of all former inconBoth observation and survey were made diffivenience. cult, nay, often impossible, by the balloons of the older construction, which changed their position continually.

The balloon

of the

new

pattern

is

comparatively steady,

even during high winds.

When

experimented with, the

times, enabling

new model
every

rose and

was lowered many

officer

present to test his instruments while seated

European armies use 'Young' system. The balloon is filled with hydrogen gas, which is prepared by the troops of the balloon detachment in a small factory situated on their own In time of war, and during the manoeuvres, grounds. the necessary gas has to be transported to the place on wagons. This is done by means of steel cylinders,
'

Majert-Richter,' while the other

in the basket.

the

the gondola

troops

by

For this purpose the ring on the top of was attached to the wagon of the balloon This rope, about 3,000 feet long, was rope.

manipulated by the aid of a roller-drum placed in the wagon. In order to lower the balloon, a pulley was From the pulley about thirty attached to the rope.
smaller ropes were suspended, each being held
soldier.

similar to those

by which

fluid

carbonic acid

is

trans-

ported.

The

a diameter of 5.1 in.

0.12

in.

about 8 feet long, with and a strength of the outer bands of The gas is condensed from 100 to 150 atmossteel cylinders are steel cylinders sur-

by a The men marched with the pulley towards the captive balloon, lowering it by this mode of procedure. When the balloon was thus brought to the ground and a
change
of

occupants was made, the soldiers ran back and

pheres.

The wagons carrying the

the balloon rose again."

round the balloon

in a circle while the contents of

one

38

THE GERMAN MILITARY TRAIN

which are equipped with helmets.

Wtirtemberg has
Saxon continwith black

one battalion, uniformed similarly to the Prussian battalions of the line.

The

battalion of the

gent wears

tunic of a light-blue

color,

facings and red cuffs, though with a shako of a different

form.

Eveky army
powder and

needs, in time of war, a large

amount
horses,

of

As

the maintenance of the

army while

in

an enemy's
train,

shot, of provisions for

men and

and

country depends almost entirely on the military

the responsibility which
service during
ized.
fell to this

of other equipments, which have necessarily to be trans-

branch of the army's

real-

ported on wagons.

This task

falls to

the lot of the mili-

the

late

war can hardly be fully

the

tary train, a branch of the army's service which has but recently received a better and more ample organization.

All communication with

France was effected over the

lines of

German army in base. The proper

solid basis of the

Every German army corps

talions the third

has, in time of peace,

one train

administration of the parts of the enemy's country which

battalion of three companies, while in the Bavarian bat-

were held by the troops formed the

head of

company belongs The

to the sanitary service.

inspection departments of the lines of base.

this entire organization

At

the

The troops
of leather,

of the military train

wear a black shako, made

shoulder-straps, which
of the bat-

was the quartermasterbe shouldered by

and

a blue tunic.

general of the army, Lieutenant-General von Podbielski.

It

are of a light-blue color,

talion.

show the number

was

a gigantic task

which had

to

this

For the personal protection

of the train-soldier,

official of

the Royal headquarters during the late war..

he

is

equipped with sabre and carbine.

The organiza-

Besides a faithful supervision of the lines of base, he had

likewise to provide for the speedy transportation of the reserve troops, for the proper sustenance of the army,

tion of the military train,

staff

when

mobilized, comprises the

of the battalion, three

sanitary detachments, one

depot of remounts, and one column consisting of the

field-bakeries.

When

the

battalion goes into

action

there are added a pontoon train, a detachment of field-

conveyance of the hospital-trains, and for the prompt communication through the agency of the post and telegraph service. Von Podbielski, however, proved
for the safe

telegraph troops, and twelve field-hospitals attached to

the sanitary service.

equal to the task, overcoming

all

obstacles

by

his great

These organizations are further

preciseness, vigilance, and foresight.

of the

At

the beginning

augmented by the commissariat, the war-chest, the provision bureaus, and the field post offices. The provision
trains consist of thirty-six provision

war the organization

of the field-post, of the field-

telegraph, and of the field-railway displayed great proficiency.

wagons, one reserve

On

July 31st, 1870, 170,000 maps, showing the

wagon, and one portable forge.

are

The provision wagons

canned
goods,

different sections of France,

cers of the

were distributed

to the offi-

laden
of

with

bread,

crackers,

and

army by

the general staff at Berlin

and the
of the

victuals

every

description.

These

moving

trains

telegraph bureau at Munich.

troops

The provisioning

supply the troops with the necessary provisions, while at the same time they replenish their stock of goods from
the depots situated on the lines of base.
trains comprise eighty-two vehicles for the transport of oats,

was beset by many obstacles, which, however, were promptly overcome by

the

massed near

Rhine

The wagon

the

efficiency of the commissary-general of the

army,

and serve especially

Lieutenant-General von Stosch.

In the corps districts a

sufficient for six

vision columns.

which is not carried by the proThe field-bakery columns number twenty

train -soldiers.

supply of victuals,

oats,

and hay
first

weeks

was secured.
on they drew

During the
their rations

days of the campaign the

portable bakeries with a personnel of two hundred bakers

troops supplied themselves with provisions, while later

and other professionals and

bilization of the army, the trains of the

At the moarmy corps are

It

from the depots established

at

the different Rhenish towns, which had been provided

divided into two echelons. One, called the small baggage,

follows the troops at a distance of seven to ten miles.
carries

with provisions for six weeks.

Each army corps was

at

supplied with four hundred wagons; the general inspection of the lines of base
its

everything necessary for the troops during, or

after, a

had three thousand wagons

immediately

battle,

while the heavy baggage

all

disposal.

follows at a greater distance and carries

supplies
its

Each

of the great

German armies had

of pioneers

a general deit

required for the sustenance of the army during

tions in the field.

opera-

partment which supervised the lines of base;

sisted of a

con-

company

and a detachment of
in-

The German army has twenty-one

teen battalions of the line and

train battalions, of
six-

railway and telegraph troops.

spection

This department of

which seventeen are furnished by Prussia, namely,

one
battalion
is

of

the

army.

moved along with The department of

its

the advance-guard of the

inspection connected with

Guards.

The

battalion of the
line

Guards

distinguished

the third army, which had

headquarters at
to

Nancy on

from those of the

by

its

white braiding on the tunic

August

18th,

was

transferred

Bar-le-Duc on the

and the
the

star of the

Guards, instead of the eagle, affixed to

of
this

twenty-sixth of the month.

The second army's departlater

shako.

The troops

battalion

wear white

ment, which arrived

at

Saargemilnd on August 11th, on

to

horse-hair plumes on parade, while the battalions of the

line

moved

to

Pont-a-Musson on the 16th, and

wear black plumes.

Bavaria

The

officers are

equipped with
both of

Remilly. followed

The department
the

of

the

army
to

of the

Meuse
and

helmets.

furnishes

two

battalions,

army's

headquarters

Clermont

39

Beaumont.

It

arrived at Sedan on September 4th for

the purpose of clearing the battlefield, and

ally

was eventu-

wounded of German soldiers Of this number 240,426 were

Eleven millions of dollars
presents were sent to the
stay on French
at the
soil;

in

France was 295,634.

transported to Germany.

transferred

to

Dammartin, near

Paris.

At

the

in cash

and

five millions in

larger towns, situated on the lines of base, depots, hospitals,

German

troops during their

and bakeries were established, and

a telegraph

while foreign countries contributed

to

service

was

instituted.

This service was alloted to the

same time gratuities amounting

two and oneof all this

field-telegraph troops, to troops assigned for the main-

half millions of dollars.

For the forwarding

tenance of the lines of base, and to government oper-

material three principal depots, one reserve depot, and

was performed by two Bavarian, and one Wilrtemberg detachments, which followed the army's operations in the
ators.

The

field-telegraph service

twenty-six branch depots had to be established.

Sixty

five

Prussian,

thousand men of the North-German and South-German

landwehr, the
troops
of

the

general

government

of

field.

These troops sometimes did their work ahead of

fire

Alsace and Lorraine included, were needed to protect

the

the advance-guards, under the

of the

enemy.

The

German

lines of base.

These troops had

to

undergo
peril.

telegraph service of the lines of base was performed by

troops which belonged to three Prussian and one Bavarian detachments.

a great deal of hardship

and were often in much

to

They were

especially

exposed

the

attacks

of the

The troops followed

in the

path of

hostile country people

and franctireurs, who often tore up

telegraph
wires,

the field-telegraph detachments and established regular

lines,

railroad tracks, destroyed

and "held

with cross-lines, while the government telegraph

the temporary

up

" arm}'

wagons and

stages.

officials finished

work previously done by

in order to facili-

the troops.
lished at
tate

Central field-telegraph bureaus were estab-

Nancy, Epernay, and Lagny,

the

communication of the army with Germany.

Later on, Versailles became the centre of the telegraph

service with

two main

lines,

one going over Sedan and the

service of the field-telegraph,

other over Saarbriicken.

The

THE GERMAN COLONIAL TROOPS

Though
the troops

together with that of the lines of base, covered 6,730 miles,

employed

for the defence of the

with 407 stations; while the government telegraph service

Imperial Colonies are not a part of the

navy, their organization
is

German army and

The

operated over 7,770 miles, with 118 stations.

here briefly treated.

postal service

was likewise established

in the field.

Colonial troops of East-Africa, the

of

Kameruns and Togo

Their forces,

The North German Confederation furnished

each army, and
field-deliveries

a general

West- Africa

are recruited from natives.

post office for the chief headquarters, a post office for

thirteen field
for

numbering 2,422 men,

are trained

and commanded by
officers.

post

offices,

with three

German
troops of

officers

and

noncommissioned

The

each

army

corps.

Later on, the

East-Africa consist of Sudanese, Zulus, and

Confederation supplied the eight cavalry divisions, the

five divisions of reserve troops, the chief

Askaris, and are employed for preserving public order

commands

of

and safety

the

army

of the

Meuse and

in the Colonies, chiefly,

the

army

however, for suppressof the troops in-

of the South,

and
ing the slave trade.
cludes, with the

the thirteenth and fourteenth corps, each with a branch

office.

The organization

Each bureau

of inspection of the lines of base

German Emperor

as commander-in-chief,

received three post

offices,

and the government of Alsace

In the course of time a
fixed sta-

one commander, one sub-commander, seven lieutenants, one surgeon, one commissary, and ten companies, each
of

and Lorraine

a field post office.

courier postal service

tions, as well as

was

established, with

150 men.

The Colonial

troops of southwestern Africa,

of

regular mail-coaches for the forwarding

a general
post-office

which number 558 men, mostly mounted, consist

volunteer
of the
officers,

of packages.

At Nancy

depart-

noncommissioned

officers,

and privates

ment was organized on August

ginning of October a second post

24th,

embracing forty

German army.

The

privates bind themselves to

post offices over the newly-occupied territory.

office

At

the beat

a longer active service, lasting

from four

to five years

was established

longer than the usual contract stipulates.

officers,

All

German

Strasburg, both controlling at that time 158 postal stations.

surgeons, and paymasters,

who

enter the Colonial

The
five

sanitary affairs of the

late

army were well looked

after

service,

withdraw by

this step

from the regular organiif

during the

war.

Field-hospitals were erected at

zation of the army, which they may, however, reenter

hundred

different places.

Two

commissions were

they wish to do

so.

The time

of service in Africa,

if it

appointed, whose duty was to attend and care for the

hospital-trains arriving at

Weissenburg and Saarbriicken.

extends over a period of six months, counts double in the

pension.
service

Nancy and Lagny were

pital-trains left for

the stations from which the hos-

Imperial subjects,

who

are liable for military

Germany.

At Lagny between 1,400

and were here put on the

and reside

in

the

Colonies,

may

fulfill

their

and 1,700 sick and wounded arrived daily from the

different

liability to serve

by entering the ranks

of the Colonial

French

battlefields,

forces.

Those German soldiers and

sailors

who

live in

hospital-trains.
train-soldiers,

were

Over 45,000 people, including 8,398 employed in the different saniarmy.

the Colonies on furlough

may be

called to service in case

of emergency, according to the law of September 7th,

tary

departments of the

The

total

sick

and

1896.

40

CLASSIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY

Commander-in-Chief
in time of war,

of the

German Imperial army

Inspection

ARTILLERY INSPECTIONS
field-artillery, Berlin departments School of Gunnery for Field-Artillery, Jflterbog 1st
; ;

His Majesty, the German Emperor and King of Prussia, William II.

of

THE IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS

Reporting Adjutant-General of the Emperor the Adjutant-General in attendance and in command of the
;

and 2nd instruction

divisions, Juterbog.
of the foot-artillery, Berlin.

General inspection

1st foot-art. inspection, Berlin.

1st foot-art. brig. Berlin:

headquarters; the General of the suite, also in attendance.

Regt. of Foot-Guards

art.,

4th, 5th,

and 6th

regts. of foot-art.
1st,

THE MILITARY CABINET

Departmental chief and the chiefs of the different
divisions,

2nd

foot-art. brig.,

Thorn:

2nd, 11th, and 15th

regts. of foot-art.

including the

ministers

of

war of Prussia,

Inspection of the 1st and 2nd artillery depot

of

school

Bavaria, Saxony, Wflrtemberg.

gunnery

for

the

foot-artillery,

Juterbog;

school for artillery sergeants, Berlin.

THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMY

Prussia: Chief; quartermaster-general; quartermasterin-chief;
chiefs of divisions of the great general staff;

2nd

foot-art. inspection,

Cologne.
:

3rd foot-art. brig., Metz

of foot-art.;

7th, 8th,

and 9th

regt.

12th Royal Saxon regt.; 1st and

chiefs of the

army

corps.
staff

3rd Royal Bavarian bats, of 2nd regt. of foot-art.

are:

Subject to the chief of the general

War

4th foot-art. brig., Strasburg; 3rd

foot-art.;

and 10th

regts. of

Academy
lin
;

at Berlin

the bureau of national survey, Ber-

13th bat. of foot-art.; 14th regt. of

the railway brigade, Berlin, consisting of 1st and 2nd regiments of railway troops, Berlin, and 3rd regiment, Juterbog experimental division of the railway brigade,
;

foot-art.

3rd and 4th inspection of artillery depots.

bureau of the military railroad, Berlin

balloon troops, Berlin.

detachment of

GENERAL COMMISSION FOR ARTILLERY

1st

TESTS,

BERLIN

commission for
art.
;

artillery tests

1st division of field-

Bavaria Saxony
:

Chief; topographical bureau.

Chief; topographical bureau.
:

2nd

division of foot-art. division of the commission for artillery

2nd experimental
tests.

Wurtemberg
Commission

Chief.
:

Experimental

company

(practice-ground,

of national defences

Berlin.
:

Cummersdorf).
for artillery tests.

Commission
Military
States
:

of the imperial districts of

Berlin.

Depot-bureau of the commission Ordnance bureau, Berlin.

of the foot-artillery,

plenipotentiaries

the

German Federal

Royal Bavarian inspection

Munich;

Bavaria, Saxony, Wflrtemberg.

:

school of artillery sergeants, Munich.

National Gendarmerie

Prussia, Bavaria.

GENERAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINEER AND PIONEER CORPS AND OP THE FORTRESSES, BERLIN
1st inspection of engineers, Berlin
:

THE ARMY INSPECTIONS

Chief -command in the Marks: Berlin.
1st

1st

inspection of fortresses, KBnigsberg

KOnigs-

berg, Dantzic, Pillau, Boyen, Memel.

2nd inspection

of

fortresses,

Kiel

Friedrichsort,

army

inspection, Berlin

First,

Second, Ninth,

Cuxhaven with Heligoland, Geestemflnde, Wilhelmshaven, Swinemtinde.

Tenth, and Seventeenth army corps.

2nd army inspection, Dresden Fifth, Sixth, Twelfth, and Nineteenth army corps, 3rd army inspection, Hanover Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Eighteenth army corps. 4th army inspection, Munich Third and Fourth Prussian, and First and Second Bavarian army corps. 5th army inspection, Carlsruhe Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth army corps. The corps of the Guards is not subject to inspection.
: : :
:

2nd inspection

of engineers, Berlin
:

3rd inspection of fortresses, Posen

Neisse, Glatz
;

Posen, Glogau,

depot-building bureau, Breslau.

:

4th inspection of fortresses, Thorn

Thorn, Grau-

denz, Kiistrin, Spandau, Magdeburg.

3rd inspection of engineers, Strasburg

5th inspection of fortresses, Strasburg
:

Strasburg,

Neubreisach, Bitsch, Ulm.

6th inspection of fortresses, Metz
:

Metz, Dieden-

GENERAL INSPECTION OP THE CAVALRY, BERLIN

1st cavalry inspection at

hofen.

Konigsberg; 2nd

at Stettin;

7th inspection of fortresses, Cologne

lenz,

Cologne, Cob-

3rd at Milnster; 4th at Saarbriicken.

Mayence, Wesel.
School of fortification,

departments
shoeincr.

Royal Bavarian inspection of the cavalry, Munich; Riding Academy and Institute of Horse:

Board

of

engineers, Berlin.

Charlottenburg.
service, Berlin.

Inspection of the military telegraph

Military telegraph school, Berlin.

41

1st

inspection of pioneers, Berlin

Bat. of

Guards

pioneers; 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 17th bats, of pioneers; 1st and

18th bats, of pioneers (First army corps, Konigsberg).

Royal Bavarian inspection of the military educational Munich: War academy, Munich artillery and engineering school, Munich; military academy,
institutes,
;

2nd inspection of pioneers, Mayence 11th, 14th, and Royal Wttrtemberg; 13th, 15th, and 19th bats. (Fifteenth army corps, Strasburg) 16th and 20th (Sixteenth army
:

Munich;

corps

of

cadets,

Munich;

normal
officers,

and preFttrsten-

paratory school for noncommissioned

feldbruck; school of musketry, Augsburg.

corps, Metz).

Riding academy, Hanover.

3rd inspection of pioneers,

8th, 0th,

Magdeburg

3rd, 4th, 7th,

Royal Bavarian riding academy, Munich.

den.

and 10th

bats, of pioneers.

Royal Bavarian inspection of the engineer corps and of the fortresses, Munich. Detachment of balloon troops,
Munich.
Military telegraph school, Munich.

Royal Saxon inspection of the riding academy, DresRiding academy, Dresden.

inspection,

Veterinary
Berlin
;

Berlin

Veterinary
at

school,

horse-shoeing

institutes

Berlin,

Breslau,

Inspection of jager and schtltzen, Berlin.

Inspection of the troops which maintain the communication of the army, Berlin.

Konigsberg, Gottesaue, Hanover, Frankfurt, Munich, Dresden.

Inspection of the military penitentiaries, Berlin.

Railway-brigade, Berlin
railway troops;
brigade, Berlin;

1st,

2nd, and 3rd regts. of

of

Inspection of the military penitentiaries, Munich.

experimental division

the

railway-

bureau of the military road, Berlin.

troops,
;

Detachment of balloon

Berlin;

inspection

of

THE ARMY CORPS

CORPS OF THE GUARDS, BERLIN
1st division of

the telegraph troops, Berlin

operating bureau of the

railway brigade, Berlin; cavalry telegraph school.

Guards

infantry, Berlin.
inf.,
;

INSPECTION

OP THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OF THE INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY

1st brig. of

Guards

Potsdam:

1st. regt. of

Foot-

Guards, Potsdam
Berlin;
bat. of

3rd regt. of Foot-Guards,

rifles,

Small arm factories at Spandau, Dantzic, Erfurt, Amberg ammmunition factory at Spandau bureau of construction at Spandau; artillery workartillery
;

Guards

"Potsdam

bat.

of inf. instructors,

Potsdam.
Berlin
:

2nd

brig, of

Guards

inf.,

2nd

regt. of Foot-

shops at Spandau, Deutz, Strasburg, Dantzic, Munich,

Guards, Berlin; regt. of Fusilier-Guards, Berlin;

Dresden
jectile

gun foundries

at

Spandau, Ingolstadt
;

pro-

4th regt. of Foot-Guards, Berlin.

infantry, Berlin.
inf.,

factories at Siegburg, Ingolstadt

;

pyrotechnical

Spandau powder factories at Spandau, Hanau, Ingolstadt, Gnaschwitz experimental bureau at Spandau; ordnance bureau at Berlin.
laboratory at
;

2nd division of Guards

3rd brig, of Guards

Berlin

1st regt. of

Gren-

adier-Guards "Emperor Alexander of Russia,"

Berlin
;

Inspection of the artillery depots, Berlin

inspection of the artillery depot at Posen
;

1st sub;

3rd regt. of Grenadier-Guards "Queen

2nd

at Stettin

Elizabeth,"
rifles,

Charlottenburg

bat.

of

Guards

3rd at Cologne

4th at Strasburg.
:

Gross-Lichterfelde.
inf.,

Inspection of the train depot, Berlin

tion of the train depot at Dantzic
;

1st subinspec;

4th brig, of Guards

Berlin

2nd

regt. of

Grena-

2nd

at Berlin

3rd at

dier-Guards "Emperor Franz," Berlin; 4th regt.

of

Cassel

4th at Strasburg.
5th

Grenadier-Guards "Queen Augusta," Berlin.

of

United Artillery and Engineering School, Berlin.

brig,

Guards

inf.,
;

Spandau

5th

regt. of

GENERAL INSPECTION OF THE TECHNICAL AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES OF THE ARMY

Supreme Board
of Military Examiners, Berlin.

Foot-Guards, Spandau
Guards, Spandau.

5th regt. of Grenadier-

Division of Guards cavalry, Berlin.

1st brig, of

Guards

Inspection of the military schools, Berlin:

schools

cav., Berlin:

Military

Regt. of Gardes

at Potsdam, Glogau, Neisse, Engers, Kassel, Hanover, Anclam, Metz, Dantzic, Hersfeld.

du Corps, Potsdam;
Berlin.

regt. of Cuirassier-Guards,

Corps of Cadets, Berlin:

Normal school
Plon,

of

military

2nd

brig,

of

Guards

cav.,

Potsdam:

1st

regt.

of

cadets at Gross-Lichterfelde; schools of cadets at Koslin,

Uhlan-Guards, Potsdam; 3rd regt. of UhlanGuards, Potsdam.

3rd
brig, of

Potsdam,

Wahlstadt,

Bensberg,

Oranienstein,

Carlsruhe, and Dresden.

Guards

cav.,

Berlin
of

1st

regt.

of

Inspection of infantry

schools,

Berlin:

School of
Bie-

Dragoon-Guards "Queen
"

Great Britain and

musketry, Spandau; military gymnasium, Berlin; schools

for

Ireland," Berlin; 2nd regt. of Dragoon-Guards

noncommissioned

officers

at

Potsdam,

Jillich,

Empress Alexandra

of Russia," Berlin.

brich, Weissensfels, Ettlingen,

Marienwerder;

prepara-

4th brig, of Guards cav., Potsdam: Regt. of Hussars,

tory schools at Weilburg, Neu-Breisach, Jtllich,

Wohlau,
institute

Body-Guards, Potsdam; detachment of mounted

Annaburg, Bartenstein, Greifenberg; military for soldier's sons, Annaburg.

Commission
missioned
for
rifle tests,

Guards
Berlin

rifles;

2nd

regt. of

Uhlan-Guards, Berlin.

Brig, of Guards field-art., Berlin: 1st regt. of Guards

field-art.,
;

Spandau.

2nd

regt. of

Guards

field-art.,

Pots-

Inspection of the Royal Saxon schools for noncomofficers at

dam

Guards

bat. of the train, Berlin.

foot-art.,

Dresden; normal and preparatory

school at Marienberg.

Attached to the corps are: Regt. of Guards Spandau; bat. of the Guards pioneers, Berlin.

42


ARMY CORPS, KONIGSBERG
Konigsberg:
III."
1st regt. of Grenadiers

FIRST
1st division,

8th brig, of

Konigsberg.
74th
(East-Pruss. No. 1),
of inf.

No.

6),

inf., Gnesen 49th Gnesen 140th* regt.

: ;

regt. of inf.

(Pom.

of inf., Inowrazlaw.
inf.,

1st brig, of inf.,

brig": of inf., Stettin:

148th regt. of

Stettin;

"King Frederick

149th regt. of
4th brig, of cav.,

inf.,

Schneidemuhl.

KSnigsberg; 41st regt.

''4th brig, of inf.,

"von Boyen"

(East-Pruss. No. 5), Tilsit.

Grenadiers
regt. of Grenadiers

Konigsberg: 3rd

"

King Frederick William"

(East-Pruss. No.

2),

Bromberg: 3rd regt. of mounted Baron von Derfflinger" (NeumHrk), Bromberg; 12th regt. of Dragoons "von Arnim" (Brandenb. No. 2), Gnesen.
"
:

KOnigsberg; 43rd regt. of inf. "Duke Carl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz" (East-Pruss. No. 6),
Konigsberg.
'1st brig, of cav., KSnigsberg: 3rd regt. of Cuirassiers

2nd brig, of field-art., Stettin 2nd regt. of field-art. (Pom. No. 1), Stettin; 17th regt. of field-art. (Pom. No. 2), Bromberg; 2nd bat. of the train (Pom.), Alt-

Damm.
Attached
Stettin. to

"Count Wrangel " (East-Pruss.), Konigsberg; squadron of mounted rifles of the First army corps; 1st regt. of Dragoons "Prince Albrecht
of

the

corps are:

2nd
;

regt.

of

foot-art.

"von Hindersin" (Pom.), Dantzic

17th bat. of pioneers,

Prussia" (Lith.),

Tilsit.

2nd

division, Insterburg.

2nd

brig, of inf.,

Gumbinnen: 33rd regt. of Fusiliers "Count Roon" (East-Pruss.), Gumbinnen; 147th'

inf.,

THIRD ARMY CORPS, BERLIN

5th division, Frankfurt-on-the-Oder. 9th brig, of
inf.,

regt. of inf., Insterburg.

Frankfurt: 8th regt. of Grenadiers

73rd brig, of

Rastenburg: 4th regt. of Grenadiers "King Frederick II." (East-Pruss. No. 4), Rastenburg; 59th regt. of inf. "Count Hiller

Body-Guards "King Frederick William III." (Brandenb. No. 1), Frankfurt; 48th regt. of inf. " von Stillpnagel" (Brandenb. No. 5), Ktistrin.
10th brig, of
inf., Frankfurt: 12th regt. of Grenadiers "Prince Karl of Prussia" (Brandenb. No. 2),

von GHrtringen " (Posen No.

4),

Goldap.

2nd

brig, of cav., Insterburg: 11th regt. of

Dragoons
12th' regt.

"von Wedel" (Pom.), Gumbinnen;

of

Frankfurt;

52nd

regt.

of inf.
6),

"von Alvens-

Uhlans

(Lith.), Insterburg.

leben" (Brandenb. No.

Kottbus.

37th division, Allenstein.

3rd brig, of
inf.,

5th brig, of cav. Frankfurt: 2nd regt. of Dragoons

regt. of inf. (East-Pruss.

Lyck: 45th

Mo.

8); 146th''regt. of inf.,

inf.,

Sensburg.
inf.,

75th brig, of

Allenstein: 150th' regt. of

inf.,

(Brandenb. No. 1), Schwedt; 3rd regt. of Uhlans "Emperor Alexander II. of Russia" (Brandenb. No. 1), Ftlrstenwalde.
6th division, Brandenburg.
11th brig, of
inf.,

Allenstein; 151st" regt. of

Allenstein.

37th brig, of cav., Allenstein: 10th regt. of Dragoons

"King Albert

of

Saxony"

(East-Pruss.), Allen-

Brandenburg: 20th

regt. of inf.

stein; 8th regt. of

Uhlans "Count zu Dohna" (East-Pruss.), Lyck.

Konigsberg:
1st regt. of field-art.

"Count Tauentzien von Wittenberg" (Brandenb. No. 3), Wittenberg; 35th regt. of Fusiliers "Prince Henry of Prussia" (Brandenb.

1st brig, of field-art.,

"Prince August of Prussia" (East-Pruss.), Insterburg;

16th regt. of
field-art.

No.

3),

Brandenburg.
inf.,

(West-Pruss.), KOnigsberg

1st

12th brig, of

Brandenburg: 24th
(Brandenb.

regt. of inf.

bat. of the train (East-Pruss.),

Konigsberg.
1st bat. of rifles

"Grand Duke Frederick Franz

II. of

Mecklen4),

Attached to the corps

are:

"Count

burg-Schwerin"
Ruppin; 64th
8), Prenzlau.

No.

Neu-

York von Wartenburg"

regt. of foot-art. of pioneers

(East-Pruss.), Ortelsburg; 1st

;

regt. of inf.

"Fieldmarshal Prince

berg

" von Linger," Konigsberg 1st bat. "Prince Radziwill" (East-Pruss.), Konigs18th bat. of pioneers, Konigsberg.

Frederick Charles of Prussia " (Brandenb. No.

6th brig, of cav., Brandenburg: 6th regt. of Cuirassiers

I. of Russia" (BranBrandenburg; 3rd regt. of Hussars "von Zieten" (Brandenb.), Rathenow.

"Emperor Nicholas

SECOND ARMY CORPS, STETTIN

3rd division, Stettin.
5th brig, of
inf.,

denb.),

Stettin:

2nd

regt. of Grenadiers
1),

3rd brig., of field-art. Berlin:

" Great Master of the
;

3rd regt. of

field-art.

"King Frederick William IV." (Pom. No.

Stettin
;

42nd

regt. of inf. " Prince Moritz of

5),

Anhalt-Dessau" (Pom. No.

6th brig, of
inf.,

Stralsund.

diers "

gard

Stettin: 9th regt. of Colberg GrenaCount Gneisenau" (Pom. No. 2), Star54th regt. of inf. " von der Goltz " (Pom.

Ordnance" (Brandenb. No. 1), Brandenburg 18th regt. of field-art. "Great Master of the Ordnance" (Brandenb. No. 2), Frankfurt; 3rd bat. of the train (Brandenb.), Spandau.
Attached to the corps are 3rd
:

bat. of rifles (Brandenb.),

Lttbben; 3rd bat. of pioneers "von Rauch" (Brandenb.),

No.

7),

Kolberg.

Spandau; Landwehr inspection, Berlin.

3rd brig, of cav., Stettin: 2nd regt. of Cuirassiers

"The Queen's Own"

regt. of

(Pom.), Pasewalk; 9th Uhlans (Pom.), Demmin.

FOURTH ARMY CORPS, MAGDEBURG

7th division, Magdeburg.

4th division, Bromberg.

7th brig, of

13th brig, of
:

inf.,

Magdeburg: 26th

regt. of inf.

Bromberg 34th regt. (Pom.), Bromberg 129th' regt. of

inf.,
;

of Fusiliers
inf.,

"Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau (Magdeb,

Brom-

berg.

No. No.

1),
3),

Magdeburg; 66th regt. Magdeburg.

of inf.

(Magdeb.

43

"

SIXTH ARMY CORPS, BRESLAU

11th division, Breslau.
21st brig, of
diers
inf.,

14th brig, of

inf.,

Halberstadt:

27th regt. of inf

"Prince Louis Ferdinand

of Prussia"

(Magdeb.
(Hanov.

No. 2), Halberstadt; 165th No. 5), Goslar.

regt. of inf.

Schweidnitz: 10th regt. of GrenaII."

(Siles.

"
1),

King Frederick William

Schweidnitz
;

7th brig, of cav., Magdeburg: 10th regt. of Hussars

No.

38th regt. of Fusiliers

(Magdeb.), Stendal; 16th regt. of Uhlans "Hennings von Treffenfeld " (Altmiirk.), Salzwedel.
8th division, Halle.

" Fieldmarshal Count

Moltke"

(Siles.), Glatz.

22nd

brig, of inf., Breslau: 11th regt. of Grenadiers

(Siles.

"Crown Prince Frederick William"

Halle: 36th regt. of Fusiliers (Maginf.,

15th brig, of

inf.,

No.
Siles.

2),

Breslau;
'

51st

regt. of
,

inf.

(Lower-

deb.), Anhalt; 93rd regt. of

Dessau.

No.

4), Breslau.

5;!r---inf.,

16th brig, of

inf.,

Torgau: 72nd

regt. of inf. (Thlir.

inf.

78th brig, of

inf.,

Brieg: 156th regt. of

inf.,

Brieg;

No. 4), Torgau; 153rd No. 8), Altenburg.

regt. of

(Thlir.

157th regt. of

Brieg.

11th brig, of cav., Breslau: 1st regt. of Cuirassiers

8th brig, of cav., Halle: 7th regt. of Cuirassiers "von

Body-Guards
(Siles.

"Great Elector"

(Siles.),

Bres-

Seydlitz" (Magdeb.), Halberstadt; 12th regt.

of

lau; 8th regt. of

Dragoons "King Frederick III."

Hussars

(Thilr.),

Merseburg.
regt. of field-art.

No.

2),

Oels; 4th regt. of Hussars

"von

4th brig, of
" Prince

field-art.,

Magdeburg: 4th
of

Schill" (Siles. No. 1), Ohlau.

Regent Luitpold

Bavaria" (Magdeb.), Mag4th bat.

12th division, Neisse.

deburg; 19th regt. of

of the train (Magdeb.),

field-art. (Thlir.), Erfurt;

23rd brig, of

inf.,

Neisse: 22nd regt. of

inf.

"Keith"
regt. of

Magdeburg.
are:

(Upper-Siles. No. 1), Gleiwitz;

regt.

62nd

Attached to

the

corps

4th

of

foot-art.

inf.

(Upper-Siles. No. 3), Cosel.

inf.,

"Encke" (Magdeb.), Magdeburg; 4th (Magdeb.), Magdeburg.

bat. of pioneers

24th brig, of

Neisse: 23rd regt. of

inf.

"von

Winterfeldt" (Upper-Siles. No. 2), Neisse;

63rd regt. of
inf.

(Upper-Siles. No. 4), Oppeln.

FIFTH ARMY CORPS, POSEN

9th division, Glogau.
>

12th brig, of cav., Neisse: 6th regt. of Hussars "Count

Goetzen"
regt. of inf.

(Siles.

No.

2),

Leobschtltz; 2nd regt.

(Siles.), Gleiwitz.
field-art.

17th brig, of
Siles.

inf.,

Glogau: 50th
3),
3),

(Lowerof
inf.

of

Uhlans "von Katzler"

field-art.,

No.

Rawitsch;

58thT regt.

6th brig, of

Breslau: 6th regt. of

(Posen No.
18th brig, of
"

Glogau.
I." (West-Pruss.
inf.

"von Peucker"

(Siles.), Breslau; 21st regt, of field-art.

inf.,

Liegnitz: 7th regt. of Grenadiers

"von Clausewitz"

(Upper-Siles.), Neisse; 6th bat. of the

King William
2), Gorlitz.

nitz;

19th regt. of

No. 2), Lieg"von Courbiere" (Posen

train (Siles), Breslau.

No.

Attached to the corps are: 6th regt. of

foot-art.

"von
Oels;

9th brig, of cav., Glogau: 4th regt. of Dragoons " von Bredow " ( Siles. No. 1 ) Ltlben 10th regt.
, ;

Dieskau"

(Siles.),

Neisse; 6th bat. of

(Siles.),

rifles (Siles.),

6th bat. of pioneers

Neisse.

of

Uhlans " Prince August

of

Wlirtemberg

(Posen), Zilllichau.

SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, MUNSTER

:

10th division, Posen. 19th brig, of

inf.,

Posen

6th regt. of Grenadiers

13th division, Mtinster.

"Count
No.
1),

Kleist von Nollendorf" (West-Pruss.

25th brig, of

inf.,

Mtinster: 13th regt. of

inf.

"Her1),

Posen; 46th regt. of

inf.

"Count KirchFusiliers

warth

von

Bittenfeld "
inf.

(Westph.
"

No.

bach" (Lower-Siles. No. 1), Posen. 37th regt. of 20th brig, of inf., Posen
:

Mtinster; 56th regt. of

Vogel von Falken-

stein" (Westph. No. 7), Wesel.

"von Steinmetz" (Westphal.), Krotoschin; 47th regt. of inf. (Lower-Siles. No. 2), Posen.
77th brig, of
inf.,

26th brig, of

inf.,

Minden: 15th

regt. of inf.

"Prince

Frederick of the Netherlands" (Westph. No.

2),

Ostrowo: 154th regt. of

inf.,

Jauer;

155th''regt. of inf., Ostrowo.

10th brig, of cav., Posen

Empress's
1st regt. of

Own"

2nd regt. of Hussars "The (Body-Guards No. 2), Posen; Uhlans "Emperor Alexander III. of
:

Minden; 55th regt. of inf. "Count Billow von Dennewitz " (Westph. No. 6), Detmold.
inf.,

79th brig, of

Paderborn:

158th regt. of

inf.,

Paderborn; 159th

regt. of inf., Milhlheim.

:

Russia" (West-Pruss.), Militsch.

5th brig, of field-art., Posen: 5th regt. of field-art. "von

13th brig, of cav., Mtinster

field-

4th regt. of Cuirassiers

Podbielski" (Lower-Siles.), Glogau; 20th regt. of

art.

"von Driesen" (Westph.), Mtinster; 8th regt. of Hussars "Emperor Nicholas of Russia"
(Westph. No.
1),

(Posen), Posen

5th bat. of the train (Lower-Siles.),

Paderborn.

Posen.

Attached to the corps are

5th
rifles

regt.

of

foot-art.

14th division, Dtlsseldorf. 27th brig, of

inf.,

(Lower-Siles.), Posen; 5th bat. of

"von Neumann"

Cologne: 16th regt. of

3),

inf.

"Count

(Siles. No. 1), Hirschberg; 5th bat. of pioneers (Lower-

von Sparr" (Westph. No.

regt. of inf.

Cologne; 53rd
Cologne.

Siles.),

Glogau.

(Westph. No.

5),

44

28th brig, of

inf., Dtlsseldorf: 39th regt. of Fusiliers (Lower-Rhen.), Dtlsseldorf; 57th regt. of inf. "Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick" (Westph.

17th

brig, of cav. (Grand-Duchy of Mecklenb.), Schwerin: 17th regt. of Dragoons (Mecklenb. No. 1), Ludwigslust; 18th regt. of Dragoons

No.

8),

Wesel.
:

(Mecklenb. No.
11th regt. of Hussars
5th
regt.

2),

Parchim.

14th brig, of oav., Diisseldorf

18th division, Flensburg.

(Westph. No. 2), Diisseldorf; Uhlans (Westph.), Dtlsseldorf.

of

35th

brig,

of

inf.,

Flensburg: 84th regt. of

inf.

7th brig, of field-art., Mtinster: 7th regt. of field-art.

"von Manstein" (Schleswig), Schleswig; 86th regt. of Fusiliers " The Queen's Own " (Schleswig-Holstein), Flensburg.

(Westph. No. 1), Wesel; 22nd regt. of field-art. (Westph. No. 2), Mtinster; 7th bat. of the train (Westph.), Milnster.
Attached
(Westph.),
to

36th brig, of

inf.,

the

corps are:
7th
bat.

7th
of

regt.
rifles

of

foot-art.

"Count Bose"
of inf.

(Thtir.

Rendsburg: 31st regt. of inf. No. 1), Altona; 85th regt.

Rends-

Cologne;

(Westph.),

"Duke

of Holstein " (Holstein),

BUckeburg; 7th

bat. of pioneers (Westph.), Deutz.

burg.
18th brig, of cav., Altona:

15th regt. of Hussars

of

EIGHTH ARMY CORPS, COBLENZ

15th division, Cologne.

"Queen

Wilhelmina

the

Netherlands"

(Hanov.), Wandsbeck; 16th regt. of Hussars

"Emperor Franz Joseph

Aix-la-Chapelle
:

of Austria" (Schles-

29th brig, of

inf.,

40th regt. of
of

wig-Holstein), Schleswig.

Fusiliers "Prince Charles

Anton

Hohenzol-

9th brig, of

field. -art.,

Altona:

9th regt. of

field-art.

lern" (Hohenzoll.), Aix-la-Chapelle; 65th regt.

(Schleswig), Itzehoe;

24th regt. of

field-art. (Holstein),

No. 5), Cologne. 30th brig, of inf., Coblenz 28th regt. of inf. "von Goeben" (Rhen. No. 2), Ehrenbreitstein; 68th
of inf. (Rhen.
:

Schwerin; 9th bat. of the train (Schleswig-Holstein),

Rendsburg.
burg),

regt. of inf. (Rhen.

15th brig, of oav.,

No. 6), Coblenz. Cologne: 8th regt. of Cuirassiers

(Rhen.), Deutz; 7th regt. of

Attached to the corps are: 9th bat. of rifles (LauenRatzeburg; 9th bat. of pioneers (Schleswig-

Holstein), Harburg.

"Count Gessler"

Hussars "King William I." (Rhen. No. 1), Bonn.

16th division, Treves.
31st brig, of
inf.,

TENTH ARMY CORPS, HANOVER

19th division, Hanover.
37th
brig,
of
inf.,

Oldenburg: 78th

regt. of inf.

Treves:

29th regt. of

inf.

"von

"Duke Frederick William of Brunswick " (EastFries.), Osnabrtiok; 91st regt. of inf. (Oldenb.),

Horn" (Rhen. No.

32nd

3), Treves; 69th regt. of inf.

(Rhen. No. 7), Treves.

brig, of inf., Saarbrtlcken: 30th regt. of inf.

Oldenburg.
38th brig, of
4),

"Count Werder" (Rhen. No.

70th regt. of
80th brig, of
inf.,

Saarlouis;

inf.

(Rhen. No.
Treves.

8),

Saarbrtlcken.
inf.,

Treves: 160th regt. of

inf.,

Bonn;

Hanover: 73rd regt. of Fusiliers Prince Albrecht of Prussia" (Hanov.), Hanover; 74th regt. of inf. (Hanov. No. 1), Hanover.
inf.,

"Fieldmarshal

161st regt. of

19th brig, of cav., Hanover:

(Oldenb.),

16th brig, of cav., Saarbrtlcken: 7th regt. of Dragoons

(Westph.), Saarbrtlcken

7th regt. of Uhlans

of

19th regt. of Dragoons Oldenburg; 13th regt. of Uhlans (Royal Hanov. No. 1), Hanover.

"Grand Duke Frederick

Saarbrilcken.

Baden"

(Rhen.),

20th division, Hanover. 39th brig, of

inf.,

8th brig, of field-art., Coblenz: 8th regt. of field-art.

Voigts-Rhetz"
164th regt. of

Hanover: 79th regt. of inf. "von (Hanov. No. 3), Hildesheim;

inf.

"von HoltzendorfE " (Rhen. No.

of field-art. (Rhen.

1),

Saarlouis; 23rd regt.

(Hanov. No.

4),

Hameln.
inf. inf.

No.

2),

Coblenz; 8th bat. of the train

40th brig, of

inf.,

Brunswick:

77th regt. of

(Rhen.), Ehrenbreitstein.

Attached

to the corps are: 9th regt. of foot-art. (Schles-

No. 2), Celle; (Bruns.), Brunswick.

(Hanov.

92nd

regt.

of

wig-Holstein),

Ehrenbreitstein;

8th bat.

of

pioneers.

20th brig, of cav., Hanover: 16th regt. of Dragoons

(Rhen.), Coblenz.

(Hanov. No. 2), Ltineburg; Hussars (Bruns.), Brunswick.

10th brig, of
field-art.,

17th

regt.

of

NINTH ARMY CORPS, ALTONA

17th division, Schwerin.

"von Scharnhorst" (Hanov. No.

of field-art.

Hanover: 10th regt. of field-art. 1), Hanover; 26th regt.

2),

(Hanov. No.

Verden; 10th
10th
bat.

bat. of the

33rd brig, of

inf.,

Altona: 75th regt. of

inf.

(Hanseat.

train (Hanov.),

Hanover.
the

No. No.
34th

1),
2),

Bremen; 76th

regt. of inf. (Hanseat.

Attached

to

corps

is:

of

Hamburg.
of
inf.

pioneers

(Hanov.), Minden.
of

brig,

(Grand-Duchy

Mecklenb.),
90th regt. of

Schwerin:

89th regt. of Grenadiers (Grandof Mecklenb.), Rostock.

inf.

Duchy
81st brig, of
seat.

of Mecklenb.), Schwerin;

ELEVENTH ARMY CORPS, CASSEL

22nd
division, Cassel.

Fusiliers

(Grand-Duchy
inf.,
3),

Ltibeck: 162nd regt. of Ltibeck; 163rd

regt".

(Han-

43rd brig, of

inf.,

Cassel:

82nd
3),

regt. of inf. (Hess.

inf.

No.

of inf.,

Neu-

No.

2),

G5ttingen; 83rd regt. of

Cassel.

"von

mtlnster.

Wittich " (Hess. No.

45

"

44th brig, of

inf.,

Cassel

32nd, regt. of

inf. (Thiir.

52nd

brig, of inf.

(Royal Wiirtemb. No. 2), Lud-

No.

2),

Meiningen; 167th regt.

of inf., Cassel.

22nd

brig, of cav., Cassel:

5th regt. of Dragoons

"von Manteuffel" (Ehen.), Hof-Geismar; 14th

regt. of

wigsburg: 121st regt. of inf. "Old Wurtemberg" (Wiirtemb. No. 3), Ludwigsburg; 122nd regt. of inf. " Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria"
(Wiirtemb. No.
4),

Hussars " Landgrave Frederick

2),

II. of

Heilbronn.

Hesse-Homburg" (Hess. No.

38th division, Erfurt. 76th brig, of
inf.,

Cassel.

26th brig, of cav. (Royal Wiirtemb. No. 1), Stuttgart:

25th regt. of Dragoons

"Queen Olga"

Erfurt: 71st regt. of

inf.

(Thiir.

No.
83rd

3), Erfurt;

95th regt. of

inf. (Thiir.

No.

6),

(Wiirtemb. No. 1), Ludwigsburg; 26th regt. of Dragoons "The King's Own" (Wiirtemb.

Gotha.
brig, of inf., Erfurt: 94th regt. of inf.

No. 2), Stuttgart.

Duchy
11th brig, of

of

Saxony"

(Thiir.

No.
7),

5),

"Grand Weimar;
field-art.

27th division (Royal Wttrtemb. No. 2), Ulm.

53rd brig, of
inf.

96th regt. of

inf. (Thiir.

No.

Gera.

123rd regt. of
"

(Royal Wiirtemb. No. 3), Ulm inf. "King Charles" (Wiirtemb.

:

field-art., Cassel:

11th regt. of

Grenadiers No.

5),

Ulm

124th regt. of

inf.

(Hess.), Cassel; 27th regt. of field-art. (Nassau),

Mayence;
rifles

King William
inf.

I."

(Wiirtemb. No. 6), Wein-

11th bat. of the train (Hess.), Cassel; 11th bat. of

(Hess.),

garten.

Marburg.

54th brig, of

TWELFTH ARMY CORPS, DRESDEN

(ROYAL SAXON NO.
i)

4), Ulm: "Emperor William, King of Prussia" (Wiirtemb. No. 2), Ulm; 127th regt. of inf. (Wiirtemb. No. 9), Ulm; 180th regt. of

(Royal Wttrtemb. No.

inf.

120th regt. of

23rd division (Royal Saxon No. 1), Dresden. 45th brig, of inf. (Royal Saxon No. 1), Dresden;
100th regt. of
inf.

inf.

(Wiirtemb. No.
inf.

10),

Tubingen; 126th
of

regt.

of

"Grand Duke Frederick

8),

Baden"

(Saxon Grenadiers No. 1 Body-Guards), Dresden; 101st regt. of inf. "Emperor William, King of Prussia" (Saxon
Grenadiers No. 2), Dresden.

(Wiirtemb. No.

under Fifteenth army corps.

27th brig, of cav. (Royal Wiirtemb. No. 2), Ulm: 19th regt. of Uhlans "King Charles" (Wttr-

temb. No.

1),

Ulm; 20th

regt. of
2),

46th brig, of

inf.

(Royal Saxon No. 2), Dresden:

William
13th brig, of

I."

(Wiirtemb. No.

Uhlans "King Ludwigsburg.

102nd regt. of inf. (Saxon No.'tS) "Prince-,. Regent Luitpold of Bavaria," Zittau; H?7th regt. of inf. (Saxon No. 12), Dresden.
23rd brig, of cav. (Royal Saxon No. 1), Dresden: Regt. of Horse-Guards (Heavy Regt. No. 1),

field-art.

(Royal Wiirtemb.), Ludwigs-

burg: 13th regt. of

field-art. "

King Charles" (Wiirtemb.

field-art.

No.

1),

Ulm; 29th

regt.

of

"Prince-Regent

Luitpold of Bavaria" (Wiirtemb. No. 2), Ludwigsburg; 13th bat. of the train (Wttrtemb.), Ludwigsburg.

Dresden; 17th regt. of Uhlans " Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria" (Saxon No. 1), Oschatz;
squadron of mounted
rifles

Attached to the corps are: 13th

temb.),

bat. of pioneers (Wiir-

Ulm; 4th comp,

of the railway troops (Royal

(Twelfth army corps).

Wttrtemb.), Berlin.

32nd

division (Royal

Saxon No.
inf.

3), Dresden.
5),

FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, CARLSRUHE

Dresden:
28th division, Carlsruhe.
55th brig, of
inf.,

63rd brig, of

inf.

(Royal Saxon No.

103rd regt. of

178th regt. of inf.

64th brig, of
inf.

(Saxon No. '^4), Bautzen; (Saxon No. 13), Kamenz.

Carlsruhe

109th regt. of

inf.

108th regt. of

rifles (Fusiliers)

(Royal Saxon No. 6), Dresden: " Prince-Regent

bat. of
rifles
rifles

(Baden Grenadiers No. 1

ruhe
;

Body-Guards), Carls2),

110th regt. of

inf.

George," Dresden; 12th

(Saxon

(Baden Grenadiers No.

delberg.

"Emperor William" Mannheim and Heiinf.

No. No.

1), Freiberg;
2),

13th bat. of

(Saxon

Dresden.

56th brig, of

inf.,

Rastatt:

25th regt. of
1), Rastatt;
7

"von

32nd

brig, of cav. (Royal Saxon No. 3), Dresden: 18th regt. of Hussars " The King's O wn " ( Saxon No. 1), Grossenhain; 19th regt. of Hussars

Ltltzow" (Rhen. No.

of inf.

111th regt.

"Margrave Ludwig

W illiam"

(Baden

No.

3), Rastatt.

"The Queen's Own" (Saxon No.

12th brig, of
field-art.,

2),

Grimma.
field-art.

28th brig, of cav., Carlsruhe: 20th regt. of Dragoons

regt. of

Dresden: 12th regt. of

Body-Guards), Carlsruhe; 21st (Baden No. 1 Dragoons (Baden No. 2), Bruchsal.

(Saxon No. 1), Dresden; 28th regt. of field-art. (Saxon No. 2), Pirna; 12th bat. of the train, Dresden.
Attached to the corps are 12th bat. of pioneers, Dresden; 7th and 8th comp. of railway troops, Berlin.
:

29th division, Freiburg in Baden. 57th brig, of

inf.,

Freiburg:

113th regt. of

inf.

(Baden No.

5),

Freiburg; 114th regt. of

III."

inf.

"Emperor Frederick
58th brig, of
inf.,

(Baden No.
112th regt. of

6),

Constance-Hohenzollern.

THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, STUTTGART

(ROYAL WURTEMBERG)

Miihlhausen:

inf.

"Prince

26th division (Royal Wiirtemb. No. 1), Stuttgart. 51st brig, of inf. (Royal Wiirtemb. No. 1), Stuttgart: 119th regt. of inf. "Queen Olga" (Wiirtemb. Grenadiers No.
of inf. "
1 )
,

William" (Baden No. 4), Miihlhausen; 142nd regt. of inf. (Baden No. 7),
Miihlhausen.
cav.,

29th brig, of

Colmar: 14th regt. of Dragoons

Miihlhausen;

Stuttgart

25th regt.

(KurmSrck.), Colmar; 22nd regt. of Dragoons

Emperor Frederick, King

of Prussia

"Prince Charles" (Baden No.

3),

(Wiirtemb. No. 7), Stuttgart.

one squadron

of

mounted

rifles.

46

" "

39th division, Colmar.

68th brig, of Metz.

inf.,

Metz: 135th regt. of

inf.

inf.,

Diedenr

82nd brig, of inf. (rifles), Colmar: 4th bat. of rifles (Magdeburg), Colmar; 8th bat.of rifles (Rhenish),
Schlettstadt; 10th bat. of
rifles

hofen; 145th regt. of

"The King's Own.'

inf.,

(Hanover), Col-

86th brig, of

mar; 14th bat. of 84th brig, of

rifles

inf. (rifles),

(Mecklenburg), Colmar. Lahr: 169th regt. of inf.

regt. of inf.

inf., Metz: 173rd regt. of Avoid; 174th tegt. of inf., Metz.

St

34th brig, of cav.,

(Baden No. 8), Lahr; 170th No. 9), Offenburg.

14th brig, of
art.

(Baden

Metz: 6th regt. of Dragoons (Magdeb.), Diedenhofen; 14th regt, of Uhlans (Hanov. No. 2), St. Avoid.
field-art.,

field-art.,

Carlsruhe: 14th regt. of field-

16th brig, of

(Baden No. 1), Carlsruhe; 30th regt. of field-art. (Baden No. 2), Rastatt; 14th bat. of the train (Baden),
Attached
to

Metz; 34th regt. of

field-art.,

Metz: 33rd regt. of field-art., Metz; 16th bat. of the train,

Fohrbach.

Durlach.

Attached to the corps

the

are: 8th regt. of foot-art. (Rhen.),

14th regt. of foot-art. (Baden), Strasburg; 14th bat. of pioneers (Baden), Kehl.
are:

corps

Metz; 12th regt. of

regt. of

foot-art.

Royal Bavarian pioneers, Metz; 20th bat.

foot-art.,

(Royal Saxon), Metz; 2nd Metz; 16th bat. of

of pioneers, Metz.

FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, STRASBURG

30th division, Strasburg.
59th brig, of
inf.,
.

SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DANTZIC

inf.,

Saarburg: 97th regt. of

inf.,

Saar-

burg; 136th'regt. of

Dieuze.

35th division, Graudenz. 69th

brig,
of
inf.,

60th brig, of

inf.,

Strasburg:
inf.,

99th"regt. of
Strasburg.

inf.,

Zabern; 143rd regt of

85th brig,
of
inf.,

"Count .Schwerin
141st regt.

Graudenz: 14th regt. of inf. " (Pom. No. 3), Graudenz; of inf., Graudenz.

Strasburg: 105th regt. of

inf.

"King William II. of Wiirtemberg" (Saxon No. 6), Strasburg; 171st regt. of inf., Bitsch; 172nd regt. of inf., Strasburg.
30th brig, of cav., Saarburg: 11th regt. of Uhlans (Brandenb. No. 2), Saarburg; 15th regt. of

70th brig, of inf., Thorn: 21st regt. of inf. "von Borcke " (Pom. No. 4), Thorn; 61st regt. of inf.
"

von der Marwitz " (Pom. No.

inf.,

8),

Thorn.
inf.,

87th brig, of

Thorn: 175th"regt. of
inf.,

Grau

denz; 176th regt. of

Thorn.

Uhlans (Schleswig-Holstein), Saarburg.

31st division, Strasburg. 61st
brig,

35th brig, of cav., Graudenz: 5th regt. of Cuirassiers " Prince Frederick Eugene of Wiirtemberg
(West-Pruss.), Riesenburg; 4th regt. of Uhlans
"

of

inf.,

"Grand Duke
No.
8),

Strasburg: 126th regt. of inf. Frederick of Baden" (Wiirtemb.

inf.,

von Schmidt " (Pom. No.

1),

Thorn.

Strasburg; 132nd" regt. of

inf.,

36th division, Dantzic.

Stras-

burg; 138th regt. 'of

Strasburg.

71st brig, of

inf.,

Dantzic: 5th regt. of Grenadiers

I."

62nd

Hagenau: 60th regt. of inf. "Margrave Charles" (Brandenb. No. 7), Weissenburg; 137th regt. of inf., Hagenau.
brig, of inf.,

"King
72nd

Frederick

(East-Pruss.
inf.,

No.

4),

Dantzic; 128th regt. of

Dantzic.

brig, of inf., Deutsch-Eylau: 18th regt. of inf

31st brig, of cav., Strasburg: 15th regt. of Dragoons

(Siles.

No.

3),

Hagenau; 9th
Strasburg;

(Rhen. No.

2),

regt. of Hussars one squadron of

"von Grolman" (Posen No. 1), Osterode; 44th regt. of inf. " Count DOnhoff " (East-Pruss.
No. 7), Deutsch-Eylau; 152nd Deutsch : Eylau.
36th brig, of cav., Dantzic:
1st

regt.

of

inf.,

mounted
15th brig, of
art.,

rifles.

Strasburg: 15th regt. of fieldStrasburg; 31st regt. of field-art., Hagenau; 15th bat. of the train, Strasburg.
field-art.,

regt. of

Hussars
regt. of

(Body-Guards No.
Hussars

1),

Dantzic;

5th

"Prince

Bliicher

von

Wahlstatt
rifles.

Attached to the corps are:

Strasburg;
13th
bat.

(Pom.), Stolp; one squadron of mounted

10th regt. of

foot-art.,

of

foot-art.,

Ulm; Com.
;

of the

17th brig, of

field-art.,

Dantzic: 35th regt. of

field-art.,

field-art.,

pioneers of the fifteenth

neers, Strasburg
;

15th bat. of pio19th bat. of pioneers, Strasburg.

army corps

Graudenz; 36th regt. of

the train, Dantzic.

Dantzic; 17th bat. of

Attached

to

the corps

are:

11th

regt. of

foot-art.,
rifles

SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, METZ

33rd division, Metz.
65th brig, of
"
inf., MOrchingen: 17th regt. of inf. Count Barfuss" (Westph. No. 4), MBrchingen;

Thorn; 15th regt. of

Thorn; 2nd bat. of (Pom.), Culm; 2nd bat. of pioneers (Pom.), Thorn.
foot-art.,

EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, FRANKFURT-ON-THEMAIN

21st division, Frankfurt.

144th regt. of
66th brig, of
130th
inf.,

regt;.

Morchingen. Metz: 98th regt. of of inf., Metz.

inf.,

inf.,

Metz;

41st brig, of

33rd brig, of cav., Metz: 9th regt. of Dragoons (Hanov. No. 1), Metz; 13th regt. of Dragoons (Schleswig-Holstein), Metz.
34th division, Metz.
67th brig, of
inf., Metz: 67th regt. of inf. (Magdeb. No. 4), Metz; 131sl"regt. of inf., Metz.

inf., Mayence: 87th regt of inf. (Nassau Mayence; 88th regt. of inf. (Nassau No. 2), Mayence.

No.

1),

42nd

brig, of inf., Frankfurt: 80th regt. of I usiliers

"vonGersdorff" (Hess.), Wiesbaden; 81st re,gt. of inf. (Hess. No. 1), Frankfurt; 166th 'regtf' of inf., Hanau.

'

47

"

21st brig, of cav., Frankfurt:

"

13th regt. of Hussars

(Hess.

2nd

division, Ausjsbur<j.

King Humbert

of

Mayence; 6th
49th brig, of
inf.

regt. of

No. 1), Uhlans (Thilr.), Hanau.

Italy "
of

3rd brig, of

inf.,

Augsburg: 3rd

regt. of inf. " Prince

Charles of Bavaria," Augsburg; 20th regt. of

inf.,

25th division (Grand-Duchy of Hesse), Darmstadt.

Lindau.
of
inf.,

(Grand-Duchy
inf.

Hesse No. 1),

of

4th

brig,

Ingolstadt:

10th regt.

of

inf.
inf.

Darmstadt: 115th regt. of

(Grand-Duchy

"Prince Ludwig," Ingolstadt; 13th regt. of

"

Hesse No.
of

Body-Guards), Darmstadt; 116th

"Emperor William" (Grand-Duchy
2),

regt. of inf.

Hesse No.

Giessen

168th regt. of

inf.

(Grand-Duchy of Hesse No. 5), Offenbach. 50th brig, of inf. (Grand-Duchy of Hesse No. 2), Mayence: 117th regt. of inf. (Grand-Duchy of Body-Guards), Mayence; 118th Hesse No. 3 regt. of inf. "Prince Carl" (Grand-Duchy of Hesse No. 4), Worms. 25th brig, of cav. (Grand-Duchy of Hesse), Darmstadt: 23rd regt. of Dragoons (Grand-Duchy

Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria," Ingolstadt. 11th brig, of inf., Neu-Ulm: 12th regt. of inf. "Prince Arnulf," Neu-Ulm; 15th regt. of inf. "King Albert of Saxony," Neuburg. 2nd brig, of cav., Augsburg: 2nd regt. of Chevaulegers "Taxis," Dillingen; 4th regt. of Chev-

aulegers " The King's

1st brig,

Own," Augsburg.

Munich: 1st regt. of field-art. "Prince-Regent Luitpold," Munich; 3rd regt. of field-art. "Queen's Mother," Munich; 1st bat. of the train, Munich.
of field-art.,

Attached to the corps are: 1st regt. of

foot-art.

"vac.

of

Hesse No.

Dragoon-Guards), Darmstadt;

Bothmer," Ingolstadt;

bat. of railway troops,

Munich;

24th regt. of Dragoons (Grand-Duchy of Hesse

1st bat. of pioneers, Ingolstadt.

No. 2
25th regt. of
stadt;

Body-Guards), Darmstadt.
bat. of pioneers bat. of the train

field-art. (Grand-Duchy of Hesse), Darm3rd regt. of foot-art. " Grand Master of Field-

SECOND ROYAL BAVARIAN ARMY CORPS, WURZBURG

3rd division, Nuremberg.
5th brig, of inf.,Regensburg: 11th regt. of
inf.

Ordnance " (Brandenb.), Mayence; 11th (Grand-Duchy of Hesse), Mayence; 25th (Grand-Duchy of Hesse), Darmstadt.

"von
inf. inf.

der Tann," Regensburg; 21st regt. of

inf., Ftirth.

NINETEENTH ARMY CORPS, LEIPSIC

(ROYAL SAXON NO.
2)

6th brig, of inf., Nuremberg: 14th regt. of " Hartmann," Nuremberg; 19th regt. of
"

24th division (Royal Saxon No. 2), Leipsic. 47th brig, of inf. (Royal Saxon No. 3), Leipsic: 139th
regt. of inf.

(Saxon No.

11),

DObeln; 179th

regt. of inf.

48th brig, of
inf.

inf.

(Saxon No. 14), Leipsic. (Royal Saxon No. 4): 106th regt. of

King Humbert of Italy," Erlangen. 3rd brig, of cav., Nuremberg: 1st regt. of Chevaulegers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia" Nuremberg; squadron of mounted rifles (Second army
corps); 6th regt. of Ohevaulegers "Prince Al-

"Prince George" (Saxon No. 7), Leipsic; 407th regt. of inf. "Prince Johann George"

brecht of Prussia," Bayreuth. 4th division, Wiirzburg.

7th brig, of
inf.,

(Saxon No.^o), Leipsic. 24th brig, of cav. (Royal Saxon No.

of Carabiniers regt. of

Wtirzburg: 5th regt.

of inf.

"Grand-

2),

Leipsic: Regt.

(Heavy Regt. No. 2), Borna; 18th Uhlans (Saxon No. 2), Leipsic.

Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse," Bamberg; 9th regt. of inf. "Wrede," Wiirzburg; 2nd bat. of
rifles,

Aschaffenburg.
inf.,

40th division (Royal Saxon No. 4), Chemnitz. 88th brig, of inf. (Royal Saxon No. 7), Chemnitz:

8th brig, of

Bayreuth: 6th regt. of

inf.

"Em7th

peror William,

King

of Prussia,"

Amberg;
of

104th regt. of

inf. "

Prince Frederick August 15th bat. of

rifles

regt. of inf. " Prince

Leopold," Bayreuth.
1st
regt.

(Saxon No. (Saxon No.

5),

Chemnitz;

4th brig, of cav., Bamberg:

Uhlans

3), Wurzen. 89th brig, of inf. (Royal Saxon No. 133rd regt. of inf. (Saxon No.

8),
9),

Zwickau: Zwickau;

"Emperor William II., King of Prussia," Bamberg; 2nd regt. of Uhlans " The King's Own,"
Ansbach.
5th division, Landau. 9th brig, of
inf., Landau: 17th regt. of inf. "Orff," Germersheim; 18th regt. of inf. " Prince Ludwig

134th regt. of
105th regt. of

inf.

inf.

(Saxon No. 10), Leipsic; " King William II. of WiirRiesa; 12th
corps.

temberg " (Saxon No. 6).

32nd
regt. of field-art.

(Saxon No.

Ferdinand," Landau.
10th brig, of
inf.,

3),

regt. of foot-art. attached to the Sixteenth

army

Metz: 4th regt. of

inf.

"King

FIRST

ROYAL BAVARIAN ARMY CORPS, MUNICH

Munich.
1st regt. of inf.

1st division,

1st brig, of inf.,

Munich;
Munich.

Munich: Regt. of inf. (Body-Guards), "The Kings Own," Munich: 2nd regt. of
16th regt. of
inf.
inf.

William of Wiirtemberg," Metz; 8th regt. of inf. " Pranckh," Metz. 12th brig, of inf., Zweibrlicken: 22nd regt. of inf., Zweibriicken; 23rd regt. of inf., Landau. 5th brig, of cav., Dieuze: 3rd regt. of Chevaulegers

"Duke
"Crown
"Grandof
tria,"

2nd

brig, of inf.,

Charles Theodore," Dieuze; 5th regt. Chevaulegers " Archduke Albrecht of Aus-

Prince," Munich;

Saargemiind.

Duke Ferdinand
1st brig, of cav .,

of Toscana," Passau; 1st bat.

of rifles, Straubing.

Munich Regt. of Heavy Riders No. 1 Munich; Regt. of Heavy Riders No. 2 "vac. Crown Prince Archduke Rudolph of Austria," Landshut.
:

" Prince Charles of Bavaria,"

2nd brig, of field-art., Wtirzburg: 2nd regt. of fieldart. "Horn," Wiirzburg; 4th regt. of field-art. "The King's Own," Augsburg; 5th regt. of field-art., Landau; 2nd bat. of the train, Wiirzburg. Attached to the corps are: 2nd regt. of foot-art., Metz; 2nd bat. of pioneers, Speyer.

48

The Kaiser holds

his stunted left

arm behind him while he

discusses the

war with

his generals.

THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE GERMAN ARMY

Pjeussia's victorious campaigns during the years 1864

prove upon their military institutions, after the Prussian-

and 1866, and particularly the immense success

achieved by

German model,
uated in
as
to
its

the United States

was

so

happily

sit-

German arms during

and operations on the
in these

the

war with France

geographical

and

political

environment,

(1870-71) have attracted the attention of the nations to

the conduct
field of the

be free from European complications and able

Prussian
also

to look

complacently on the military projects of the Old

and German armies

campaigns.

They have

World.

The events

of the year 1898, however, in con-

won

for the
staff,

name

of

von Moltke, chief of the German

nection with the war with Spain, so victorious to the

general

a world-wide fame.

But

it

was not only the

American nation
rifices,

in its results,

but exacting so

many

sac-

magnitude
the

of the success
its

which gained such renown for

leaders; the unfailing certainty,
of the warfare, too-ether

with

its

lessons, admonitions,

and consequences,

German army and

have altered the condition of

to such

affairs in the

New World

swiftness, vigor,

and decisiveness

an extent that a consideration of the organiza-

with the rapid and uninterrupted succession of brilliant

victories, also

tion of the

German general

staff

does not seem to be

became objects
so.

of admiration

and wonder,

untimely.

and

still

continue to be

On

the other side of the Atlantic, especially in the

of so

Like the entire German army, the German general

staff is

United States of North America, the new home

organized on the basis and after the model of the

staff,

many Germans,
But with

the glorious deeds of the

German

nation

Prussian

the latter naturally forming the principal the general staffs of Bavaria,

under arms were hailed with the greatest enthusiasm.

the eagerness of
all

part, only

augmented by

European countries

to im-

Wilrtemberg, and Saxony.

The Prussian general

staff,

49

like the Prussian

lot of the

army, had a small beginning.

staff,

It

is

the

the active

German army

at the

beginning of the war

staff officers.

of

general

which means the

staff,

the help, or

1870-71 were assigned 200 general

The

support of the general, according to the saying of the

number was
the

increased, however, during the progress of

to

prominent military author von Clausewitz, to " transform

the

war and

such an extent that the present number

commanding

general's ideas into orders, not only

still

by

of the general staff officers assigned to the active

is

army

conveying them to the troops, but

more, by perfectall

about 250.

This increased supply

is

secured by

ing details, and thus saving the general

trouble."
battles of

unnecessary

the character of the entire organization

and by the manIts

Frederick the Great, in fighting his

famous

ner of replenishing the general

staff.

nursery

is

the

Rossbach and Leuthen with but 30,000 men,

staff.

war academy established

at Berlin in the year 1810,

officers

and
to

had no need of a special

He

gave his generals the

designed to familiarize a number of

belonging

necessary orders either verbally or in writing, while he

personally selected and trained the few aides-de-camp

the different branches of the service, and at the

same time

specially adapted to its requirements, with the higher

he needed.

With

the increase of the

army the necessity

branches of military science; and by such means to enlarge and increase their

arose for a larger staff of well trained and qualified assistants.

knowledge

of tactics,

and

to

Soon

after the

Seven Years' War, Frederick

educate and quicken their judgment of military

at large.

affairs

the Great established the "quartermaster-general staff."

It consisted of

The schedule

of instruction comprises statistics,

one quartermaster-general, one quarter-

war

history, tactics, fortification, siege operations, sketchservice,

civil

master, and fourteen quartermaster-lieutenants.

this

Out

of

developed, in 1857, the Prussian general

staff

under

me, surveying and drawing, general staff training in travel, means of communication,

and

govern-

the

guidance of judicious men, especially under the

ment, political economy, public and international law,

military sanitary law, general history, general and physical

direction of General von Moltke.

The organization then

reached that importance and efficiency so fully demonstrated in the great

geography, mathematics, geodesy, natural philosophy,

wars of 186466 and 1870-71.

staff
staff,

chemistry, French and (optional) Russian, Polish, and

of

The German general

peace of one chief of

now

consists in

time

English.
Officers

4 quartermasters-in-chief,

having shown practical proficiency during a

(lieutenant-generals), 30 colonels and generals-in-chief,

period of three years of service

may apply
in

for entrance

83

staff

officers,

and 91 captains,

in all

209

officers.

examination.

The regular course

is

lasts for three years.

This, with an average of 20 officers serving in the capacity of railroad

During the yearly courses

sandwiched

some

service

commissioners, gives a total of 229 (225officers.

with other branches of troops.

The

final

examination
offi-

230) Prussian

Besides these, there are 24 Baofficers,

decides the matter of the further employment of the

varian, 11 Saxon,

and 7 Wiirtemberg (42)

general
staff in

or a

cer either as instructor at one of the military schools, or

in the army's service as adjutant or

grand
267

total of the

time of peace of from

to

on the general

staff.

to "271 officers.

Of

this

number, from 180

190
to

offi-

Those of superior mental and physical qualifications are

selected
to

cers form the general staff of the

of

army proper, 110

120

serve

on the

latter,

and are furthermore

whom

belong to the general

to

staff of the troops,

while

trained and approved in

some command under the genfrom one

to

from 70

80 are assigned to the great general

staff.

eral staff, lasting for a period of

two years.

In order to understand the number, classification, and

organization of this institution,
that in the Prussian and
staff of officers
it

By

this

arrangement only the best

staff.

of the selected officers

must be borne

in

mind

are taken into the general

Out

of the

400 who

German army
is

not the entire

identified with

annually study at the war academy only 120 as a rule

take the
final

assigned to a general

examination, of which only a proportion of

staff.

the general

staff.

There

is

a distinction
staff.

made between
duty of

from six to ten are assigned to the general

ther training
staff,

A furof

the adjutancy

and the general

It is the

takes place either on the great general

the adjutants to superintend the discharge of the entire

or in the service connected with the

commands'

verbal and written regulations of the service in the different branches, including those
rosters,
lists,

the troops (army corps and divisions), so that

by an

ex-

who have charge

of the
to

pedient change each

officer of the

general

staff receives a
staff's

petitions,

and matters pertaining

It is the task of the
all

the

thorough education in every branch of the general

work.

reserve and to pensions.

staff officers to

general

By

the yearly training travels and

by employ-

attend to

matters relating to the move-

ment

at the great

manoeuvres

of the

army, as well as by

ment, quartering,
troops,

engagement, and mobilizing of the

This accounts for the

theme compositions,

literary lessons,

and verbal

recita-

and

to warfare in general.

tions, the efficiency of the

general

staff officer is

con-

relatively small

number

of the general staff officers on

stantly fostered, tested,

and approved.

Of

special benefit

a peace footing of almost 560,000

noncommissioned

offi-

has been the following out of the principle not to

the general staff an exclusive

make

cers

and men.
of the

body

or caste, in which

The placing
increases the

army on

war footing naturally

the officer advances from the rank of lieutenant to that

of general.

number

of the general staff officers.

To
50

By

the temporary transferring of the staff

officers to the front, a practical

knowledge
this

of the service

is

operations.

Hence

it is

a matter of great

moment

to

be

continually maintained.

By

method the eye and

constantly and well informed of the political and military

affairs

ear of the officer are trained to the actual condition of the

of other countries,

with a knowledge of their

This includes the task of as-

army and

to the

wants of the

common

soldier.

By

armies and fortified places.

certaining,
to prepare
if

this process the officer's ability to

handle and direct the

possible, all probable designs of the

enemy,

troops

is

not founded upon routine knowledge merely,

and receive the best possible and most accu-

but upon practical experience, fostered and stimulated

rate material in the

way

of

maps, not only of Germany

all

by study.
staff

According

to this,

every

officer of the

general
a

but also those of other countries, necessary for

ualities.

event-

must have successfully trained and handled

com-

That the fulfillment

of these tasks requires a

pany, a squadron, or a battery for the period of one year,

continuous cultivation and application of the different

and that
the

later

on he must again have been intrusted with

of a battalion or a regiment,

branches of military science in conjunction with their

auxiliary sciences
is

command

and with the

obvious.

At

the

same time

it

is

handling and the

command

of

still

larger bodies of

easy to understand that the extent and heterogeneousness of this labor call for a necessary division.

troops, before he advances to the higher grades of the

Conse-

general

staff,

the rank of a chief, or that of a general.

is

quently, just after the Napoleonic wars at the beginning

of this century, those officers not detailed to the

By

this

arrangement a further gain

of officers, academically

assured in that a

com-

number

and practically trained

are to be found attached

mand

of the troops, but assigned to the

Great Head-

in the duties of the

general

staff,

quarters of the Prussian army, were massed at a central

to the different

branches of the service, and competent

place in Berlin.
in its different

At

this

place the "Great General Staff"

to reenter in sufficient
staff in

numbers the ranks

of the general

departments treats the various branches

time of war.
staff

falling to their lot.

This careful selection and training of the general

officers is necessitated

by the importance and the extent

The Central

division treats of personal

and administra-

of the task falling to the lot of an efficient general staff.

tive affairs.

To be
general

First division, of Russia fully equal to this task the organization of the
staff is

and Scandinavia.

Second

division, of

Germany.

expediently

fitted.

Accordingly the

lat-

Third division, of France and Western Europe.

ter is classified in the general staff proper

and

in the

Fourth division, of the fortresses (Russia's excepted).

Fifth division, of Austria,
Italy,

great general
It is the

staff.

and the Balkan

function of the general

staff of

the troops to the general

States.

attend to
staff

all

matters which formerly

fell to

Sixth division, of manoeuvres, training travels of the

proper, namely, those touching the

movement, quarto the

general

staff,

and the

affairs

pertaining to the

tering,

and engagement

of the troops,

and

draw
stra-

war academy.
Seventh division, of the Russian Eighth division,
of
fortresses.

ing up, working out and enforcing of orders for the

tegical
this

and

tactical disposition of the

commanders.

For

England, America, Asia, Africa,

purpose are assigned

larger fortresses

the administration excepted some general

army
corps,

and Australia.
These
general
divisions, to each of
staff officers

of the

staff officers to

which are detailed several

the divisions, one to each; to the

corps,

two

to each

and

sub-officers in course of train-

and three

to each in

war

time.

At

the head of all

ing, are directed

by a

chief (general or colonel).

Several

stands the chief of the

officer is at the

army

corps' general staff.

This

sections are placed

under the direction of a quarter-

same time chief

(of the

of the entire staff of the

master-in-chief (lieutenant-general).

At

the head of the

general

command

army

corps) and

is

invested

imperial

survey

is

quartermaster-in-chief

who

has

with far-reaching authority in consequence of the great

responsibility connected with the position.

charge of the trigonometrical, topographical, and cartographical divisions, the latter including also the chamber

To

the general staff of the

army corps

also falls the

containing the war-plans.

laborious task of the mobilization of the

army

corps, the

Only the

sixth division

and the

historical division,
library, are

drawing up of the plan

of mobilization proper, the estab-

which includes the war records and the

under

lishment and enforcement of which requires the cooperation

the immediate supervision of the chief of the general

staff.

not

only of the military but also of the civic

In

this are

included the war academy, the railway

authorities
in

and especially
district.

of those of the railroad

this,

bureau

brigade, the bureau of the military railroads, and the

each corps

But even with

the functions
stop.
is

commission of the railway

it

lines.

In regard to the

latter,

of the general staff of the troops

do not
It

Other

is

worth mentioning that the railroad division deals

things

become incumbent on the same.

of the ut-

with everything connected with the military transportation.

most importance to prepare thoroughly in time of peace

for the mobilizing of the

For

this

purpose the imperial railroads (analogous

districts) are

army

in

time of war,

its

transpor-

to the

bureau of railroad

divided into

lines,

tation

and assembling,

in fact to prepare for all warlike

presided over, in time of peace, by line commissions.

51

These commissions comprise a general

a railroad official of high rank,

staff officer
it

and
be

his best

and highest qualifications and

is

efficiency

when

whose duty

is

to

his

mind

free to soar

above

all distractions

and encumstaff of

constantly prepared for and ready to supervise the transportation of the troops, and to provide the necessary

brances.

Accordingly the chief of the general

the Prussian and

his

German army, while unincumbered

of activity in peace

in
is

material and depot

facilities for

immediate use in time of

entire sphere

and

in war,

war.

To

secure the necessary scope for the fostering of

subject only to the authority of the commander-in-chief,

the

the military sciences

specially gifted

and

their auxiliaries, also to afford

officers

King

of Prussia

and Emperor of Germany, to

all projects, reports,

whom
state-

and talented

a deeper study and

he submits immediately
ments, and

and

knowledge

of

the different military sciences, without

all

whom

he attends in war time at the army's

being interrupted by troop service,

assigned to a special division.
the
historical

these officers are

headquarters.

To

this

belong

besides

The general
namely

staff of the

other great continental armies,

is

division,

and the

library

and the war

those of Russia, France, Austria, and Italy,

the Prussian-German
staff,

records

all

the officers detailed to the survey of the

organized like

with the single

empire, namely to the trigonometrical, topographical,

exception that they exceed

its officers:

Germany

in the

number

of
(in

and cartographical
general
the
staff,

divisions.

At

the head of the entire

Russia has 726, France 580, Austria 476

staff officers.

including the various organizations, stands

the

war time 550), and Italy 253 general

none
of

In

chief

of

army's general
it

staff.

The previous
place

these countries, however,

staff

is

the chief of the

statement will
filled

make

clear

that

this

can

be

general
as in

invested with such absolute acting authority

only by a

man

of superior qualification, including

Prussia.

The

latter

country having taken the

thoroughness in all branches of military science, one

important step, in wise anticipation and foresight, to

establish the institution of the general staff over the
in

who combines with a long experience clearness and acuteness of judgment and great will power, the genius
of a tactician

army

the year 1821, has, therefore, precedence over the

It has,

and a

strategist

carefully and venture

the capacity fearlessly and who

to

weigh

other nations.

moreover, opened to the Prussiana

finally will

German general
manner

staff

career of

development and

be able to foster and develop the supreme organization

of the general staff

achievement, which has contributed in no inconspicuous

to the glorious

by

his educational methods.

man,

deeds of war achieved by Prussia

with such

gifts,

and so situated,

will be enabled to

show

and Germany.

THE TRAINING OF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS

AND MEN

T
as

he

organization and composition of the

the

German army,
represent,

fencing, riding, driving, swimming, and shooting practice

of the soldiers,

described in
it

preceding

chapters,

and

also the time given to gymnastics.

were, the framework

of the picture
fit

which may

Rules are laid down in a simple, clear, and concise form

for the different branches of the service,

bo said to surround every German

picture itself
is

to bear arms; the

the

infantry,

seen in the vitality and

strength of the

cavalry, field

and siege

artillery, the pioneers,

and the

organization set forth.

Organization and composition

railway and telegraph troops.

of these rules is

The by

strict

enforcement

create the preliminary conditions; the efficiency of the

attended to by

all superiors.

They

can-

army, however,
ity,

apart from mental and

bestowed

physical capac-

not be altered in any way, save

the Emperor, who, in

will, in a

great measure and under general condiof the troops.

in the

the capacity of commander-in-chief, looks to their timely

tions,

depend on the proper training

For

enforcement and

fitting

development.

this reason, special attention is

German

The

enrolment of the recruit takes place usually at the

army upon the men's

training.

The superior

officers of all

beginning of October.

His training, after he has been

ranks work to this end with indomitable zeal, energy, and

faithfulness
;

bathed, measured, weighed, and clothed, commences at

once, and his pedigree
is

even the Emperor's watchful eyes are con-

taken down, with

all

other neces-

stantly directed towards its fostering

and development.

sary facts about him.

rightlv called
its

The commander

of the
a

company, company,

All branches of the service are governed

rules.

by

strict

chief or head,

whether of

These govern the

drill

and fatigue duty, the

52

squadron, or battery, then shoulders the responsibility

of

The book contains

on and
off

rules for the conduct of the soldier

Its contents are

seeing to the man's individual, and

to

the com-

duty.

imparted by a nonsubjects,

pany's entire, training.

lieutenant
of the

He

assigns this duty to the

commissioned

officer.

The most important

officer,

company.

Under

his

personal
is

and

however, are treated by a higher

especially those

constant guidance and direction the service

performed
a

touching the duties of a soldier in war time, the articles of

war, the

according to a well-prepared schedule and in such

knowledge and use

rifle,

of the

rifle,

the rules governin general.

manner

that every detail receives the closest attention.

training,

ing the aim of the

and musketry

In

The individual

which commences about

this

order not to forget details, and to

make

the soldier self-

time, takes place in sections of from twelve to sixteen

dependent and well-adapted for regular service, instruction

is

men and

is

looked after by a noncommissioned

officer of

given in mending and scouring.

The proper

recruits, to

whose assistance two or three privates

of a

care of the
are also

body and the observation

of all sanitary rules

previous year are assigned.

The

exercises begin withof light gymnastics.

made

special subjects of instruction.

is

out the use of a

rifle

and consist

While the

recruit

being thus trained, the advanced

to the

They
often

serve to evenly develop the

stiff

body

of the

young,

training of the

men belonging
is

second year

is

pro-

and awkward, him

recruit, to

harden his muscles,

of his

ceeded with, and

generally directed by an older

officer.

to enable

to acquire a free
is

and energetic use

The musketry

service

and the exercises

in distance

meas-

limbs.

This

preparatory to the recruit taking up the

drill,

urement are continued.

The

drill in the patrol service,

subsequent and real

which consists of the proper

especially that of the patrol leaders, for the purpose of

handling and use of the

rifle

and bayonet, and the

of in his

vari-

reconnoitring the enemy, which

is

represented by op-

ous gymnastic apparatus

made use

training.
in

posing columns,

is

energetically followed.

In connecis

With

the exercises on the drill-ground

and

the

tion with this, the training of the individual soldier

gymnasium, begins the

instruction of the soldier in the

improved upon by further

nastics, also

drills

and courses of gym-

Gelande (a staked-off and specially-designed manoeuvre

ground).

by additional

theoretical instruction.

Here the

recruit pursues his exercises, drills,

in order to gain the

At

the end of this period of training (generally four

after the enlistment of the recruit), an inspection

and other operations

their warlike use

proper idea of

months

and purpose.

of the older soldiers

by the commander

of the battalion
is

By

such means the soldier receives a training which

fits

takes place.

The inspection

of the recruits, however,

eminently
real life. in

him
is

for all

emergencies in the soldier's

performed by the regimental commander, mostly in the

presence of the higher
officials.

He
is

then carefully and minutely instructed

This inspection tests

what

likely to be

new

to him, namely, the use of

the soldier, in explicit form, in all branches of the service,

firearms.
carry,

He

learns the aiming drill,

rifle.

and how
is

to hold,

and
is

in

such a way that every individual's knowl-

and use a

This instruction

continued

edge

practically
this,
is

and theoretically vouched

for.

throughout the

first

year, so that the recruit learns to be

;

After
soldier

the recruit

in the capacity of a

young
his

familiar with his

weapon

how

to take

aim with

it

in all

mustered into the company according to

positions of the body, and in every formation of

ground
drill

height.

Now
is

the second period of training commences. instructed in company, in

this takes place
drill,

whereon he
learns

is

drilled.

In addition to this varied

he

The

recruit

and

in endrillis

how
in

to estimate distances.

gagement manoeuvres;
goes instrucmoral

both on the

Hand
tion,

hand with

this practical training,

ground and on the manoeuvre ground.

The

training

beginning with the

recruit's first day, in the

personally superintended by the captain of the company,

duties and obligations of the soldier.

He

has defined to

and includes training

of the service.
is

in shooting, the

most important part

this line

him the nature

of his oath of fidelity to the colors,

and
is

The

soldier's

achievement in

of other matters pertaining to a soldier's duties.

This

most important, and

his proficiency decides, in great

followed, in about three weeks after enrolment,

by

the

measure, his future.

Here, too, at the conclusion,, in-

swearing in of the

recruit.

This solemn act takes place

spection by the regimental

commander takes
the

place, at

after a preliminary church service in the presence of the

which the company

unexpected orders.

is

tested in

carrying out of

high

officials

of the garrison;

at Berlin

it

takes place

under the eye of the Emperor.

When

the

Emperor
in,

is

The

recruit

is

now ready

to receive his training in the

present he addresses the recruit to be sworn

ishing

admon-

battalion,

which usually

lasts

from four to

five

weeks.

him

of his duties,

reminding him of

his

pledge of

The commander
structor,

of the battalion is here himself the in-

fidelity,

and of the high military virtues

of a soldier,

and directs and

trains his four

companies

in the

including piety, love of honor, and obedience.

various battalion dispositions and movements.

In the

The

theoretical instruction covers all branches of the

is

evolutions pertaining to the

all

engagement
orders.

drills

he directs

service and

greatly facilitated

by every man receiving

movements by

his

own

an illustrated book of instruction.

The men without

To what

extent these exercises have been successful,

to

means

are furnished one at the expense of the company.

and how they have served

make

the battalion a vital

53

and energetic instrument ready

to

be used by the com-

Generally about the middle of August the Fall manoeuvres

mander
sions, is

in all emergencies in the field

and

for all mis-

commence with regiment and brigade

army

drills,

again ascertained and verified by the inspecting

in presence of the chief of the brigade, divi-

and are concluded by the manoeuvres of regiments,

brigades, divisions, and
corps, opposing each other.

commander

sion, or corps, at the

end of the time assigned

to the

Concurrently
the infantry

%vith the

described course of training of

battalion instruction.

(the army's chief branch of service), the

is

When
is

the training in battalion drill

is

concluded, the

training of the other arms of the service

conducted.

training in tactical matters ceases, and the drill-ground

left.

In the cavalry, the training on foot

is

supplemented

Onlv
itself

in

the

forenoons,

when

the

battalion

by

exercises on horseback.
is

The

efficiency of the indi-

presents
are

for

guard service and garrison duty,

pertaining
the
to

vidual rider
the

followed out with painstaking care and

This
is

the

exercises

garrison

duty gone

utmost

zeal.

done

to

perfect
to

the

rider

through with.

At

same time the carriage and

is

and enable him surely and easily

obstacle he
rivers,

overcome every

bearing of the individual soldier

tested

approved anew and

of the time

may meet

he thus learns to ford lakes and

the horse,

by individual

drill.

The remainder
to the

and, with perfect control of

knows

from the middle of

May

middle

of

August

is

how

to

handle his weapons

the

sabre and lance

in

used for musketry exercises, marching,

drill,

and picket

offence and defence against any adversary, either on

foot or horseback.

duty, in connection with the reconnoitring and patrol

service,

This, of course, cannot be accom-

and
this

for exercises in the construction of rifle-pits.

plished by a short service of two years.

years' service in the cavalry
sary.

Hence

a three

During

time exercises on a larger scale take place

and horse

artillery

is

neces-

in marching, active fighting, and in advance guard-duty

This longer time of probation enables the cavalry

is

by day and
Musketry

night.

which
is

equipped with the carbine

for

independent

service

especially cared for,

good marks-

work

at the

front and on the flanks of the

army

to

manship receiving the special notice of the Emperor.

receive the necessary training with the firearm for en-

The company
badge, which

of the

army corps which shows

of the year
is

the greatest

gagements on

foot.
is

efficiency at the
is

end

distinguished

by

In the artillery the training in gunnery

point.

the main

fastened to the left coat sleeve, while

To make

this

arm

of the service equal to the task

the captain of the victorious the Order of the

company

is

decorated with

which
the

falls to its lot, it is of the

utmost importance that

Red
is

Eagle.

guns reach

their firing position over the

most

difficult

Special stress

laid

upon

this

important branch of

country with the greatest speed.

This

is

done
to

to enable

military education, and captains of companies are held

solely responsible for the company's accurate
ship.

them

to

deploy quickly and accurately, and

open and

marksman-

continue firing with absolute fearlessness and composure.

The

practice shooting at the target-butts, with

is

The high requirements

artillery necessarily

of batteries and divisions of

special tasks for each class,

followed by the training

demand

the most painstaking and

is

on the manoeuvre ground.

This begins with the shooting

comprehensive training. Every single piece of ordnance

by each individual soldier, at stationary, moving, and disappearing objects, and

This practice
is
at'

brought into use and inspected in regard to

its

manning
is

a distance to
to a close

be guessed

at.

and

service,

and

as to its efficiency in action.

Practice

brought

by

a shooting-drill

given in overcoming great obstacles, such as tapering

ditches, steep

with bullets, in regular order of battle, and in formations

of companies and battalions, under special orders, defined targets in the manoeuvre ground.
at

elevations, precipitous slopes,

spirit to

by every
kindled to

single gun.
its

The

excel in gunnery

is

highest pitch by conferring marks of distinction on the

In the meantime

the exercises in gymnastics,

and

in

chief gunners,

and by awarding shooting badges

officers

to those

fencing and swimming, proceed with uninterrupted progress.

noncommissioned

and men

of the

company who
The cavalry

The men

are theoretically well-instructed about

field

excel in marksmanship in the

is

army

corps.

their conduct on the march and during

engage-

likewise stimulated to the highest pitch of achievement

ments, in quarters and in camp.

necessary directions to the
to

Surgeons also give

as to the treatment
is

in shooting

and

drill

by

respective marks of distinction.

men

In these two
tion takes place

arms of the service a scrutinizing inspec-

pursue when one of their number

sunstruck or

by

the higher

commanders

at the close

wounded.
all

Finally, the rules governing furloughs, and

of the different periods of the training.

This

is

con-

matters pertaining to the reserve and Landwehr, are

cluded by larger

drills

and manoeuvres of

troops, in

impressed on the mind of the soldier.

training time
tics
is

This part of the

which, at the end of the military year, infantry, cavalry,

artillery,

concluded by an inspection in gymnas-

and the special branches of the army take

soldier

part.

and

in fencing.

The

test in

swimming and

in theo-

Here the individual

tion

becomes inured

to exerin

retical instruction is

under the supervision of the regular

and the exactions of warlike marches, made

deep

commander,

as

is

also the inspection of the shooting on

columns and in conjunction with cavalry and

artillery.

the manoeuvre ground.

He
54

learns

by experience the manner

of

fighting

in

cooperation with other arms of the service; and

how

to

he must show

in his daily contact

with subordinates, a
in

conform

his

conduct

in active

engagement, while,
calls into exercise

at the

task which exacts no small

measure of versatility

same time, he makes use

of

and

every

every department of the service.

instruction and detail of training that has

to him.

been imparted

Hence
the

the utmost care

is

devoted to the training of

He

acquaints himself alike with the ordinary

lot of

noncommissioned

officers.

The

efficiency

of

the

and the unaccustomed and severe tasks, with the

captain of the

company is
body
of

rightly measured by his capacity

the individual soldier on picket duty, directly following,

it

to replenish his

noncommissioned
it

officers with

may

be, a

most tiresome march or a galling engagefinally

excellent material and to raise

to the highest efficiency.

ment.

He

learns the self-denial

and

restraint

The noncommissioned
especially,

officers

are therefore

instructed

exacted of every soldier, high or low, when unavoidable

difficulties arise at the

by the chief

of the

company,

in all

branches

assembling, the quartering, and

of the service.

They

are trained in their general and

to

the feeding of the massed troops.

special

functions,

and employed, according

verbal

their

/With these warlike exercises and experiences

training of the soldier
is

the

competency, for the delivery of

and

written

completed.
his side, has

He

will victoriously

orders in the field service or in engagements.

intrusted with written and

They

are

stand the
all

test, if he,

on

taken advantage of
if

verbal reports and orders,

in

opportunities,

however exacting, and

in

his superiors

and are also educated and instructed and directing the

engagement.
firing line

commanding

have succeeded
spirit.

infusing

in

him the true martial

during

all

phases of the

But, inasmuch as the tasks imposed on every

soldier in

war time

are so severe

and far-reaching,

ef-

Side by side with the schools of the company, in which,

fecting the highest efficiency on the part of the soldier,

the entire

during the winter months, the soldiers

in

need of

assist-

German army,

after the well-tested

model

of

ance in reading and writing, especially those not conversant with the

the Prussian army, recognized the training of the indi-

German language,

are instructed, is the

vidual as the paramount and fundamental principle of

success.

regimental or "capitulanten" school, which looks after

the advanced instruction in every regiment, from October
until April.

Hence,

all

rules
all

and

efforts of the superiors

and commanders

of

ranks

are

so

directed

as

to

Geography and

history,

orthography and

educate the individual soldier to the understanding of

the virtues of piety, love of honor, fidelity, obedience,
order,

German

composition, arithmetic in proper form and diofficers

mension, are taught by

and hired

civic teachers.

and punctuality, thus enhancing

in war.

his readiness for

By

instruction in civil service

and by the working out

of

and efficiency

In this sense of the word, not

written orders and reports, the "capitulanten" and non-

the schoolmaster, but the noncommissioned officer and the officer of the

commissioned

officers
is

are

prepared

in

every direction.

German army have become

under arms.

the instruc-

The

instruction

for the purpose of fitting them, inde-

tors of the nation

pendently, for

all

the functions of the service,

offices of the

and

also of

In accordance with the aforesaid, the force of non-

preparing them for minor

corporations, which
military service.

government or

commissioned

officers

forms a most important part of the

they can

claim

after leaving the

German army.
It

would be impossible, without the most

faithful

and

To

facilitate the

entrance into such

offices,

every nontwelve

energetic activity on the part of the noncommissioned

officers
officers,

commissioned
years (that
is,

officer receives, after a service of

together with the relatively small force of higher

after

meeting

all

legal requirements for a

which

is

not materially increased in war-time, to

claim to a minor
It is to

civil office), a

bounty of 1,000 marks.

reach the necessary goal in the training and education

of the privates.

be hoped that the future of those noncommis-

The

often heard

"hue and cry"

in the

sioned officers

who have proved

faithful in the military

ranks of the anti-national parties about occasional cases

of ill-treatment in the

service will be further secured

of salary

by an additional

increase

army

will give

way

before the

and other emoluments.

regarding the matter of
officers,

cooler

judgment

of every sensible person.

In sober,

With

this brief consideration

dispassionate
the

reasoning
character,

they

will

not

underestimate

providing for the noncommissioned

of the training
officers
left

the subject

extent

of

self-restraint,

and

thorough
officer, still

and education
is

of the

noncommissioned
It is

knowledge required of the noncommissioned

in the

and men

exhaustively treated.

now only

bloom

of

youth (from 20
fit

to

30 years

old), neces-

to

dwell somewhat longer on the very important

sary to adequately

him

for the responsible task,

made
which

question of the training of the officers

of the

the commanders

doubly

difficult

owing

to the great dignity

and

tact

German army.

55

The Imperial Guard passing

in

review before Emperor William.

At the

left

of the Kaiser
latter

is

General Lowenfeldt and at the

general to
fall

extreme right General von Buelow.

The

was the

first

THE TRAINING OF THE COMMANDERS

TACTICAL DUTIES AND TRAINING

RIDES, MANOEUVRES, TRAVELS

LONG DISTANCE OF THE GENERAL STAFF AND THE WAR-GAME

IN

tion of his military

fame by the genius he displayed

in

the campaigns of 171)6-1797 in Italy, paving for himself the road to the imperial throne of France.
patriotic fire

After the

was extinguished and the old veteran troops

and experienced
officers

IT

was

the dictum of that famous master of battles,

I,

and the
in

efficient

had succumbed

command a superior force at a given point, and at the critical moment of the fight, meant victory. He will be victorious who is equal to the occaNapoleon
that to
sion,

the direful war with Russia in 1812, even Bonaparte's

brilliant strategical talent,

which once more shone forth

with great lustre in his defensive campaign of the year

1814, could not avert his downfall.

grasping the opportunity by a brilliant use of

tactiljut.

The master

suc-

higher tactics, called by Bonaparte, la grunde

cumbed, because the sword he wielded was improperly

forged
;

But what unusual tasks does the

entail!

fulfillment of this duty

What

because the army, which embraced a hundred

avails the

greatest generalship or the

thousand young conscripts, was not equal to the task.

highest strategy,
vital

when

the hand which should guide the

instrument, the army, in a thorough

nay,

The great wars

of

1806 and

of

1870-1871 also fully dem-

masonstrated that the greatest bravery displayed in the field

terly

manner,

is

missing!

History

is

replete with in-

stances of the story that even well-disciplined and brave

cannot make good the blunders committed

in the

hand-

armies have had to succumb to the superior leadership of

the enemy.

ding and

leading of the

troops.
to

Both the Austrian

the

and French armies succumbed

in

German

forces,

With an army
by

rags and half-starved, but inspired

not

alone

because of

the
in

more

efficient

training

of

patriotic fervor,

Napoleon Bonaparte

their officers'and
laid the founda-

men. but

consequence of the better

56

organization and preeminently superior generalship of

the Prussian and

this course to

even the youngest

officer receives a

chance

German

armies.

This superiority
idea
rising
;

is

be independently tested and approved in the solving

tactical

not due, however, to an ingenious

like in the

flash-

of

problems.

The

tasks, together with

those

mind
on

of the commander-in-ohief

the sucthe
is

issued to the opposing

forces,

are

handed

in

written

cess

depends
that

the

proper execution
success

of

idea.

form to the lieutenants by the battalion commanders,

Only

commander can expect

who

sure

and

to

the

captains

of his orders

being promptly and accurately executed.

proportionate

by number

the

regimental commanders.
including,
if

of troops,

pos-

To

insure the latter, the general staff must understand

sible,

some detachments

of other branches of the ser-

not only
practical
eral

how
to

to transform the

commander's ideas
leader,

into

vice

corresponding with the

garrison's
officer.

strength,

are

commands, but every

the

from the gento

all

placed at the disposal of each

reference
called
to

This has special

down

youngest
the

officer,

must be able
of

the

older
duties

officers,

for

whom
on
)

these

so-

thoroughly

grasp

intention

and meaning

"practical

of

the

officer"
later

(other

than

orders issued.
to

He must

be trained and
perfect

accustomed

the

theoretical

duties,

described

not only

execute

every

order with

obedience

and

serve

as

drills,

but also as tests of their ability to

never-failing promptitude.
strive to
ties,

He must
all

at the

same time
possibili-

advance

to

higher positions.
is

The advance
by the
For

to

these

overcome, by the aid of

human
his

higher positions
qualifications

conditioned
at

efficiency

and

every difficulty that blocks his progress.

will,

With
life

shown

these exercises.

this pur-

an iron

nay,

even by staking

own

on

pose, namely, to
tactical

awaken keen perception, judgment,

mind, and resolution
officers,

the fulfillment of his duty, must he see that

the

aim
cir-

perspicuity, presence of

and purpose
cumstances,

of the order are secured.

in

Under no
a

on the part of the

situations

emergency or surprising
unexpected
or of those of the

executing the order, must he depart

are resorted to in the form of

from

its

explicit mandate, even

when

change

in the

reinforcements of their

own columns
of

situation

would seem

to call for the exercise of private

enemy.

By

this
is

method

procedure each respective

judgment.

commander
acme
of absolute obedience, of unflao--

given an opportunity to exemplify the

requisite for

To

attain the

qualifications

any and every emergency.

ging energy and resolution, combined with responsible

When

these exercises are of an important nature, those

and spontaneous acting, the

education of the
cern in the
officers of all

training,

schooling,

and

officers of the battalion

and the regiment who are

off
offi-

ranks are objects of con-

duty attend
cer

as spectators.

At

the conclusion, the

German army.
in

who

has been conducting these exercises assembles

For the minor engagements and

guard
drills,

the
drills

advance-

about him the

beginning with company

battalion

and proon the

is

officers who have been executing his commands and with them he enters upon a discussion

gressing into

and regimental
specific

drills

of the various exercises in

which they have been en-

manoeuvre grounds, a
out

scheme

of

war

laid

gaged.

This

is

followed by an additional
the

comment by
regimental,
diffi-

by two
and

parties,

each opposing the other.

sides,

The

the higher officers present, including

commanders on both
captains,
staff

namely, the
receive

lieutenants,

brigade, and division commanders, upon the more

cult tasks performed.

officers,

verbal

or

written

This

is

done

for the purpose of

orders

directing

them

to

make

the

necessary dispo-

further accentuating the difficulties involved in these

essentially instructive tactical duties.

sition thereof, the soundness, accuracy,

and expediency
is

Finally, every one

of

which

are

tested.

The execution
at

also

thor-

of the respective officers

is

requested to give a minute

oughly supervised and minutely commented upon by

the

report of the execution of his order

either

by

a sketch
a

commanding
greatest
of

officer
is

the close of the exercises.

made with colored

gaged
troops, or

pencil

on a report map, giving

The

stress

laid

upon the nature, form,

It

minute description of the manoeuvre-ground and the en-

and character
qualities of

the order issued.

must have the

clearness,

by

a detailed written report containing

military brevity, precision,

in

and

an appropriate skeleton-sketch.

All these matters are

officers

perspicuity

order

to

be fully
suffice.
is

understood.

This,

commented upon
present.

in written

form by the superior

however, will not alone

exercise
special attention
efforts

During the military

orders are

bestowed upon and the

see that the
all

On
to

a larger scale, but for a similar purpose, namely,

officers

greatest

are

made

to

train

of

a higher

rank than the battalion

the troops, and also to
are

issued from the proper place, excluding

expediences
It occasion-

commanders
test

in the leading of

which do not conform with the rules

ally

of war.

their qualification, exercises

drills.

prepared for the

differ

happens

in battle that all

commanders, even the regi-

troops in the manoeuvre

These manoeuvres

mental commander, are put hors de combat when they,

without stringent necessity, disobey the rules and expose
themselves on horseback at the outset of the fight or on
the firing line.

only in the number of the troops employed and in

the character of the duties involved.
nature, improved

Their form and

upon by a process
a

of

development
of

in

the

Prussian
fifty

army during

period

one hundred

Besides these continual exercises for the training of

the higher commanders, a special course of training for the officers of inferior rank, namely, the captains and
lieutenants,
is

and
in

years, has

the

German army.

become a standard and a model The origin of the manoeuvres

drills

can be traced back to the

by which Frederick

the

held annually in

every regiment.

By

Great prepared

his small

army

for the great task before

57


them.
Frederick's father, the "soldier king" Frederick
I,

of the general in

command, operate one against

the other,

William

aided in a most efficient

way by Prince Leo-

and

at which, generally
is

on a special day, the entire army

pold of Anhalt-Dessau (the Old Dessauer), laid the

foundation for a most systematic training of the troops
in all details,
left to his

corps

directed against an enemy, indicated in some

special manner.

including a rigid discipline.

great successor on the throne an

The King army which

on the part
This probson,

In

all these exercises the

bearing and behavior of the

troops on the march and in the engagements, and their

needed only a more elaborate training and the manifestation

of the

in tactical matters

conduct when bivouaced and on picket-duty, are closely

scrutinized and

of intellectual genius

made

the subject of strict supervision.

of the exercises, however,
is

commanders
II.

to

make

it

unequaled.

The paramount object

training
afford
of

the

lem was
Frederick

brilliantly solved

by the king's great

near

the

commanders.
to

On

the drill-grounds

Potsdam,
his

ample opportunity

The detachment drills the regimental commanders

arms to receive a proper
troops, while the

Spandau, and Berlin, the King personally drilled

troops

and the older

training in

staff officers of all

during the

years

1745-1756.

The

exercises

commanding mixed

younger

lasted about twelve days each.

With

these well-disci-

staff officers are

thus afforded a good training in picket

plined troops, Frederick II victoriously resisted half of

and miscellaneous duty.

The

division

and corps ma-

Europe

in the

Seven Years' War.

After the King had

noeuvres serve for the purpose of training the older regi-

accomplished his object and secured peace for his do-

mental and brigade commanders, especially the division

were no longer barred to the public but were opened to spectators, even to those
minions,
the

drill-grounds

commanders,
of war.

in

the duties falling to their lot in time

likewise serve to improve their qualifi-

They
and

representing foreign armies.

retained and
is

This

custom has been

After

cations

to increase

and

test their efficiency.

At

the

in

vogue

at the present time.

conclusion of these various exercises the mounted officers

are gathered around the

the custom pursued

by the German army, the Great

to the

commander,

for the time being

Powers send representatives

manoeuvres of the

the commander-in-chief, at the signal "officers' call," for

the purpose of a mutual criticism.

European armies.
and

Those

of

the

German army,

are

As

at the previously

often personally attended

Austria,
Italy.

by the sovereigns
drills

of Russia,

described lesser exercises, the respective duties and their

These larger

begin in Septem-

execution are commented on, including the assigned tasks.

ber with smaller so-called "detachment" drills under

the leadership of the brigade

The

situation at the

end of the engagement

is

clearly de-

commander, preceded

by-

exercises which take place in the formation of regiments

and brigades of different arms on the manoeuvre-grounds,

new manoeuvres for the day following are planned. The newly assigned commanders have to issue the necessary orders at once. The formal withdrawing of
fined, while

and which

last for several days.

is

To

those detachments

the opposing force, including the placing of pickets,

closes the day's drill.

a brigade of infantry

assigned, further

augmented by

Underlying these

exercises, es-

one or two regiments of cavalry, in addition to one

pecially the large manoeuvres with their important aims

regiment of artillery and some columns of pioneers

and purposes,

is

the

fundamental principle that the

be influenced
in the least in the

and telegraph
called

troops.

Formed

into

two

sections
drill,

"detachments"

these mixed troops

first,

commander

shall not

oppos-

fulfillment of

his

tasks,

but be accorded perfect free-

ing each other, for four or five days.

In this under-

dom
is

of action.

On

the other hand, the highest value

taking they follow out

defines an ordinary
cific

the "general idea," which

attached to the correct, independent, and resolute

the

war

status,

and secondly, the "spe-

acting of
curate

commanding
of

officers,

and

to

their

ac-

by which special daily tasks are assigned After a march in warlike array, or to each section. after the taking and the subsequent fortifying of a
idea,"

knowledge
tactical

the

manoeuvre-ground and the

designs and movements of the enemy, as well as to the

proper

employment

of

the

different

troops

captured position, an

engagement ensues which dethe victory rests.

engaged.

termines with which side

This

is

According
drills,

to the

important nature of these

larger
at

followed by both parties placing pickets for the protection of

their respective positions.

which exercise a great influence on the army

These outposts

large,

and their significance as they

affect the military

bivouac, while the other troops take up their regular

quarters, but are subject to "alarms," that
to
is

career of

the higher officers, special

pains are taken

to a call

to place the

judgment and decision

of the officers a

who

arms over night.

command
or brigade drills are followed
at

the drills

and manoeuvres on

sound and im-

The "detachment"

by

partial basis.

The commander cannot

at the

same time

drills of the divisions,

which the divisions,

like the

attend to the advance guard, the bulk of the army, and

the flanking columns.

brigades, oppose each other for from four to five days,

He

cannot watch with a

critical

under the leadership of the division commanders.

In

eye the center and the wings of the battle

line, neither

some

cases the
it

commander assembles

his entire division

can he superintend the operations which take place on

picket duty both by day and
chiefly,

and leads

personally into an engagement with the

is

by

night.

Further, and

enemy, which
flags.

distinguished for this purpose by marked

the

fact

has to

be taken into consideration

that the success of all

these warlike exercises can be

The division manoeuvres are succeeded by those of the army corps, at which the divisions, under the leadership

estimated only, as they exclude, as a matter of course,

the

use of bullets and thrusting weapons, and allow

58

only bloodless

bayonet attacks and cavalry

this

charges.

every September, are planned in the most elaborate

Inasmuch
becomes

as

by

procedure the effect of the warfare

manner and with the utmost

army's general
staff.

care

by

the chief of the

does not become apparent by actual losses, the decision

The

outlines are tested and ap-

dependent

on

purely

conjectural

methods.

proved by the Emperor.

On

this

account, there are attached to the commander's

the capacity of referees.

The manoeuvres
the case of each

are ushered in

by the

so-called

"Em-

staff assistants in

These

ref-

peror's parade or review," which his Majesty orders in

erees at the smaller drills are captains

and

staff officers,

army corps
for

detailed to take part in them.

while at the larger manoeuvres generals are intrusted

The scheme
tion,

calls

methodized railway transporta-

with this duty.

the

The

referees conjecture
fire,

the effect of

and

a concentration of the different

army corps

in

infantry and artillery

parties to

direct

the attention of
if

the direction of the territory designed for the manoeuvres

is

both

the same,

and regulate,

necessary,

effected.

War-marches toward the landing-point

of

the retreat of one side or the other.

The

referees are

the two
in

armies opposing each other are instrumental

also invested with authority to declare entire

columns of

assembling the army for these manoeuvres.

The

troops partially or totally disabled, and to decide, while

assembling and advance of the army are covered by

cavalry
(or
divisions,

taking

all

circumstances into consideration, the success

each

from

two

to

three

brigades

or failure of the attacks

made by

infantry and cavalry.

from twenty to thirty squadrons) strong, and under

These
at

The troops have

to

submit without protest to the deci-

the leadership of specially selected commanders.

sion of the referees,

who

are recognized

by

a white sash

meet

different

points

some
the

days
tasks

previous.
falling
to

The
their

worn around the coat sleeve. The arbitrators inform the commanders on both sides of the decisions made, while at the same time they personally report all details
to the chief

cavalry
lot

divisions

perform

in

war

time,

namely, of veiling the army's adits

vance, establishing

lines of contact with the

enemy,
at

commander.

The reports
Of

are subjected to

and covering the

flanks

of

the

army,

while,

the

exhaustive discussion and criticism, which take place at

the conclusion of the exercises.
naturally,
is

special importance,

proper time, they have to appear in the battle, often deciding the fate of the day by momentous charges.

the function of the referees at the great

manoeuvres, at which several army corps oppose each

other,

who

These charges are often led by the Emperor personally, also assumes command of the army, changing

and the extent of the fighting

lines is

measured

sides

between the two parties often even on the same

of these manoeuvres corresponds

by

miles.

day.

The

origin of these great manoeuvres, formerly called

The carrying out

"King's manoeuvres," and now known by the name of the "Emperor's manoeuvres," is to be traced back to the
great reviews at which Frederick the Great severely
tested the skill of the
inces.

with that of the corps manoeuvres previously described, with the one exception that they are conducted on a
larger scale.
terest

The Emperor, who shows a

exercises, after

special in-

army corps

of the different prov-

in

the

hearing the reports of

Following

his illustrious

example, the Prussian

the chiefs of the general staff and of the referees, as-

King held annually

vincial

a great review of one of the pro-

sumes the function

of final critic.

Surrounded by
further enhanced

his

army

corps, in

connection

with drills

lasting

generals and commanders, his presence lends a signifi-

several

days and

called

"King's manoeuvres."

The
was

cance to the manoeuvres.

This

is

by

corps of the Guards, stationed at Berlin and Potsdam,

did not take part in these exercises, however, as
it

the regular attendance of the

German Empress,
armies.

of the

German and
the

other sovereigns and princes, likewise

of

by

subject to the constant surveillance and inspection of

the Prussian King.

representatives

foreign

The

exercises

are also of value in a political aspect, since,

of

by means

Since the years 1866 and 1870-1871 the Prussian-

the

festivities

arranged by

the

cities

and prov-

German army
fifteen

has gradually risen from a strength of

inces in connection with the manoeuvres, the

German
contact

to nineteen,

and

finally

to twenty-three

army

Emperor and
with
all

Empress

come

into

personal

and the inspection of one army corps, occurring annually, became insufficient. The practice in vogue
corps,

classes of the

German

people.

In a military

sense, however, the manoeuvres are of the utmost im-

to-day

is

to detail

each year from two to four army

portance.

corps to these great manoeuvres.

desirable succession
is

By

this

method

The

efficiency of the army's general staff,

its

employed

established which, comprising a

almost in

entirety,

is

tested in a most comprehensive

of the railroads
is

period of seven to eight years, enables the commanderin-chief to test the entire

manner.
to

The capacity

often taxed

German army

in its training

the utmost,

and the supplying

of the troops with

and readiness

for war.

provisions from established military depots gives ample

This privilege, accorded to the

the imperial constitution,

German Emperor by
unfalterI,

opportunity for the commissariat to prove

its

efficiency.

was exercised with

The

entire sanitary

department of the army, including

ing faithfulness by the old Emperor, William

practiced up to the time of his demise.

and

the field hospital service, likewise receives a most rigid

test at these

Emperor Wilexample with a

manoeuvres.

In addition, there are called

liam

II

has followed

the

illustrious

into action the

telegraph and balloon troops, and the

results.

commendable energy, which is crowned by the best The "Emperor's manoeuvres," taking place

corps charged with the employment and construction

in the field of military signals, field

bridges, military

59

railroads,

and

fortifications of

every description.

The

fact that all important technical, tactical,

and strategical

borne
are

become evident by this outline, especially when it is in mind that higher commissioners and surgeons
detailed
to

questions involved in the manoeuvres become subject to

the review and approval of the

attend these

exercises with their

re-

Emperor and the higher

It

spective orders.

final

and thorough discussion

of all

generals of the army, fully demonstrates the importance

attained by the "Emperor's manoeuvres."
therefore,
entire

the assigned tasks and the entire course of the operations

would,
if

by the general

staff, in

the presence of the assembled

exercise.

be

in

keeping with the military ideal

the
in

participants, winds

up the

German army could be concentrated annually

of several

Travels of a similar character, only on a smaller scale,

take place annually for the purpose of training the general staff of the troops,

groups

army corps each stationed respectively

in the North,

South, East, and

West

of

the empire.

and are superintended by the chief

By

this

procedure an opportunity would be afforded

of the

army

corps' general staff.

staff,

to the entire general staff,

and

also to all

commanders

Aside from the entire force of the corps

officers,

staff

commanding general and army inspector, up to to practice warfare on a large scale, by one entire army operating against another. The enormous expense
the
necessitated

and captains and lieutenants of

all

branches of

the service are detailed to

make

these travels and are

intrusted with appropriate tasks, in order to train

efficiently for the

them

by such an undertaking

presents, however,

higher commands.
general
staff

insurmountable barriers.

For the purpose of enabling

The

travels of the

preeminently serve

the general staff officers, whose ranks supply the greater

the purpose of exercising the officers of this grade in the

tasks which have to be performed in the field with the

part of the higher commanders, to practice annually

warfare on a large scale, even without the

of troops,

employment
of

utmost accuracy, and also of training them for their

future duties as commanders.

and

to

improve upon the training

the

At

the same time

it

is

officers in the functions

necessary for the operation of

is

obvious that the

service are in

officers of the different

branches of the

the army, a scheme of travel for the general staff

instituted.

need

of further training, in order to pre-

pare them for the duties of higher positions, and therefore

These travels are undertaken, generally in the sum-

more time has

to

be accorded them than the

fall

drills

mer preceding the manoeuvres, by the

great general
staff,

officers of

the

during the summer months and the

allow.

manoeuvres

and are superintended by the

staff.

chief

of the army's general

They

separate parties, the ranks of

of

by two which, from the commander

commanders
by general
of the

are performed

For

this

purpose the so-called "travels for tactical

training" and long distance rides are designed.

are performed under the supervision of the

These
of

an entire army down

to the

army

commanders

corps and divisions, including the cavalry divisions with

their respective staff, are filled
staff officers,

the

troops

(regimental

commanders and independent

and

battalion commanders), and generally take place in the

fall,

according to rank and age.

the concentration of the

All preliminary work for

is

at the conclusion of the manoeuvres,

last till

army

prepared in an explicit

the following spring.

Their tasks, as a rule, do not

and warlike manner by the

chief of the general staff,

exceed the scope accorded to the detachment (brigade)

exercises,

who, in the capacity of commander-in-chief, defines the

general war scheme, and gives special directions to every

which were described

drills.

as introductory to the

larger fall

higher commander, assigning at the same time to each

The momentous
divisions in

duties falling to the lot of the cavalry

to veil the of the

one the duties involved

operation, the

in the operations.

The

plan of

war time, namely,

deployment

mapped

out railroad and march routes,

and

to cover the front

and flanks

army, require,

the necessary orders for the assembling of the army,

obviously, a special preparation on the part of the assigned

and the survey

of the troops' quartering, are thoroughly

in all their details, subject,

commanders and sub-commanders.

cuted by cavalry and artillery

For

this

purpose

and carefully treated

the latter, in

howAfter

specific exercises are ordered annually,

officers,

which are exe-

ever, to the approval of the higher

this,

commander.

and

are called

company with

all officers, repair to

"travels for the cavalry's training."

These travels are

laid out

grounds selected for the operations.

Here, by means of
in a

undertaken over well-defined and previously

routes,

marching orders,

marked and recorded

special

and resemble,

in their plan
is,

and execution, the

book, and by the instructions designed to cover the

travels of the general staff, that

the exercises without

engagement, the necessary measures and movements

are discussed

the

employment
are

of troops.

from day to day.

final

At

the conclusion, the

Nor

the

great importance and decisive effects

offi-

probable decision of the

encounter in the battle

of feats of

horsemanship achieved by some cavalry

underestimated.

and of the entire operations are agreed upon by the

higher commander.
This decision
is

cers to be

Mounted on
rivers,

fleet

horses

based on

all

the pre-

and riding through swamps,

between
far separated

woods, and over

ceding directions, movements, dispositions, and orders,

taking into consideration at the same time
stances, such as the
all

mountains, by day or by night, they establish connection

circum-

army columns, while

at the

manoeuvre territory and also the

partial success of the preceding day.

What amount
tion
is

of experience, practice,

and

instrucstaff,

same time they convey important orders or bring back valuable reports and information about the traversed territory, which bear witness to keen observation and correct military

entailed in such travels of the general

will

judgment on

the part of the officer.

60

In order to find out and train

this

officers best

adapted for
in

of the clash of

weapons and the momentous

results of

task,

long distance rides take place annually

the conflict, achieved often

by

heroic bravery, daring

every army corps, according to a special decree of the

prowess, and burning enthusiasm, are missing.

these great factors and

Emperor.

In these tasks, assigned by the generals in

the staff officers, and captains

While momentous occasions cannot be

command,

and lieutenants
distinction

realized in time of peace, there are, on the other hand,

faculties,

of cavalry take part.

The

officer
is

who wins

which can be developed and improved upon, These are a quick and correct read-

in these long distance rides

is

rewarded by a

prize,

which

nay, almost brought to the goal of perfection, at an

presented by the Emperor to the successful rider in

opportune time.

every army corps.

ing of maps and plans, expertness in drawing up disof the

The
officer

careful
is,

and elaborate training

German

positions

and orders which have

to

combine military

however, not limited to the practical exercises

brevity with great distinctness in every detail, at the

hitherto described.
of

The winter months

the
officers'

are

made use
and
place the

same time avoiding

cers in training

all

superfluous verbiage.

The

offi-

diligently

to

further

instruction
first

culture in the science of war.

"theoretical
the
first

In the

of a

must further exemplify the possession fundamental knowledge of the tactical use of all

problems," which have to be solved by

lieutenants

arms, with reference to their proper employment in the

field.

and second

every winter,

serve

for this purpose.

They

are generally assigned

to the

by the

With
officers,

due recognition

of the

above

facts

and with

battalion

commander, according

age and

qualifica-

a view to further improve the tactical training of the

tions of the officer,

and are selected

to incite individual

an exercise has been introduced

is

in the

German

study

in all

branches of knowledge and investigation.

criticized

army which

called "the war-game."

a Prussian officer

This exercise

These so-called " winter tasks " are thoroughly

in writing

was invented by

about sixty years ago,

to
in

commander, and afterward by the regimental commander. The best exercises are
the battalion

by

and since then has been gradually improved upon

such an extent that as a

submitted for further approval to the higher commanders, including the general

vogue, not only in the

foreign nations.

medium of instruction, it is German army, but in those

of

commanding

the

army

corps,

and are thoroughly tested and duly commented upon by the latter. By this method, talented and industrious
officers receive

The game

is

based on the following principles

On

large board, manoeuvres, consisting of marches, engage-

an opportunity which

is

sometimes of

ments, and picket-drills, are executed with small colored

figures, or checkers,

great importance, to gain the attention of their superiors,

by which the troops

are represented.

and

their favorable notice.

in

Those taking part

the gift of free, clear, and

in the play are divided in

two

sections.

Probably

no calling

is

The

different parts are assigned to the

commanders and
This

emphatic address of more significance than in that of

officers.

sub-commanders, and, suiting the circumstances, down to

the captains of companies, squadrons, or batteries.

To make them equal

to this task

and to develop

the necessary faculties to the utmost, lectures are given

war-game embraces the manoeuvres and

general
staff.

travels of the

every one or two weeks during the winter months, at

The higher commander

lays

down

first,

the

which

officers of all

grades attend.

These lectures are

"general idea," designing the war scheme at large, and

secondly, the special ideas, according to which he assigns
the respective tasks to the

orally delivered,

not read from manuscript,

by older
and
staff

members
officers.

of the military profession, captains

commanders

of

both parties.
staff,

These discourses are known as "garrison

lec-

As
all

at the

manoeuvres and the travels of the general

tures" at larger places, and are attended

garrison officers.
are

by
treat

all

the

arrangements, covering the dispositions and orders

The themes

are either self-chosen or

pertaining to the railroad transportation, the quartering

assigned by the commanders.

They

on

all

and marching

of the troops,

and

their

engagement, are
After this

branches of science, giving preference, of course, to the

science of war.

carefully perfected in a military manner.

preparatory work

is

finished, tested,

and discussed by the

The

oldest and largest gathering for the purpose of proa regular lecture course,
is

higher commander, the play commences on the board.

moting military science by

for over one

the

The diagram
1 :6250,

is

traced out on a scale of 1:12500, or

all details

"military society" at Berlin.

Having been

in existence

showing
is

important in military service.

in the

hundred years,

this society

summons

the

offi-

The diagram
maps.

sometimes executed

form of relievo
of the

cers, especially the

older ones of the Berlin garrison, to

As soon

as the order for the

movement
is

a monthly lecture.

This lecture
is

is

usually delivered

by

troops, their transportation

and marching

given (these

a general or a staff officer and

attended by the highest

operations being explained at the outset on

maps giving
come

generals and even princes, very often, indeed, by the

a general view), the checkers representing the troops

into play.

Emperor

himself.

These checkers are distinguished by different

With

the previously described exercises

and lectures

colors, generally blue

and

red,

and are used on the board

the methods of

training

the

officers

are not entirely

accordingly.

exhausted.

The

military drills

may approximately

rep-

The

different branches of the service

and the

tactical

resent war in time of peace

by means

of their ingenious

unities of the troops are

marked by forms and signs

in a

design and exactions, but, on the other hand, they never can fully set forth the stern picture of war.

way

that skirmish lines, companies, battalions, squadrons,

The

effect

and batteries are easily recognized.

The

position of

61

pickets, quarters, bivouacs, marching columns, with the

new

reports and orders issued touching the situations

advance and rear guards, and detached bodies of troops

of the

game

to

be played on the next evening.

These
superior
dis-

on both

sides

of

the army,

are

minutely represented

are sent to the lower

officers,

commanders by

their

on the board by an adequate number of checkers.

The

asking for an immediate drawing up of

necessary orders are given on the spot, either verbally

or in writing, and, at the proper time, all reports of

positions or orders, to be returned in written form

by

the bearers.

more important nature

on report maps.

are entered with military pre-

That the exercise cannot be performed

in its entirety,
is

cision

The movements
to

of the troops,

while limited to a few hours play of a winter evening,

obvious.
It

computed accurately by time and space,

rate
of

also

by

the

often thus happens that several evenings

It will

travel

common

the

different

branches of
of

are required to play the game.

that the duration of the

be understood
or less

the service, are pointed out

the checkers.

by corresponding moves

game depends more

respect
a

on

The following will exemplify the preceding statement The higher commander, previous to the
:

the character of the plot

for
its

and the necessary scope accorded

this

solution.

In

distinction

may

advance
patrol,

of the

army, despatches, early in the morning,

of a cavalry officer, for the

be made between
defined

tactical,

strategical,

and siege war-

under the lead

purpose

games, according to the peculiar nature of the exercises,

of reconnoitring the

enemy.

The time

of the officer's de-

either

by
up

the
to

engagement

of

smaller

parture

is

written down, together with the direction which

or larger detachments

brigades, divisions, and

he

is

to take,

and

also the time in

which he can reach

army

corps, or

by
or

a battle

between an army corps and

the assigned point of his route on the manoeuvre ground,

a whole

army

by

the assault

upon

a fortress

and

its

from which he can overlook and watch the enemy.

time at which the report of the patrol
the higher
officer will

The
reach

defence.

Of

the lesser exercises, superintended

officers,

by the

battalion
lieu-

commander, and how

his

far the latter has adthis time, are also

commanders, junior

down

to the

youngest

vanced with
reckoned.

marching columns by
the higher

tenant, are employed, while the exercises on a larger

scale, held

Again

commander

consults his

under the eyes

of the regimental in

and brigade

watch and accurately ascertains, by the aid of his assistants, the lapse of time between giving his final orders

commanders, are participated

staff officers.

by

the older officers

and

In the exercises of the army corps .and

and the receipt and execution

of the

same by the
is

troops.

armies, however, the general staff and higher

commanofficers of

By

this

method

of

procedure the very minute

ascer-

ders take an interesting part.

Frequently the

tained

when

the troops will have been enabled to reach the

the neighboring garrisons are called together at the head-

proper point for entering upon an engagement with the

quarters of the division

in

commanders and

of the general

enemy.

According

to this

plan and method, the checkers

representing the troops are put in order or placed on the

proper squares on the board, corresponding with the

given dispositions and orders.

command for the purpose of playing a war-game. The exercises which take place at the garrisons of Potsdam and Berlin in the presence of the Emperor, who often
joins in the

game, are played on

the

a large scale.

The

fore-

At the beginning of the game the checkers are moved

while hidden from view.
cusses the

going

illustrates

value

set

upon these

exercises.

The higher commander disgame with the competitors in a way that each At the moment, howcan watch only his own troops. ever, that the movements come into a common range of
sight, the
is

The

discussions evoked

by

the

game and touching

its
it

im-

portant tactical problems, as well as the instructive com-

ments
at
its

of the higher
finish,

commander during

progress and

give enhanced interest to

and
the

to the

checker board
to

is

uncovered, while the exercise

players.
will

The foregoing
the
of

characteristics of

game
great

brought

an issue, adhering throughout to a deof the situation.

is

verify

fact

that

the

proper and expedient

is

tailed

and warlike consideration

and defensive move and

Every

management
difficulties,

these

exercises

beset

with

offensive

accurately measured
effect of the

requiring a large amount of military science

of

according to time and space.

is

The
at

weapons
;

and knowledge, combined with a great deal

ception, foresight,

per-

judged

measured

as

the

manoeuvres

all

and mental

versatility, in

order to

attacks are decided by the higher

impartial
fluence
referees.

commander and To allow some scope to moral

his
in-

impart to the

game an

increasingly exciting, interest-

ing, and instructive

fervor.

At

the

same time, the

and the fortune of war (other chances being even), the ultimate decision is sometimes determined

higher commander, while superintending the progress

of the game,
is

afforded an opportunity of developing

his military qualifications.

by
at

the use of the dice-box.

a

This method of arriving

in

and exemplifying

The

ex-

decision,

formerly more

vogue than

at

the

ercises thus serve the purpose of preparing the higher

present time, was obviously instrumental in giving the

commanders
larger drills
in

for the task

which

falls to their lot at

the

name
will

of

"war-game" The

to these exercises, so peculiar in

and manoeuvres.

The war-games resemble

their nature.

earnest, practical character of the

be evident from the account here given.

reflected also in the
It is

game The
in

character and execution the travels of the general

great, fervid zeal

which permeates the German army

duties,
is

the fulfilling of
of

its

manner
no un-

They supplement them, and the manoeuvres. though most expediently, without causing any expense worth mentioning to the government or to the various
staff

performing

this

branch of the training.

bodies of

officers, or

without creating any errors or mis-

common

occurence, to find,

even in the dead of night,

takes, which eventually have to be

made good by

the

62

exertion and effort of the troops.

in

They

are instrumental

perior

officers

of

all

ranks.

The commander-in-chief
intelli-

imparting a higher efficiency in the training of the

of the army, the

Emperor, who combines high

officers of all ranks,

and especially

in instilling a closer
field-

gence with rare energy, looks likewise with incessant

care to the uniform enforcement of all rules pertaining
to the field-service ordinance throughout the entire Ger-

study and a more thorough knowledge of the

service ordinance (regulations touching the training of

the troops for field service

and the larger

drills),

and

of the instructions for the higher

commanders,

These

man army. The fundamental

rules
of his
is

principle which underlies all these

war-games
the proper

will, at all
if

times and most fittingly, serve

to exact

from every soldier the putting forth

to

their purpose,

they are undertaken and executed in

spirit

spirit,

the

whole faculties of body and mind,

to

demand
as

which

is

fundamental

in the

preeminently a resolute acting, and

impress on the

case of all exercises pertaining to the training of the

officers,

mind
as the

of

every one

namely, to enlarge the intellectual horizon of

youngest soldier
is

the highest commander well the idea omission and

that

the

officers

and

to prepare

them

for the higher

is

com-

negligence
than
a

to

be

considered
in

greater

offence

mands.

The attainment
and energetic

of this goal

warranted by the

mistake

made

the selection of

the proper

untiring vigilance, the unfaltering faithfulness, and the

intelligent
efforts

means.

on the part of the su-

SUPPLEMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION, COMPOSITION, AND STRENGTH OF THE GERMAN ARMY

--piiE organization,
1

composition, and strength of

the

army corps from parts of those army corps which consisted

of three divisions, a result brought about
tion
of

German army underwent important changes, due

by the Imperial Diet,
at the solicitation of

by

the crea-

to laws passed

the

new

regiments.

It

was likewise found

the
1.

German military authorities, on March 16th, 1899. From the year 1893 there was in every regiment
its

expedient to
of

muster into divisions the newly-formed

regiments which belonged to the army corps stationed

on the eastern and western frontiers of the empire, and
consisting
of

infantry one battalion established at only half

strength.

These half-battalions were gradually raised to their full strength of from two to four companies. By forming
the four battalions into regiments, in the year 1897, two

two

divisions.

This

was done

for

the

purpose of assigning special duties of frontier service to

these divisions, at the

same time leaving

According

intact the orto this, a

new regiments
corps.

of infantry

were added

to each

army

ganization of the army corps.

new

This process, in course of time, gave to each

infantry brigades, which thus comprised

corps was added to the Prussian army, the eighteenth,

army corps two

army
corps,

with

its

command
of

at

Frankfort-on-the-Main, while the

twelfth,

three instead of two regiments.

By

this

procedure the

kingdom
the

Saxony has now, aside from the

corps,

sisted of

which hitherto consisted of two, now conthree divisions, and this created difficulties in
a matter of necessity to organize a

nineteenth
will

with

its

command

at

Leipsic.

Bavaria

be represented by an additional army

regard to their handling and mobility in case of war.

It

corps, the third Bavarian, with its

thus

became

command
first

at

Nuren-

new

berg.

The two

frontier corps, the

East-Prussian

63

and the fourteenth

by one
2.

of

Baden, are

to

be augmented each

4.

similar

improvement

became

necessary

with

division.
for three

regard to the troops which maintain communication with

the

These newly-organized forces called only

army

in the field.

The motive which actuated

thus stated:

the

additional regiments of cavalry, and for a small increase

of foot-artillery
3.

government

in putting a proposal for this

is

purpose before
in all

and pioneers.
effected

the Imperial Diet,

"The progress

The most important changes, however, were

and composition

branches of technics manifests

itself in their

various em-

in the organization

of the field-artillery.

ployment

in

warfare.

The railway and balloon troops

if

By

a gradual increase of the field-artillery, necessitated

require a large increase in numbers,

a sufficient

and
in

by events which took place after the war of 1870-71.

the detachments and batteries of the field-artillery regi-

competent personnel
the

is

to

be secured for employment

event of war.

Neither can the establishment of

ments became unlike

and twelve

in

numbers
as

to such an extent that as

some regiments showed

batteries.

many

four detachments

new formations for the field-telegraph service be delayed any longer. With the increase of the army's forces,
their

handling without adequate telegraphic communicais

As

matter of

fact, there

belong

to

one battery

tion

out of the question.

The
for

field-telegraph service

equipped for war, besides

six

guns with gun-limbers

requires a

body

of thoroughly reliable operators

who

drawn by drawn by
of eighteen
to

six six

horses,

eight ammunition wagons, each

must be trained exclusively

those

functions, and

horses, three

provision wagons, and one

who

are yet lacking."

(The pioneers formerly received

in these duties.)

portable forge.

Each

field-battery, therefore, consists

an additional training
In recognition of

wagons with 108

horses.

A regiment of

nine

all

these facts, the Imperial Diet

twelve batteries comprises, besides the horses of the

granted the proposed establishment of three telegraph battalions

officers, of the

noncommissioned
provision

officers,

and the necestheir horses,

sary

baggage and

wagons with

The placing
bracing
of the
5.

and also an increase of balloon and railway troops. of the railway brigade and the telegraph and
troops which maintain the communications

102 to 210 army vehicles with from 972 to 1,290 horses.

balloon battalions under one bureau of inspection, emall

The preceding statement

trained in time of peace

will

make

it

clear that sucli

efficiently

masses are too bulky and unwieldy to be

army, was agreed upon without opposition.

of the

by one man

the commander

of

The proposition

government, which called

the regiment.

It

would

also be impossible for the com-

for an increase of the peace-footing of the infantry, the

mander properly
in
to

to supervise all the

it

necessary material

army's principal branch of service, did not meet with

the entire approval of the Diet.

time of war, to bring

to the

proper efficiency, and

The

infantry,

which

is

guide

it

in

battle

and on the firing-line with the

subject to the greatest toils of the campaign, and which

usually suffers the heaviest loss in battle, ought to have

necessary precision and promptness.

tion of this matter led to

due considera-

expedient and timely changes.

large were severally reIn

been treated with more consideration in the changes

effected throughout the army.

The regiments which were too

duced
in size,

In order to strengthen

but collectively increased in numbers.

all

the battalions of a lesser count, as well as those which

are stationed on the frontier

order to remove every disproportion,

field-artillery

regiments of the
is,

and have

to

be ready for

were placed on the same footing, that

immediate service

in time of mobilization, the

number

of

they had two detachments each of three batteries;

other words, each regiment had six batteries.
action
still

in

men
all

should have been increased.

the

This increase appears

strength

By

this

more necessary

as

the

during the

another point

was

gained.

Eacri

army
the

recruit's period of training has been considerably re-

division, the chief tactical

unity of the

army and

duced by the introduction

of the shorter time of service

battle, consisting of the three branches of the army's

two years instead of

The proposed
from 479,229 men

three.

service,

is

now equipped uniformly with

batteries

the necessary

increase of the
(officers,

army on a peace-footing
officers,

number
the day.

of

corresponding to the great im-

noncommissioned
to 502,500

portance of artillery, which

now

often decides the fate of

and one-year volunteers excluded)

cut

men was

To each army

division one brigade of field-

down

to 495,500, with the provision, however, that

artillery, not, as formerly,

is

one regiment of

field-artillery.

a further increase shall

be granted in case of necessity.

detailed.

The standard of each

which two form one army corps,

German division, of is now two infantry-

The changes made

summarized:
1.

in the

German army may

is

thus be

brigades of two regiments each, and one cavalry brigade

The number

of

army corps

to

be raised from

and one

artillery

brigade of two regiments each.

the
attained
artillery-

twenty to twenty-three, by three additional corps, which

gives the
teen,

By

this

innovation

great efficiency

German army has and uniformity, and the German

latter are

German Empire twenty-two, in place of ninearmy corps districts. The army, therefore, consists
army
corps, including those subject
first,

has received an effective increase of eighty batteries.

of seventeen Prussian

Included in the

number

of

new

howitzer-

to Prussia's administration (Corps of the Guards),

batteries, which lend material assistance

in operations

second, third, fourth,

tenth,

fifth, sixth,

seventh, eighth, ninth,

fifteenth,
six-

against an

cover of any description.

enemy protected by entrenchments or byThey are expected to supplefire,

eleventh, eighteenth,

fourteenth,

teenth,

ment, by their curved

batteries.

the direct

fire

of the other

and seventeenth corps; three Bavarian corps (first, second, and third); two Saxon corps (twelfth and nineteenth); one

WUrtemberg

corps (thirteenth).

64

2.

The strength
is

of the different

branches of the army's

service

by

the addition of a strong

body

of artillery,

service

as follows:

capable of being easily and efficiently handled.

(325 battalions of infantry (an increase of 1).

The prompt communication between the

parts of the forces in the field, which
is

different

482 squadrons of cavalry (an increase of 13). 574 batteries (an increase of 80). 38 battalions of foot-artillery (an increase of

of the utmost

importance, has been facilitated by the increase and the

1).

reorganization of the troops which maintain communication.

4).

26 battalions of pioneers (an increase of 3). 11 battalions of engineer troops (an increase of

The army's

readiness for war in general has been

materially enhanced by the innovation which has taken

place.

23 battalions of the military train (an increase of

3.

2).

Throughout Germany the increase

of the

of the Father-

The peace-footing

of

the

army

land's defensive strength, brought about

is

by the energetic
hailed

raised

from
efforts

479,229 men to 495,500 men, an increase of 16,271.

German Emperor, was

with

enalso

The changes mentioned under paragraphs

went into
effect

and 2

thusiasm and approval by every loyal citizen.

to other nations the following words,

But

on the

first

day

of April, 1899.

The
1st.

which characterize
in

increase stated under 3 will

become law on October

the intention of the

its

German government
significant

formulating

1899, and will be enforced accordingly.

propositions, are

and important:

"The

A
made
ment

general scrutiny of the character of the changes

will

events of the Spanish-American war have demonstrated with great clearness that the lack of a careful and syste-

demonstrate their importance.

The manageits

of the army's training in time of peace,

passing bv

matic preparation for war in time of peace

is

followed

mobilization from a peace-footing to a war-footing, and

the handling of the various organizations to attest their

by most
maintain

disastrous consequences.
its

No

nation desiring to
the Powers

reputation and integrity

among

readiness and efficiency for war operations are facilitated

can afford to dispense with these preparations.

Hence

by the changes.

The

tactical unities

the divisions

the principle will always prevail in the future that a strong,

have become more independent and

well-organized army

is

efficient for actual

the best foundation of a governof peace.'"

ment, and

at the

same time the best safeguard

Guard Regiment on parade before

WW

on the Templehof Parade grounds in Berlin.

65

Colonel

(New

Hohenzollern Overcoat).

25th Regiment of Infantry a von Liitzow" (Rhenish No. 1).

Regiment

of

Grenadier-Guards

Emperor Alexander."

125th Regiment

of

Infantry

(Wurtemberg).

34th Regiment of Fusiliers (Pomeranian).

9th

Regiment

of

Grenadiers (Colberg) "Count Gneisenau " (Pomeranian No. 2).

On

Picket at Night.

89th Regiment of Grenadiers.

(Grand-Duchy

of

Mecklenburg.)

-^B^Sfcgp^&gssga

Body-Guard

of

H. M. the Empress.

2nd Platoon.

Kettle

Drummer

of the

Regiment

Gardes du Corps."

Regiment

of

Hussars

Body-Guards.

Cavalry Patrol.

16th Regiment of Dragoons (Hanoverian No. 2).

Saxon Horse-Guards.

^
'^j&j&s:
24th Regiment
of

Dragoons

Body-Guards

(Hessian No. 2).

At the Riding Hall.

Flying Jump.

13th

Regiment

of

Uhlans (1st Royal Hanoverian Uhlans).

f-+~<

*$AmlaJ\

<

'

Exercise with the Lance.

7th

Regiment

of

Cuirassiers "von Seydlitz

"

(Magdeburg).

Captain.

1st

Regiment

of

Hussars

Body-Guards.

1st

Regiment

of

Uhlans "Emperor Alexander

III.

of

Russia" (West-Prussian).

Hussars and Uhlans Destroying Telegraph Wires and Railroads.

**y*\

"Battery Halt."

7th

Regiment

of

Field Artillery (Westphalian).

Heavy

Artillery at

the Gun.

8th

Regiment

of

Heavy

Artillery

(Rhenish).

12th

Regiment

of

Field Artillery (Royal Saxon).

*p

(^

Piece

Drill.

21st Regiment of Field Artillery "von Clausewitz

"

(Upper-Silesian).

On

the March.

2nd Regiment

of

Field Artillery

"Horn"

(Royal Bavarian).

***&

Artillery

Firing.

27th

Regiment

of

Field Artillery (Nassau).

^$
1st

and 2nd Regiments

of

Railway Troops.

Railway Troops Practicing

at the

Tempelhof

Drill

Grounds.

The

Colonial Troops of

German

East-Africa.

Detachment

of

Balloon Troops.

Cavalry Attack on a Balloon Detachment.

9th Battalion of the Military Train (Schleswig-Holstein).

THE GERMAN NAVY

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE NAVY

The
by
to

history of

Germany's sea-power dates

Ages.

far
first

back
Cru-

the league
its

became

a solid organization, with Liibeck as

into

the

Middle

When

the

soul and body.

III,

saders had taken the city of Tarsus they were joined

a fleet of Frisian

and Flemish

pirates,

who wanted
This
took

The Danish King, Waldemar German emporium at Gothland

determined
to seek

having captured the

in 1361, the

Hansa

cities

do penance

at

the

Holy

Sepulchre.

revenge on him
fleet

for violating the treaty.

place in the year 1097.

sian,

In 1147 a number of Frias-

In May, 1362, the

under command of John WitBut, while they

Flemish, and
to the

Rhenish mariners gave manly

in

tenberg, the burgomaster of Liibeck, stormed and cap-

sistance

Portuguese

the capture of Lisbon,

tured Copenhagen and sacked the town.

previous to their taking part in the great crusade under

the leadership of Conrad III.

besieged the strong fortress of Helsingborg,

attacked the defenseless
largest vessels
fleet,

Waldemar
to

At

the beginning of the

capturing twelve of the

thirteenth century, during the era of the fifth crusade.

and forcing the Hanseatic land-army

expedition.

Germany's sea-power was

gathering together a great

at its height.

Oliverius, the
in

abandon
head.

the

The brave but incautious

brave and pious canon of Cologne, had succeeded

Wittenborg atoned

for his neglect

by the

loss

of his

army

of Crusaders near the

Frisia, the citizens of

The

truee

of

the

year 1362,

recognizing the
to

Lower Rhine,

in

Westphalia and

Danish possession of Gothland, having come

the whole

an end,

Cologne alone having equipped more than 300 vessels. The Counts William of Holland and George of Wied
having been elected commanders of the fleet, the Crusaders put to sea in May, 1217, and reached the harbor
of

German Hansa

bestirred itself, and, at a diet

to prosecute the

of the league at

Cologne (1367), resolved

war against Denmark. The mustered forces

lings (eastern division)

of the Oster-

and Westerlings (the western or and

Acre

in the following April, after great hardships;

Dutch
ish

division) raided the coast of Schonen, captured

here they joined the Knights Templars in their expedition against

latter

destroyed Copenhagen and Helsingor and sacked the Dan-

Damiette

in

Egypt.

At

the siege of the

and Norwegian

ports.

King Waldemar had

to take

town they erected on two of wooden tower with a drawbridge

of storming the

their ships a

high

to flight

and was compelled to sign the ignominious treaty

for

the

purpose
of chains

of Stralsund in the year 1370.

By

this treaty the

Han-

immense obstruction made

seats obtained possession of all the fortified seaports of

put across the Nile by the defending Saracens.

After a

Schonen.

It

was

also stipulated that henceforth

no King

hot fight the Frisians scaled the enemy's tower from their
floating fortress, repulsed the Saracens,
river of its obstructions.

should ascend the throne of

of the

Denmark without

the consent

and cleared the

Later on the towers of the

expressly confirmed.
zenith of the

Hansa towns and that their privileges should be The treaty of Stralsund marks the
power and prosperity
of the

boat-bridge at Damiette were destroyed by the same

siege-machine, so that the town proper could be taken

Hansa League,

the strength of which was broken

by

internal dissensions

by
rise

storm, which event occurred

November

5th, 1219.

and
de-

strifes.

The

piracy,

brought about by the long

In the twelfth century the city of Liibeck began to

as

wars, and practiced especially

by the

" Vitalienbriider"

an emporium of commerce.
fire in

Having been

and

" Lickendeeler," greatly injured the

cities.

trade of the

stroyed by

1152,

Henry
it

the Lion rebuilt the town,

it

Hansa

The Hanseatic trading

vessels being com-

granting
opric.

it

many

privileges and elevating

to a bish-

pelled to

sail in

squadrons, their commerce suffered im-

In the year 1188

was declared

a free imperial

mensely by
levied

this

method and likewise by the sound-duties

This action
to a cause of war.

city

by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

At

that time the

by

the Danish King, Eric, in 1425.

ships of Liibeck trafficked with the island of Gothland.

was deemed by the Hansa tantamount

Intercourse with Wisby, the capital of the island, was in-

After three expeditions (1427-1429) had been sent forth

strumental in forming the

first

federation of

German
impetus

King Eric was

sound-duties.

forced to

make peace and

to

abandon the

merchants
to the

in foreign countries, giving a great

German

trade on the Baltic Sea.

The Teutonic

Dissensions between the Westerlings (Dutch) and the

Osterlings continued to weaken the great confederation,

Order was established by Crusaders from Lower Saxony

at

Riga.

Here the influence

felt,

of the

German sea-power
for the

only Ltibeck exercising

its

old influence for a limited

was strongly
spread of
inces.

and Riga became the centre

period, of which the well-known historian, iEneas Silvius,

German

culture throughout the Baltic prov-

afterwards Pope Pius II, writes: " Liibeck's inis

fluence
of the

so

commanding

that three

mighty kingdoms

In the fourteenth century the severe conflicts of the

North accept or

reject their rulers at its will."

German sea-towns

with

Denmark
League.

led to their incorpora-

The

dissensions between the Osterlings and Wester-

tion with the Hanseatic

About

the year 1350

lings were readily perceived

by England, which power

96

was not slow

to

grasp the

advantages thus offered.

his old hosts, the

King Henry VI, while favoring

chants of Cologne,
suffered

mer-

merchants were looked upon as harmless weaklings and were compelled to obtain their part of the trade by
intrigue, barter, or entreaty.

Count Richard

of

War-

wick, the royal governor of Calais, to attack 28

Lubeck

During the reign

the

of

the
its

Emperor Ferdinand
chance
to

II

merchantmen
secure

in the year 1458.

The
for

latter

repulsed the

Hansa League missed

regain lost

attack, but in so
to

doing

lost six ships,

and were unable

loss.

power, fearing, in the

the

spirit of

narrowmindedness, that
Wallenstein

any compensation

such

During

Emperor might become

too powerful.

the reign of
illtreated

Edward IV some German merchants were and plundered at their London quarters,
from sheer English
This outrage prompted the Hansa to suspend
to grant complete

organized an imperial navy at Wismar, receiving from

the Emperor, in 1628, a commission as " General of the

known

as the Steelyard, or Guildhall,

ocean and the Baltic Sea and Captain-General of the

jealousy.

Armada, then

in course of construction."

Only the

city

commerce with England, and

of action to the

freedom

of Stralsund offered a stubborn resistance to the imperial

forces,

" Vitalienbruder,"

the pirates of the

forming

at the

same time an alliance with the

German Ocean,

against the ports of England.

fleet,

Swedish King, Gustavus Adolphus.

Stralsund, the

Having acquired

In the year 1472 the Hanseatic

commanded by

King

established a firm foothold on the

the brave freebooter Paul Beneke, harried the English

coast,

Baltic Sea and got possession, in the course of time, of

the bishoprics of Verden,

and captured many

to sign a

vessels.

In 1474 Edward

IV

Bremen, Wismar, the island

Pomerania.

of

was compelled

peace treaty, by the terms of

Riigen, and almost

all of

which the Osterlings recovered their old privileges and an indemnity of 10,000 sterling. The latter term, it

At
beck

a council of the

Hansa League, convened

at Lti-

in 1630, the emissaries of the different

Hanseatic

may be

said in passing,

is

an abbreviation of Osterling.
sea, discovered at

towns declared themselves unable

federation.

to continue the con-

Of the great countries beyond the

that period,

Germany

received none, the empire having

Without further parley the proud league was dissolved, only Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg deciding to assist each other in case of emergency.

then no adequate navy.

rial

Indeed, according to an impe-

The

decree of 1512, no

German

trading company was

fundamental
cident to
of
its

evil of

the league lay in the defects in-

allowed to transact business with a foreign country. Venezuela, which was forfeited as a pledge by Emperor

imperfect organization.

These were lack

harmony,

selfish

greed

in individual
i.

V as an hereditary fief to the princely Welsers Augsburg, and subdued almost completely by the latter, was lost. They could not hold their possession
Charles
of for lack of

members, and the

e.,

sad want of a national government,

of an Emperor, powerful at sea,
direct
its

the firm
to wield

hand
and

and able

great powers.

At

the

close of the

Thirty

German naval

protection, being dependent on

Years'

War, Denmark, with Schleswig-Holstein and Olin its possession, controlled the entrance to the

the arbitrary actions of Spain and Portugal.

denburg

Once more Lilbeck's sea-power

brilliant lustre.

rose, shining forth in

Allied with Dantzic, Rostock, Wismar,

and Stralsund
tavus Vasa.

it

gave support

to the

Swedish King, Gus-

Bremen, Hamburg, and Lubeck. Sweden held the countries lying between the Elbe and Weser, and the coasts of Mecklenburg and Pomerania;
harbors,

German

Christian II,

throned and the island of

King of Denmark, was deBornholm was pledged to

for a period of fifty years.

Rostock alone preserving

its

independence.

The duchy

of Prussia, Dantzic excluded,

was subject

to Poland.

Lubeck,

as

war indemnity,

Frederick William of Brandenburg, the Great Elector,

possessed at the beginning of his reign only a strip of
the Pomeranian coast with the only seaport, Kolberg, the open unprotected roadsteads of Stolp and Rtigen-

But, alas! princely, social,

and religious

affairs

of a

particular nature interfered with Lubeck's endeavor to

regain naval predominance on the Baltic.

The

valiant burgomaster,

JUrgen Wullenweber, who

of

walde, and the

little

seaport of Pillau as a

fief of

Poland.

had subdued the entire kingdom

also crippled the Danish, Swedish,

Denmark and had

After having been invested by the treaty of Oliva in

and Dutch commerce,

1660 with the sovereignty

resolute

of the entire Prussian coast, the

was repudiated by

his

own

fellow-citizens in a shameful

manner merely from petty jealousy. This brave man was condemned to death and was executed at Brunswick
September 29th, 1537, whilst the Council
sanctioned the
of

create a powerful navy and to make his seafaring dominions rich and pros-

Elector resolved to

perous by trade with foreign countries.

Lubeck
sea-

The Brandenburg
for

flag, a

red eagle on a white

sent

field,

infamous sentence.

The Hansa's
of

the

first

time

flew

from privateers

out

to

power suffered

eclipse with the death of

Wullenweber.

cripple Swedish commerce.

The Swedes having made

The energetic commercial people

and had the charters
of the

England took
selfish

inroads into Brandenburg, the Elector, with the design

of

advantage of the Hansa's weakness and

greed,

destroying Swedish commerce, hired, through the

German merchants annulled

in the

by

their rulers.

The Hanseatic towns having aided

armada by supplying
it

agency of the Dutch merchant, Raule, ten Dutch frigates, upon which he hoisted the Brandenburg flag. In a
short time twenty-one well-laden vessels

equipment
provisions,

of the Spanish

with

were captured,
from

Queen Elizabeth in 1589 ordered a whole fleet of Hanseatic merchantmen brought up at the mouth of the river Tagus, and the Germans to be driven out of
their guildhall at

and

in four

weeks the Swedish

flag disappeared

German

waters.

London.

After that, the Hanseatic

tract with

In the summer of 1676 the Elector closed another conRaule for the equipment of five frigates and

97

six sloops to out off the

Swedes from Pomerania.

a

Raule

the

Margrave of Brandenburg.
in the Straits of

After having joined

joined, at
fleet

Copenhagen,

Danish and a Dutch auxiliary

Lacher

Dover, Thomas Alders led his

St.

under the command of Admiral Cornelius Tromp.

squadron into the Atlantic, heading for Cape

Vincent,

At
in

the naval battle fought near

Bornholm on June

5th,

for the purpose of capturing the Spanish "silver fleet,"

which the Swedes were utterly routed, Raule capa vessel of

which was on

its

way homeward from

It

the

West

Indies.

tured the Leopard,

of 8 guns,

22 guns, and a fire-ship

This daring undertaking provoked the wrath of the

and brought

his prizes into the seaport of

Spanish government.
Galicia, twelve galleys

equipped, at the seaports of

fire-ships,

Colberg.

His squadron also rendered good service

at

and two

which put

to

the blockade of the Pomeranian coast and captured

many
210

sea in September, under

Villaflel,

command

of the
off

Marquis de
the

valuable prizes.

with the intention of driving

ships

Bran-

In the year 1678 Raule had to provide a

fleet of

denburg
fleet."

and protecting the approaching "silver

large and 140 smaller vessels for the transportation of the

Brandenburg troops
effected under
fleets

to the island of Rtigen.

This was

On September
Eager
to

30th, Alders sighted the Spanish ships.

convoy

of the united

Dutch and Danish

Juel.

encounter the long and anxiously expected

he gave furious battle with his six small
After a

commanded by Admirals Tromp and

After

silver galleys,

the capture of Rligen, Raule's ships blockaded the inland

vessels to the vastly superior Spanish forces.

waters of Rtigen, an operation which secured the sur-

hot contest, lasting over two hours, in which Alders lost

ten

render of the towns of Stralsund and Greifswald.

men

killed

and

thirty

wounded, he drew

off

and made

By

the treaty of St. Germain, signed on the 29th of

for the Portuguese harbor of Lagos, while the "silver

fleet" safely reached the port of Cadiz.

July, 1679, the Elector

was deprived

of all the advan-

In spite of the

tages gained over the Swedes,

who had been almost driven

sea-power of the

undertaking having proved

be underestimated.

futile, its

daring was not to

from Pomerania.
Elector, heralded

By
by

this treaty the

flattering promises,

came

to naught.

denburg

in attacking the ships of a

The boldness shown by little BranEuropean sea-power

it

In the same year a new agreement was drawn up between

the Elector

excites to-day the

same admiration and amazement

prestige

and Raule

to last six years. vessels,

It stipulated for

did at the time of the occurrence.

Honorably the Branon the ocean

the

equipment

of eight

with a crew of 400

denburg navy maintained

its

sailors, officers

included, and also for the construction of

fire-ships

amidst great seafaring nations.

twelve war vessels and two

of Pillau.
It

at the

shipyard

At

this

juncture the Great Elector resolved to replace

was hoped to receive the necessary funds

from Spain, which

the hired navy

by one

of his

own, and also

1st,

to acquire

for the construction of Raule's fleet

some colonial possessions.

On January

1683, Major

country owed the Great Elector subsidies to the amount

of 1,800,000 thalers, the

Otto Frederick von Groeben solemnly took possession of

payment

of

which had been in

some

territory lying

on the west coast

flag

of Africa

by
fort

arrears since the year 1674.

Spain, however, refused the

hoisting

the

Brandenburg

and erecting the

money, and without any reason.

not the

But the Elector was

"Gross Friedrichsburg," near the Cape Three Points on

the coast of Guinea.
built,

man

to

be

trifled

with and his announcement,

Later on, two other forts were

made
of

at

Madrid, "that he would try different methods to

get his money," was followed by deeds.

On

the 14th
of the

named "Dorothea," near Accadda, and "Brandenburg," near Taccarary. The Elector also acquired the
island of

August

Brandenburg squadron^ consisting

Arguin

in the

bay was

of

Arguin

in the year 1685,

vessels Frederick William, Kurprinz, Dorothea, Bed Lion, Fuchs, Berlin, and the fire-ship Salamander,

where an old Dutch

mounted.

fort

rebuilt

and

thirty

guns were

commercial agency was also established

with 165 guns,

manned by 38

officers,

481

sailors

and

at the island of St.

Thomas

in the

West

Indies.

The
9th,

180 marines, under command of Claus von Bevern, put to sea to watch near Dunkirk for the convoy of Spanish

death of the Great Elector, which took place

May

1688, prevented the proper realization of his bold plans.

merchantmen

sailing

from Ostend

to Cadiz.

His successor, Elector Frederick

vessels

III,

could not continue

On September

18th,

the Brandenburg

over-

the fostering of the work; his whole energy was spent

in the

hauled a Spanish ship of 28 guns, the Carolus Secundus,

with a cargo of costly lace and fine linen.
Cornelius

war going on with the French

frigates

at

that period.

Captain
ships,
fleet

Only two
prizes.

were equipped, which took a few

I's

Raes

cruised

with

the

other

three

King Frederick William

efforts

were

all

heading for the West Indies,

laden with
silver.

to capture a

Spanish

absorbed in the establishment of an

efficient

army; he

On

April 20th, 1681, three frigates,

would not

sacrifice a farthing for colonial

enterprises.

the Princess Marie,

Wasserhund, and Fichhorn, under

left

The king

sold, in the year 1720, the entire colonial pos-

Captain John Lacher,

the port of Pillau to cruise in

sessions for the

in shares, to the

sum

of

6,000 ducats, and 6,000 guilders

;

the English channel and from there to proceed in the direction

of

Dutch Company

in the

year 1731 the

likewise

the

West

Indies.

Raule promised

the

agency formerly established

relinquished.
the maritime

at St.

Thomas was

Elector "to tackle the Spaniards within two months, so

that

Frederick the Great endeavored to raise

they

never should forget

it."

As

a support to

commerce
difficulties,

of his dominions.

He

created,

Lacher, in June and July three additional great frigates

followed, the Fuchs, Frederick William, and the Carolus Secundus, the

under great

an "Asiatic" and a "Bengal"

trading company, the success of which was frustrated

name

of

which had been changed to

by

the jealousy of the English and Dutch.

Having no

adequate navy, the King could not guard

interests against the inconsiderate

his colonial

the surrender of the Elbe duchies to

Denmark,

this small

encroachments of the
the fortress of

navy soon ceased

navy,

to exist.

former Powers.

The Swedes threatening

In contrast with the inefficient work of the federal

Stettin in the year 1758, a small Prussian fleet, with a

doomed
1st,

to ruin

from the

start,

the Prussian navy

crew of 436 seamen, prevented the enemy from entering the Pomeranian inland waters. In September, 1759,
this fleet

developed

itself slowly,

but on a solid foundation.

On

March

1849, Prince Adelbert was appointed comall

encountered a vastly superior Swedish

of
Stettin.

fleet in

mander-in-chief of
consisted
of 1

Prussian war vessels.

corvette,

These con-

the

Bay

In the battle which ensued the

sailing

the

mail-steamers,
sloops,

Swedes

lost 3 ships

and 120 men, and were prevented

from entering the harbor.

After peace had been concluded, the Prussian war
vessels were altered into trading vessels,
sian flag disappeared

Prussian Eagle and Elisabeth, and 21 with 67 guns and with a crew of 32
1,521 men.

armed
and

officers

At

Stettin a naval depot,

and

at

Dantzic a

and the Prus-

navy yard were established; while

corps,

a naval corps, a marine

from the high seas for a period of about a hundred years. In the stormy times of the year
1848 the German nation,
in the belief that it

and a division

of engineers

were created

in 1852.

In 1853 a Prussian squadron, consisting of the Qefion,

had effected

bought from the

derelict federal navy, the

Amazon, and

the unification of the Fatherland, asked for the immediate

the Mercur, set out on a naval expedition on the Atlan-

organization of a navy.

The

fact that little

Denmark

was able

blockade the entire German coast made the question of defence at sea a burning one. But, contemto

poraneous with the universal wish, there was a general misconception of the situation. Even though the necessary funds were forthcoming, the organization, equip-

West The expedition was commanded by Commodore Schroeder, formerly in the Dutch service. In 1853, Jahde bay was acquired from Oldenburg as a harbor on the German Ocean. In the following year, Prince Adelbert
tic to

Madeira, and to the La Plata States and the

Indies.

was appointed admiral of the Prussian

coasts.

About

ment, and armament of a navy could not be effected at a

that time the organization of the dock-yards

and marine

moment's notice

little,

therefore,

was accomplished,

in

corps was effected, and the marine reserve was put in an

efficient condition.

spite of the manifested feverish zeal.

Besides the marine depot at Stralestablished at Dantzic, the

In April, 1849, the

German navy

consisted of the fol-

sund, a station

command was

lowing vessels:
2 steam frigates, the Barbarossa and

school of sea cadets was removed from Stettin to Berlin,

Archduke Johann,

and the reserve and landwehr were

also organized.

each of 9 guns.
1

During the years from 1859

to 1865, the Prussian

vessels.

navy

steam frigate, the Hansa, of 11 guns.

was strengthened by additional

in

These included
Vineta, and

1 first-class

steam corvette,

King Ernst August,

the protected corvettes Arcona,

Gazelle,

course of construction.
3 additional

Nymphe;
Loreley.

the gunboats Belphin, Blitz, and Basilisk,

steam corvettes, the lubeck, Hamburg, and

of 2 guns.
in course of construction at Kiel.

the sailing brig

Hela, together with the despatch-boat

Bremen, each
1

steam corvette, Bonin,

The navy
coast.

suffered a great loss in

November, 1861, by
off the

1 sailing frigate, the Deutschland, of 32 guns.

the foundering of the corvette

Amazon

Dutch

In

this

With
rossa,

mishap 6

officers,

19 naval cadets, and

the latter, only three steam vessels, the

Barba-

120

men were

engulfed in a watery grave.

Lubeck, and Hamburg, were really available for

active service.

With

In the war of 1864, the Prussian navy, consisting of

three large vessels

these three ships Captain

Bromme,

and

formerly in the Greek naval service,

number of gunboats, with about

fleet of

made

the only recon-

70 guns, was no match for a Danish

sels,

18 war vesto a

noitring cruise ever undertaken under the federal flag,

the
colors of which were black, red,

carrying 363 guns.

of short

Its activity

was confined and

and gold.

The
fit

number

cruise,

made
The

and unavailing

fights

attacks, such

in the waters of Heligoland,

was

a futile

as the encounter which took place at

one.

federal

navy
it

so hastily created

was neither

for service nor

was

fit

to survive; its dissolution

was

decreed by the federal Diet and the several ships were

partly sold and partly auctioned
off.

Stubenkammer, under Captain Jachmann on March 17th, and that under Prince Adelbert against the Danish frigate Tordenskjold,

in the waters of Rtlgen.

The navy created by the Schleswig-Holstein committee

in

The Prussian
Basilisk,

vessels,

on naval

having

returned

affairs

showed, however, a brilliant activity

Prussian Eagle, Blitz, and from the Mediterranean,

the struggle with

Denmark,

fought a battle on

May

lasting from

9th, 1864, in conjunction with the

1848 to

1851.

In the fight at Eckernfcrde, which took place

Austrian screw frigates Schwarzenberg and Badetzky,

April 5th, 1849, the Danish battleship Christian

VIII
to sur-

under Commodore Tegethoff, against the Danes near

Heligoland.

was blown up by two Schleswig-Holstein land

of

The Danish squadron

consisted of the frig-

batteries

10 guns, while the frigate Qefion was forced

ate Niels Juel and the corvettes

render.
all its

The two

ships carried 132 heavy guns.

opposing

Heimdal and Dagmar,

104 Danish guns to 98 guns of the allied

Austrians.

In

engagements the Schleswig-Holstein navy succeeded in warding off the attacks of the vastly superior
After

Prussians and

The Austrian Commodore

fight

Tegethoff maintained a fierce

for

time,

but

Danish forces upon the chief German seaports.

was compelled
fire

to

withdraw, his flagship being set on

by the enemy.

Towards the

close of the war, the

99


Prussian gunboats gave active support in capturing the
flotilla

armored

frigates, 2

unprotected frigates, and 2 despatch-

of the Danish Captain,

Hammer, near
vessels

the island

boats, of 87 guns, with a total

crew of 4,000 men.

of Fohr.

As
this period the

a matter of course, the

German navy contented

During

armed

Arminius and
the corvette
at

itself

with the defence of the coast, the attacks upon

Prince Adelbert, and

the

unprotected corvettes Au;

which by the French squadrons were unavailing.

gusta and Victoria, were bought abroad

On August
man
flotilla

17th, 1870, while on a reconnoitring cruise,

Medusa was completed

1865.

at the

navy yard

Dantzic in

an unimportant engagement took place between the Gerstationed at Stralsund (consisting of the

In the same year the marine station of the Baltic

artillery service

Sea was removed to Kiel, and a naval

Grille and three first-class gunboats under Admiral Jach-

was created.
vette Vineta

In the years 1865-68 the protected cor-

mann), and the French Baltic squadron.

of

During the night

made

a tour

around the world,

this

being

August 22nd, the Nymphe, under Captain Weikhmann,

a sortie from the harbor of Dantzic against three
in the bay.

the

first

expedition of the kind

made by

German war

made

vessel.

French battleships anchored

ceeded
in

The

ship suc-

In the war of 1866, only the gunboats Cyclop and

Tiger, the side-wheeler Loreley, and the armed vessel

approaching the enemy without being noticed

into the
shots.

and delivered two broadsides

which replied with only a few
safely
their

French

vessels,

Arminius came

into action.

They took

the fortress of

The German

ship
left

Stade by surprise and captured the enemy's batteries

posted on the Elbe, Weser, and Ems.

drew back

into the harbor.

The French soon

coast.

moorings on the Prussian

In September

With

the creation of the

North German confederation,

into a

the French Baltic squadron withdrew from Baltic waters,

so dangerous to navigation,

the Prussian

navy was merged

North German
1867.

and joined the squadron

sta-

federal navy.

This took place July

1st,

The
liable.
all

tioned near Heligoland, in the

German Ocean, which

confederation had to provide for the navy, to the service

of

was blockading the mouths of the Elbe, Weser, and

Jahde.

which the entire seaman population was now

flag of the

No engagement

followed.

The

North German navy was hoisted on

shows a black cross

The corvette Augusta, under Captain Weikhmann,

which
three
left in

ships in service on October 1st, replacing the Prussian

colors.

December, succeeded, however,

of the river Gironde.

in capturing

The
inner

flag

in a white field, in

French vessels laden with provisions and ammuni-

the centre of the cross the Prussian eagle, and in the

tion at the
later

mouth

The
till

vessel

was

upper

quarter

the

German
the
its

imperial
iron

colors,

on penned up by a French squadron in the Spanish

the war was

black, white,
flag has

and

red,

with
in

cross.

This

harbor of Vigo, and had to stay there

ended.

been retained

entirety as the imperial

war-flag.

On November
armed
battleships, built abroad, the ICdnig

9th, the

gunboat Meteor, commanded

In 1868 the navy received an additional increase of

three large

by Lieutenant-Captain Knorr, encountered the French despatch-boat Sounet near Havana. The German vessel
was
of

Wilhelm, Friedrich Carl, and Kronprinz.

launched, a masterpiece of
vessel

In the same

347 tons and 320 horsepower, and had an arma-

year the beautiful wooden screw corvette Elisabeth was

ment

of three rifled guns, one of 5.9 in.

and two

of 4.7 in.

German

shipbuilding.

This
to

with a crew of 62 men.

The JBouvet was

a vessel of

made her

first

cruise in the Mediterranean

700 tons and 600 horsepower, with a steaming power

twice as great as that of the Meteor.
sisted of

attend the opening of the Suez Canal and joined there

the squadron which had escorted
erick

Her armament
in.

con-

Crown Prince Fred-

one 6.1

in.

gun, two 4.7

guns and four

William to Port Said.

situated

In 1869 the harbor for

swivel-guns; the crew numbered 85 men.

men-of-war,

on the Jahde, was opened and

This took

November

9th the Meteor left the harbor of

to

At noon on Havana to

named Wilhelmshaven by King William.

place on June 17th.

meet her adversary, that had taken

twenty-four hours previous.

the open seas

After a lapse of about thirty

At the beginning of the Franco-German war the North German federal navy mustered only 3 armored frigates,
2 other armored vessels, 1 battleship, 3 protected and 5

minutes, the vessels drew near each other

to within

2,000 yards.

The French having

fired eight shots, which,

however,

fell short, the

distance between the vessels was

unprotected corvettes, 8

first-class

and 14 second-class

reduced to about 1,000 yards.

his 4.7 in.

Knorr opened
his course

fire

with
to

gunboats, 3 side-wheel steamers, and 7 sailing vessels, with a total crew of 162 officers and 3,650 men.
these the two protected corvettes

bow gun and changed

somewhat

Of

the east, to bring his heavy 5.9

in.

midship gun to bear

Arcona and Hertlia,

the first-class gunfleet

upon

his

opponent.

By

this

manoeuvre Knorr exposed

the unprotected corvette

Medusa, and

his broadside, of

which Captain Franquet, the French

instant advantage.

boat Meteor, were abroad.

The opposing French

It

commander, took

He

first

tried to

consisted of 232 war vessels ready for warlike operations, of

ram the German

was
also to

boat,

but

in this he

was partly

foiled;

he

which 33 were armored.

was formed

into

some extent puzzled by the

In the
in the larboard boats
It also

adroit manoeu-

two squadrons; the Baltic squadron comprised 5 armored

frigates, 2

vring of Captain Knorr.

collision, the

bow

of the

armored corvettes, 2 despatch-boats and 1

French boat stove

and injured the

turned away the

yacht, with a total crew of 4,000 men. Its entire

armament

hurricane deck of the Meteor.

included 70 heavy and

squadron stationed in

many light guns. The French the German Ocean consisted of 7

100

projecting muzzles of the amidship and after-deck guns,

preventing the discharge of the former and the further

use of the latter.

The Bouvet's foreyard broke

its

off the

such an extent that

built at

in a short

time

all ships

could be
frigates

foreyard and the mizzenmast of the

German gunboat,
iron cathead car-

German

shipyards.

Only the armored

and bent over the mainmast, while

ried off the larboard shrouds.

Kaiser and Beutschland were launched from an English

The gunboat was lying

Knorr,

shipyard in 1874.

by,

apparently disabled for the time being.

In the seventies, the active peace operations of the

however, manoeuvred about so skillfully that the mainmast, swinging to and fro,
fell to

German navy began.

In 1873, the battleship Fried-

the starboard like the

rich Carl and the corvette Elisabeth,

foremast, and turned his boat in such a

manner

that the

larboard guns were available for action.

commanded by Commodore Reinhold Werner, were despatched to the Spanish Mediterranean coast, to protect the German
residents at that place during an insurrection in Spain.
to

While

the

Frenchman missed
from her 5.9
in.

his chance, the

Meteor
in

fired the first shell

gun, striking the Bou-

According

maritime law, the Spanish government

vessels

vet amidship, near the water line, a cloud of steam.

in the

and enveloping her

declared the

held

by

the

insurgents

in

the

The Germans hailed

for

this decisive turn

harbor of Cartagena to be those of pirates subject to

pursuit

fight

with a thundering hurrah.

sail

The Frenchin haste the

by

all

foreign powers.

Under

the

guns

of the

man

at

once set

Havana, seeking
the

rebel fortress Cartagena, the Friedrich Carl captured the Spanish despatch-boat Vigilante.
free; the ship,
ish

protecting

neutral

zone, leaving

scene of action

Her crew was

set

and the victory

to the

Meteor.

Had

the fight continued,

however, was delivered over to the Span-

the Bouvet, which had fired no shot after the collision,

government.

On August

1st,

Werner

forced the

would have been forced

to strike her colors.

When

the

rebel vessels Vitoria and

Almansa
first

to surrender.

The

Meteor returned
rousing vivas.

to

Havana she was welcomed with

so successful to
lives
if

crew, 1,400

men

strong, were landed; the two frigates,

to

however, were delivered

land,

an English squadron,

The war on

Germany,

fully

and

later
in

on to Spain.

Werner's energetic action was

a

demonstrated that

the

could have been saved

in

many brave soldiers German navy had been

of
latter.

praised

England

as

daring deed, the equal of

a glorious

achievement

at sea. in

Not

so

in

Germany;
aspect.

existence to prevent the importation of arms into

there

it

was regarded
relieved
of

a
his

totally

different

France by America and England, especially the

Werner was
commission

of

command, receiving
of

the
at

Gradually, but effectively, the opinion prevailed in Ger-

director-in-chief

the

navy-yard

man
navy

countries that a strong empire needs an efficient

in

Wilhelmshaven.

order to figure as a great

Power among

the

During the disturbances, which took place

Orient in 1876, and in which the

in

the

nations.

After the

title

and dignity

of

an Empire were revived,

on January 18th, 1871, the North German federal navy

of colors.

German and French consuls of Saloniki were murdered by a mob, the Porte was compelled by a German squadron, consisting of four
armored frigates under Rear- Admiral Batsch, to punish the murderers, and also the instigators of this act of
violence.

became the German imperial navy, but without a change It was now the duty of the empire to prothe nations.

vide for a navy adequate to the Fatherland's position

among
of the

Some changes
at this

in the organization

In the years 1874-1876, the circumnavigation of the

navy were effected

was replaced

period.

The naval
admiralty
in

globe was effected by the protected corvette Gazelle,

ministry

by the

imperial

commanded by Captain Baron von

the
first scientific

Schleinitz.

This was

1872; a naval station on the German Ocean was created

at

expedition on a large scale ever under-

Wilhelmshaven, with a second marine division and

second

taken by a

German man-of-war.
the

navy-yard

division.

After

this

the

naval
of

In the year 1877, Prince Henry of Prussia, the brother

the

academy was founded and amalgamated with the marine school at Kiel, followed by the establishment of a shipboys'
division
at

German Emperor, entered

navy

as a cadet

on the sailing frigate Niobe.

closely associated with the
to live in its history.

His name, since then so

will continue

Friedrichsort.

General von Stosch

Prince

German navy,

was appointed chief

died June
his

of the imperial admiralty.

first

Adelbert, the creator and

1st,

tutor of the navy,

who

A
The

great catastrophe befell the navy on

large

May 31st,

1878.
in

1873, did not live to see the fruits of

new

battleship Grosser

Kurfurst was sunk

work.

In the same year the imperial diet granted

a collision with the

K'onig Wilhelm.

This event took

the funds asked for

by

the government,

namely

218,fol-

place near Folkestone in the English channel, and caused

the loss of 269 men.

500,000 marks, for the purpose of constructing the

lowing navy, adequate

finished in the year

to the position of the empire, to

:

be

In the year 1879, during the war between Chili and

1882

8 armored frigates, 6 armored

batteries,

corvettes, 7
corvettes,

armored monitors, 2 armored

18 gunboats,
3

20

Hansa, under Captain von Heusner, effected the release of the steamer Luxor,
which
had

Peru, the armored frigate

6 despatch-boats,
ships,

2 artillery

been

attached

contrary

to

law.

The

training

sailing vessels,

sailing brigs,
at

and

frigate also saved the seaport of Callao,

where many

20 torpedo-boats.
helmshaven, and

The navy-yards
Kiel were
energetically

Dantzic, Wil-

German
by

interests
fleet.

were

at

stake,

from bombardment
17th, 1881, the
first

improved and enlarged.

followed
out
his to

Chili's

On September

Admiral

von

Stosch

great naval review was held by

Kiel.

Emperor William

at

design to foster and

promote home shipbuilding

101

In

the

spring of
office,

1883,
the

when Admiral von Stosch

of the following

Sultan,

instigated
this

by

the

English, tried

by

force

to

stepped out of
ships: 7

navy consisted

prevent

action.

On

December

20th,

Admiral

armored

frigates, 5

armored corvettes, 11 pro-

Knorr concluded an important treaty with the Sultan,

tected and 8 unprotected corvettes, 9 first-class gunboats,

1

by the terms

of which' the latter granted the strip of

armored vessel and 11 armored gunboats for coast demine-layers, 1

coast in question.

fence, 10 torpedo-boats, 4

second-class
steamers,

The occupation

of a

few of the Caroline islands (now

gunboat, 8 despatch-boats, 2 transport

12

sohoolships, and several steamers for harbor and pilot

service.

[1899] purchased with the adjoining island groups, by Germany) by the litis in 1885 almost provoked a war
with Spain, which nation claimed a prior
islands.
title

In course of construction were 1 battleship, 3

to the

corvettes, 1 first-class gunboat, 2

1

armored gunboats, and

The imperial chancellor, Bismarck, succeeded

warlike
actions, however,

torpedo-boat.

General von Caprivi was appointed

in averting

by leaving the

chief of the admiralty.

decision to the Pope.

efficient

By

papal arbitration Spain was

At

this juncture

Germany's naval power was

granted possession of the islands with the stipulation

that

enough

to

resume the colonial policy dormant during a

Germany would
islands.

receive the privilege of free com-

period of two hundred years.

The

colonial enterprises

merce, and the right of a coaling station upon one of

the

and commercial interests started

at that time in countries in the eighties

In

October, 1885,

the

Marshall Islands

beyond the

sea,

gave

to the

German navy

were annexed by the Nautilus, and in 1886 the Solo-

a chance to demonstrate its efficiency

of its

and the necessity

mon
At

Islands

by the Adler.

existence.

On

July 4th, 1884, the annexation of

S.

the festivities held in connection with the laying of

Bageida in the Toga country was effected by H. M.

the cornerstone of the Kaiser

Wilhelm Canal on June

Move, Dr. Nachtigal officiating as imperial commissioner. The same ship hoisted the German flag at

3rd, 1887, with the purpose of shortening the route be-

Kamerun, where Hamburg merchants had established

commercial agencies since 1868.

tween the Baltic and the German Ocean, and also of making the operations of the German navy independent
of the

H. M.

S.

Elisabeth

enemy's action, the German naval forces were im-

under Captain

Schering,

together with the Leipzig,

posingly represented.
of

Twenty-one German war

vessels,

took possession of some territory on the southwestern

coast of Africa, acquired
deritz in 1883.

which seven were battleships and thirteen torpedohonor of Emperor William.

naval review
II

by

the

Bremen merchant

Ltl-

boats, with a
in

On August

7th, 1884, all territory

from

crew of 6,380, thundered forth their salute This was the Emperor's
ascended the throne on June

the northern banks of the

Orange

river to the 26th de-

last

gree south latitude was placed under the protectorate

of Germany.
coast,

Emperor William
17th, 1888.

On

the 12th of the same month, the entire

From

his earliest

youth he gave evidence

north of " Liideritzland " and stretching to the

at

of great interest in the navy,

in intensity, as

which interest increased

in the course of his reign

Portuguese frontier
the

Cape

Frio,

was incorporated into

'Wolf.

was manifested

German

colonial possessions

by the gunboat

by

the untiring zeal

and active concern displayed by him.

of the admiralty,

But Walfisch bay, claimed by England, was excluded

from the deal.
I'n

In July of the same year the Emperor appointed Vice-

Admiral Count von Monts chief

who,

the South Sea, on

November

3rd, 1894, Captain

however, died shortly afterward and was succeeded by

Schering secured, by means of the Elisabeth and the

Vice-Admiral Baron von der Goltz.

following

In March of the
divided
into
of

gunboat Hyane, Matupi, the

of the harbor of Mioko.

chief port of the

Bismarck

year

the

admiralty was

two
the

Archipelago, and the following day obtained possession

branches of service.
navy, had to deal with

One, the chief command

affairs

In the same month the territory

pertaining to the different

lying on the coast of

New

Guinea, and

now

called
rule,

commands, the other was the imperial naval bureau

whose function embraced the administration of naval
affairs.

"Kaiser Wilhelmsland," became subject to German

and the German

flag

was hoisted by the Elisabeth

in the

Since 1895 Admiral von Knorr has been the

admiral.
of the East-African coast, lasting to the fall of 1889,

important harbor of Finch on

November

27th.

commanding

During

this

period the navy suffered several losses.

terri-

The blockade

from
in

In June, 1885, the corvette Augusta foundered in a

ble hurricane in the Gulf of Aden.

November, 1888,

was undertaken
fell to

The

entire crew of

conjunction with England.

This task

the lot of a

9 officers and 214

men were

lost.

squadron consisting of the cruiser-frigate Leipzig, the

cruiser-corvettes

In August, 1885, a squadron consisting of the corvettes

Garola and Sophie, the

cruisers

Mdve

Prince Adelbert, Stosch, Elisabeth, and

under Commodore Paschen, anchored
Sultan of Zanzibar's palace.
in

Qneisenau,
front of

and Falke, and the despatch-boat Blitz, commanded by

Rear-Admiral Deinhart.
successful, as they
of the

the

In this undertaking they were

in the suppression of a rebellion of

The squadron was auglater

were

mented on the 17th

marck, the flagship
the gunboat M8ve.

of the
of

month by the corvette Bison by

Arabs on the mainland

German-Africa, which

Admiral Knorr, and

was

effected

by

the cooperation of the

German

colonial

The East-African company had previously purchased 2,500 miles of good inland terTo make this colony self-supporting, an aderitory. quate strip of the coast land had to be procured. The

troops with the marines.

The squadron blockaded

the

coast from the fourth to the ninth degree south latitude,

in order to suppress the slave trade carried

on by the

Arabs.

Previous to

this,

on September 22nd, 1888, a

102

corps of marines from the Leipzig had stormed Bagarnayo.

shipwrecked Chinese, who had taken refuge on the

hospitable island of

in-

On

January 29th, 1889, a body of marines from

Tak Shan.

In April, 1895, the Litis

the Sophie drove the Arabs out of Dar-es-Salaam.

On

was called upon

to protect the

March 27th
zig,

of the

same year, some troops from the Leip-

lying at Tamsui, a harbor of Formosa.

rebels had fired from the land-forts of

German steamer Arthur, Some Chinese

Tamsui harbor upon

Carola, and Schwalbe, under Captain Hirschberg

captured the town of Kondutschi, a notorious lurking

place of the Arabs.

the steamer, which had a

On May
camp

8th,

some marines,

in

ing to the

money on board belongChinese government. At this juncture the Litis

of
fort,

sum

connection with the colonial troops under Captain Wiss-

threw a few well-directed shells into the

one of

man, stormed the

fortified

of Chief Buschiri near

them

killing thirteen Chinese

and scattering the others

this ship

Bagamayo,

the

enemy

losing 80 killed.

On

July 8th,

in all directions.

On

July 23rd, 1896,

of

went

Pangani, and on the 10th, Tanga, were captured.

On

down
of the

in a

typhoon near the cape

Sha-Tung, only ten

October 19th and 20th Lieutenant von Gravenreuth

routed the Mafitis, led by Buschiri, and the rebel chief
took refuge at Sadaani.
This place was taken on Noby marines from the Carola, Schwalbe,
in

crew being saved.

the gallant

With

three cheers for their

Emperor
waves.

seamen sank beneath the surging

vember

8th,

In December, 1897, after some

German

missionaries

and the just arrived Sperber,

colonial troops.

conjunction with 200

had been murdered by

a Chinese

mob, German marines

In May, 1890, the Schwalbe and the

in the

took possession of the harbor and fortified town of Kiau-

Carola took part

bellion.

capture of Kilwa, Lindi, and

Chou

in China.

This incident caused the

German govits

Mikindani, effecting a complete suppression of the re-

ernment
protect

to establish a firm foothold in China, in order to

its

imperial
affairs.

subjects,

and also

important

navy indirectly won the English island of Heligoland for Germany; on July 1st, 1890, this island was exchanged for Witu and the surrender of the

By

these engagements the

commercial
to

Germany's object, however, was not make war upon China, but to come to an agreement

German

protectorate of Zanzibar.

with the Chinese Emperor, by which Kiau-Chou could be leased for a period of ninety-nine years. To enforce

The

protection of

German

interests

on the Samoan

islands cost

many

lives.

In 1888, the cruisers Olga and

Germany's demands, the Emperor, shortly before Christmas, sent a squadron to China. Prince Henry of Prussia,
the Emperor's brother,

Adler, and the gunboat Eber, were despatched to quell an uprising of the natives against the German settlers

who commanded one

division of

and merchants.

In a fight near Apia with the rebels,

firearms

marines belonging to the above squadron, was intrusted with the political part of the mission.

who were amply provided with

2 officers and 14

by the Americans,
side,

During the Spanish-American war of 1898,

portant commercial interests of the

it

fell to

men were

killed

on the German

the lot of the East-Asiatic squadron to protect the im-

while 37

men were wounded.

hurricane,

great disaster befell

Germans

living in

H. M. SS. Olga, Adler, and Eber

In a
the
terrific

in the

harbor of Apia.

the Philippines, and especially at Manila.

This squad-

March 15th, 1889, the Adler and

the coral reefs, while the

ron consisted of the second-class battleship Deutschland,

Eber foundered on
and 80 men met
a

Olga
offi-

commanded by Prince Henry,

flagship
of

her sister ship Kaiser, the

escaped destruction only by running ashore.

cers

Five

watery grave.

In August, 1891, the Leipzig, Sophie, and Alexan-

Admiral von Diederichs, and the cruisers Kaiserin Augusta, Lrene, Princess Wilhelm, Gefion, and Cormoran. This task led to unpleasant misunderstandings and somewhat complicated situations.

drine were sent to protect the German residents at Valparaiso.

The

Three hundred men of the squadron held two

town, where most of the Germans lived, until

complaints preferred by the American Admiral, Dewey,

against the commander of the German squadron of having violated the laws of blockade led to a remonstrance

hills of the

the victorious opposing party had restored order in the

town and guaranteed security

Fresh
in

to the

Germans.
is

by

the

memory

of every reader

the great

the American ambassador at Berlin. The German secretary of foreign affairs, however,
all

as-

naval review which took place at the opening of the

canal connecting the

sured the latter that

reports about intentional violation

German Ocean with

the Baltic.

of the blockade were absurd, and furthermore, he declared that the presence of such a powerful

Fifty-three foreign warships, representing sixteen nations,

German squadron

in

and surrounded by twenty-eight men-of-war and two

visions of torpedo-boats of the

di-

the harbor of Manila was absolutely necessary for the protection of the large

forth their salutes to the

German empire, thundered German Emperor, as he laid the

Wilhelm Kanal"

number

of

Germans residing

there.

He

also insisted

that the action of the cruiser Lrene

finishing stone of this gigantic undertaking at Holtenau.

against the insurgents at Subig bay, on July 7th, was

justified

The Emperor named

in

the canal "Kaiser

and only instituted

in behalf of

humanity.

It

honor of

its

founder.

This event occurred on June

20th, 1895.

might be asserted that the German squadron in the whole affair did not show an intentional unfriendly
feeling toward the Americans, strictly adhering to international

At

the

beginning

of

the Japanese-Chinese

war the

Litis sailed for Corea, in order to protect the

German

law and usage;

that
its

on the other hand,

in

consul at Seoul.

During

this cruise the ship

saved 220

the squadron never shirked

perial subjects.

duty

protecting im-

103

ORGANIZATION OF THE NAVY

IT

seemed

for a time as

though the splendid success

in the

and furlough,

fall

to his supervision.
all

The

Staff of the

achieved by the

German army

war

of

1870-71,

Admiralty not only transacts

routine

business of

and the
its

efforts

which were subsequently directed toward

the Admiralty, but has to do also with affairs concern-

further development under the consolidated empire,

all

ing the ships abroad, both

aspect.

in

naval

and

political

had absorbed

the interest

and resources

of the Ger-

Directly placed under the authority of the

Emthe

man

people, and prevented any attempt to build a navy

It

peror are likewise the chiefs of the naval

stations.,

that should be truly representative of the country.

inspector of the navy's educational institutes, the chief

of the first squadron,
ron.

was only
William
It is

at the

beginning

of the eighties,

and especially

and the chief

of the

of the cruiser squadis

with the accession to the throne of the present Emperor,

II.,

The inspector-general

navy

also appointed

that an active naval policy

was inaugurated.

by

the Emperor.

largely due to the Emperor's persistent efforts that

possesses the

The General Naval Inspection Department

the Admiralty's Staff at Berlin.

consists of

Germany now

modern and

efficient

navy
class

an inspector-general, with the rank of an admiral, and

This Staff
is

represented by the fine vessels of the

Brandenburg

classified

and by the Kaiser Friedrich III., the Filrst Bismarch,

the IKaiserin Augusta,

into a chief (rear-admiral), an adjutant (captain of corvette),

and others

of the

new

type.

The

and

a departmental directory,

composed

of one

organization of the navy, too, with

all its details, is pre-

captain, four captains of corvette, five captain-lieutenants,

eminently the work of the Emperor, who, with an ever

watchful eye, endeavors to raise

and one lieutenant.

tions covering the

Germany

to the position

The commands of the naval German waters (of which there

sta-

are

of a real sea-power, to enlarge her colonial possessions,

two, namely, the Baltic naval station at Kiel, and the

and

to foster

and protect her foreign commerce

in

every

North Sea naval

the

station at

Wilhelmshaven), are named

are divided into

quarter of the globe.

home

stations.

The foreign waters

The army, together with the navy, fighting strength of the German Empire.
though
independent
of

constitutes

the

the Mediterranean station, the East-African and West-

Both branches,
have
coordinate

African stations, the East- Asiatic, the American, and the

Australian stations.
tions.

each

other,

These are called the foreign

sta-

jurisdiction.

According

to Article

58 of the Imperial

The commands

of the ships abroad are independall

Constitution, the whole of the maritime population of

the empire, including the technical personnel
artisans, are

ent and only subject to the Emperor's authority in

and the

naval and political matters.

absolved from land duty, but are liable to

transmitted to these ship

The Emperor's orders commands by the chief of

Baltic

are

the

service in the imperial navy.

The organization

of the

Admiralty's

Staff.

marine comprises the Naval Cabinet, the General Naval

Inspection Department, the Imperial Naval Administration,

The command
at Kiel,
is

of the

naval

station,

located

composed

of a chief of the station (admiral),

and the personnel

of the navy. of the

of the chief of the staff (captain),

is

and the admiral's

(a

staff.

The commander-in-chief
the

navy

His Majesty,

The

latter

is

classified into

two adjutants

captain of

Emperor and King, William

is

II.

Directly under his

corvette and a lieutenant), an assistant (captain of corvette),

command

the Naval Cabinet at Berlin.

are not

and

a captain of the port.

The

chief of the sta-

In the cabinet such matters are treated of as

tion has

one captain, two

captains of frigate, and two

dealt with in the reports of the Admiralty's Staff, or in

captains of corvette at his disposal.

those of the Secretary of the Imperial Naval Administration.

According
are placed
first

to a cabinet order of

May

23rd, 1899, there

rear-admiral acts as chief of the Cabinet,

captains.

under the command

of the Baltic station the

at Friedrichsort, the first
first

assisted
of

by two

According

to a

Cabinet order

marine artillery division

at

March 14th, 1899, the former chief command of the navy is abolished and replaced by the General Naval
Inspection Department.

torpedo division
rines at Kiel.

Kiel,

and the

battalion of

ma-

Subject to the above

command

are also

the

first first

marine inspection department at Kiel, embracing

The Admiralty's

Staff

Department, which formerly

the

seamen division
first

at Kiel

(first

and second deat Kiel.

formed a part of the chief command, becomes an independent organization, and

of the
is

tachments), and the

dock-yard division

called the Admiralty's Staff

is

Navy.

This

new
is

organization

directed

by an ad-

The command of the North Sea naval station at Wilhelmshaven is composed of a chief of the station (viceadmiral), of a chief of the staff (captain), and of the

miral as chief, and

located at Berlin.

The

chief of the

Admiralty's Staff

is

placed directly under the Emperor.

the former admiral in com-

admiral's

staff.

The

latter

comprises two adjutants

(a

The authority exercised by

mand,
in

captain -lieutenant and a lieutenant), a captain of corvette as assistant, and a captain of the port.

regard to matters which pertain to discipline

The

chief

104

of the station has three captains of corvette under his

control.

The department
This bureau has for

intrusted with the inspection of the

its

educational institutes of the navy has

the

seat at

Kiel.

Under

command

of the

North Sea naval

station

its

chief a vice-admiral.

The Naval

are placed the second, third,

divisions, the

and fourth marine

artillery

Academy and

the Naval School, both at Kiel, provide for

second torpedo division, and the second

Subject to the

the scientific training of the naval officers and cadets.

battalion of marines at Wilhelmshaven.

same command

is

the second marine inspection, compris-

The Naval Academy has the following personnel of officials: One director, who ranks as vice-admiral; two members as board of directors,
tain-lieutenant;

ing the second seamen division and the second dock-yard

division, both located at

who rank
The

as captain

and cap-

Wilhelmshaven.

This innova-

a chief of the bureau, and a librarian,

staff of

tion

was evidently inaugurated

in order to simplify the

who

is

a captain of corvette. of four captains.

teachers
at

is is

routine business, especially to secure expedition in the

composed

The Naval School

officers,

Kiel

event of mobilization.

The inspection departments, or the

regards

superintended by a director, with the rank of a captain,

while instruction
captain,
is

inspectors of the torpedo service, of the marine infantry,

given by six

namely, one

and the marine

artillery, retain their functions as

two captains

of corvette, one captain-lieutenant,

first

the training of their respective troops

and the technical

and

captain of the

marine battalion.

For the
offi-

personnel of the navy.

In

all

other matters, especially

training of the deck officers and noncommissioned

cers the deck-officers' school at Kiel
is

those pertaining to mobilization and to the reserve, the

designed.

A
is

intermediate functions of the inspection departments cease

to operate.

captain officiates as director, with a captain of corvette

as teacher.

The various bodies and organizations

North Sea naval
stations.

of the of the

The

sailor-boy division at

Friedsichsort

navy communicate directly with the commands

Baltic and

superintended by a captain.

Subject to the inspection

They thus may be

of the educational institutes are the

government

of Kiau-

compared

to the chief

commands

of the army, which, while

themselves independent, are subject only to the authority

of the

Emperor.
of

Chou and the third marine battalion located at Tsintau. The German littoral is divided into six inspectorates, each supervised by a captain. The first inspectorate,
is located at NeuThe second, embracing Pomerania and Mecklenburg, has its seat at Stettin. The third, taking in the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, is situated at Husum. The district of the Elbe and Weser stands under the

The department

the

torpedo service inspection,

comprising East- and West-Prussia,

located at Kiel, stands likewise under the

the Baltic naval station.

command

of

fahrwasser.

This department has to pro-

vide for the proper training of the different crews in the

use of the torpedo and the torpedo boats, and has to

look to the readiness

material.

and

perfection of the equipping

the department
is

inspectorate of Bremerhaven, while the sixth inspectorate, consisting of the district of the Jahde, the East-Frisian
coast,

At

the head of

a vicein this

admiral in the capacity of an inspector.

Included

and Heligoland,

is

located

at

Wilhelmshaven.

bureau are the command of the torpedo

Friedrichsort, which
corvette.

tests at Kiel,

The

technical institutes of the

navy are the navy-yards

supervised by a captain, and the torpedo laboratory at

is

at Kiel,

Wilhelmshaven, and Dantzic, the commission of

superintended by a captain of

ship tests at Kiel, and the naval observatory at

Ham-

burg.
of

The department
with
staff

the

marine infantry inspection,

is

Each navy-yard
vette.

is

directed

by

a captain, in the ca-

headquarters at Kiel,

also subject to the of the

pacity of director-in-chief, assisted by a captain of cor-

Baltic naval station.

stands an inspector,

At the head who ranks with

department

The duty
all

of the navy-yard

is

to lay

up

in reserve

a regimental

comwhich

and repair

the ships which are out of commission, to

mander
the

of the army.

His functions include the super-

hold ready, and to equip and provision the ships that are
to be put in commission,

vision of the entire service of the sea battalions, of

first is

and

to construct

new

vessels.

stationed at Kiel, and the second at Wilhelms-

The

eight departments or bureaus, which are supervised

haven.

either
of the marine artillery inspection has
It is

by

civil officials or

naval

officers, are

the provision,

The department
its

artillery, torpedo, navigation, shipbuilding,

engine con-

seat at Wilhelmshaven.
of the

placed under the com-

struction,

harbor

construction

departments,

and

the

mand

North Sea naval

is

station.

At

the head of

bureau of administration.

the bureau
spector.

a rear-admiral in the capacity of an in-

Members
of

of the

commission for ship

tests are a presid-

This department also embraces the supervision

ing rear-admiral, one captain of frigate, and one captain

corvette.

of the naval-telegraph school at sion of naval tests at Kiel.

Lehe and

the commis-

The naval observatory

at

Hamburg

is

directed by a secret counselor of the Admiralty.

is

The

The department
a captain.
tillery,

of the naval-depot inspection

Its inspector

lo-

bureaus intrusted with the clothing of the navy are under

the supervision of the naval stations of the

cated at Wilhelmshaven.

has the rank of

North Sea

The bureau has

is

to supervise the entire ar-

and the

Baltic.

mine, and torpedo material for the coast-defence.

The
in

entire administration of the

navy

is

concentrated

The inspection

divided into four ordnance and mine

first is

the Imperial

Naval Administration
April naval
19th,

at Berlin.

By

depots, of which the

located at Friedrichsort, the

cabinet

order of
or

1899, the
is

Naval Adorganized

second at Wilhelmshaven, the third at Geestemlinde, and

the fourth at Cuxhaven.

ministration

the

war ministry

analogous to the war ministry of the land army.

The

105

Administration directs the entire organization and devel-

and second lieutenant

officers is

of the

army.

The corps

of naval

opment

of the navy.

It supervises the construction and

replenished by the naval cadets,

who rank with

by the junior

equipment

of the

war

ships,

and keeps account

of all

the ensigns, wearing the silver knot, and

cadets,

expenditures

made

in behalf of the navy, the harbors,

who rank

as pupils with the privates.

is

The rank
composed

navy-yards, and the coast-defences in the rivers Jahde,

of the officers of the marine infantry

identical with
is

Weser, and Elbe, and

at Kiel.

that of the land army.

of the
staff

engineers,

The engineer corps who rank with the

captains of

The Imperial Naval Administration

naval secretary of state,

is

directed

by the

corvette; of the chief engineers, with the rank of a cap-

who ranks with

is

a rear-admiral.

tain-lieutenant;

of

engineers and

sub-engineers,

who
tor-

The secretary

of

state

responsible to

the

imperial

rank with the lieutenants and sub-lieutenants.

The

chancellor in matters pertaining to the Administration,

pedo engineers corps

is

classed into torpedo chief en-

while in other affairs he

is

subordinate to the Emperor.

is

gineers, torpedo engineers,

and torpedo sub-engineers.

The business of the Administration

conducted by a

The ranks

of the naval

surgeons are as follows: The

class ranks with the captain

number
tion

of

departments and bureaus.

These consist

surgeon-general of the

first

of a central department, with a military section; a sec-

or rear-admiral; the surgeon-general of the second class

pertaining to

pension and legal

affairs;

and

ranks with the captain of frigate.

of the
first

The

chief surgeon

section treating of the

government

of

Kiau-Chou.

The

class has the

rank of a captain of corvette;

technical department consists of the old marine depart-

while that of the second class ranks with a captainlieutenant.

ment and
partment
is

the

bureau of

construction.

Another de-

The

assistant

surgeon of
that of

the

first

class
class,

that of administration proper.

;

The

fifth is

ranks with the

lieutenant;

the

second

the ordnance bureau

of the

the sixth treats of the personnel

is

with the sub-lieutenant, while the sub-surgeon classes with

knot.
a

navy;
is

the

seventh

the nautical department;

noncommissioned

officer

wearing

the

silver

the eighth
ticiary

the medical department; the ninth the jusis

department; and the tenth

the intelligence

The ordnance and pyrotechnic

captains, lieutenants,

officers are

divided into
tor-

bureau.

and sub-lieutenants, while the

The personnel
branches,

of the

German navy
sea,

is

liable to service of

pedo

officers are classified into captain-lieutenants, lieu-

both on land and at

and consists
in

two

distinct

tenants, and sub-lieutenants.

The

chief paymaster of

those

engaged

active

service

and the

the navy ranks with the captain-lieutenant, the paymaster

navy
men.

officials.

The former

are classified into officers

and

with the lieutenant, and the sub-paymaster with the sublieutenant.

The

officers are divided into the following ranks:

The

The men
and

are divided

into

noncommissioned
officers officers

officers

corps of naval officers; the officers of the marine infantry;

the engineers; the torpedo engineers; the surgeons; the

privates.

The noncommissioned
comprise the deck
of
officers

wearing

the silver knot

and non-

ordnance, pyrotechnic, and torpedo

of naval officers
is

officers.

The corps

commissioned

seamen, paymaster aspirants,

classified

according to the following

sergeant-majors, cadets, signal masters, chief gunners,

ranks: Flag officers, staff officers, and subaltern officers.

sub-surgeons, and one-year volunteer surgeons.

The

first

rank comprises six admirals, ranking with a

The noncommissioned

officers of

seamen comprise the

general of the army; four vice-admirals, ranking with a

lieutenant-general; and fifteen rear-admirals, having the

boatswains, carpenters, helmsmen, stokers, masters, machinists, torpedo-machinists,

gunners and torpedo-gun-

rank of major-general.
is

The second

class, staff officers,

ners, artificers,

and mechanics.

The deck

officers are

composed

of forty-six captains,

ranking with a colonel

lieutenant-

composed

of the

same

classes,

but of a higher rank.

without the silver knot
ser-

fifteen

captains of frigate, ranking with a

The noncommissioned
are the master's

officers

colonel, and seventy-one captains of corvette,

who rank

mates and mates, ranking with the

with a major.

The subaltern

officers are

divided into

geant and corporal.

The men

are classed as

upper and

captain-lieutenants, ranking with a captain of the army;

ordinary seamen, divided into the classes of higher and

lieutenants and sub-lieutenants,

who rank with

the

first

lower seamen.

106

COMPOSITION OF THE NAVY

"pHB German
*

marine, which has

chapter,
is

been described
into
a

in

battalion

the

third,

as

previously mentioned.
is

The

the

previous

classified

land

normal strength of the marine infantry

missioned officers and 1,206 men.
of the

168 noncomtotal strength

division

and

a division for service at sea.

To

the former

The
is

belong:
1.
its

men belonging

to the

navy

19,680, of which

The naval seamen

divisions.

The

first

of these has

15,295 compose the crews, and the remainder are non-

garrison at Kiel, the second at Wilhelmshaven.

Each
comis

commissioned

officers.

division comprises
panies.

two detachments, each

of the

of three

The uniform

of the

navy

differs essentially

from that
of

The normal strength

two divisions

of the land army.

The

tunic, overcoat,

and helmet

1,433 deck and noncommissioned officers and 7,112 men.

the land
coat,

army

are represented

by the jacket,

shirt, over-

This contingent furnishes

service.
2.

the

crews for

all

ships

in

and cap
is

of the naval troops. a dark-blue

color,

The
the

material of the

clothing
divisions, of
at

of

cut

is

uniform

The dock-yard

which the

first is

estab-

throughout
infantry.

all divisions,

with the exception of the marine

the cap

lished at Kiel

and the second

Wilhelmshaven.

These

The ribbon around

and the buttons

supply the necessary complement of machinists, stokers,

craftsmen, hospital attendants, clerks, and paymasters.

are

the

only marks of distinction.

The seamen and

the torpedo
a

dock-yard divisions, the seamen

artillery,

Each

division comprises five companies, which are

five.

num-

and ship-boy divisions wear a cap with a ribbon and

black, red, and

bered from one to

3.

white cockade, a white or blue

shirt,

The

marine-artillery divisions, which are

employed
There
at

white or blue trousers, neckcloth, a jacket of dark-blue

cloth with

in the

defence of the seacoast and the harbors.

divisions
of

Brandenburg

facings, gloves,

and

a dark-blue

are

four

marine-artillery

garrisoned

overcoat with a large lay-down collar.

The uniform

of

Friedrichsort,

Wilhelmshaven,

Lehe,

and

Cuxhaven.

the marine infantry consists of a tunic of dark-blue cloth

They number 2,013 men.

4.

cut similar to those of the land army, a jacket like the

The ship-boy
necessary
mates,
is

division.

This division furnishes

of

sea-battalions, a gray overcoat resembling that of the

the
cers,

complement

noncommissioned

offi-

cavalry, and a shako with a bronze anchor, the imperial

and seamen of the imperial navy,

The

crown and eagle, and the German colors

are also
belt

affixed.

They
utensils,

strength
years.
5.

600, and the period of training lasts two

equipped with a knapsack, cooking

The torpedo-boat

divisions, of
at

which there are two

and sabretasche of black leather, and boots such

as

the land troops wear.

one at Kiel, the other

is

Wilhelmshaven.

Each
are

division

The German
service.

fleet

is

represented
of a

by

the

ships in
in

composed

of

three

companies.

They

classified

The commander

ship

when

home

as

seamen and technical experts, and number 2,336

waters, or
is

when not forming

abroad
to

a part of an active division,

;

men.
6.

subject to the station

command
foreign

if

a ship, however,
its

The

artillery,

torpedo,

and

mine

depot.

This

is

on

service

in

waters,
staff.

officers

organization has to prepare and keep in seaworthy shape

all

become subject
consists of

the

admiralty
five

division

the

material

necessary for naval

and

submarine

from three to

ships,

which

sail

under

warfare.
7.

an admiral in the capacity of chief of division.

infantry.

Two

The marine
of
first

This part of the navy conof

divisions
of

form a squadron, under an admiral as chief

several

sists

three

sea-battalions, each
is

four

companies.

the

squadron, and

such squadrons form a

The

battalion

garrisoned at Kiel, the second at

at Tsintau (Kiau-Chou).
is

fleet.

Wilhelmshaven, and the third

The

fleet is classified

according to the employment of

The duty

of the

marine infantry

to

defend the imperial

the ships in time of war.

At an

early

day Germany

will

harbors and to replenish the detachments of marines on

battleships.

have at her disposal the following vessels:

FIRST TYPE
7 first-class battleships. 3 second-class battleships. 7 third-class battleships.

This

corps

has

been

employed several

times in the colonial service.

In 1894 one company was sent to the Kameruns, but

did not see actual service.
at

Kiau-Chou, the

One company was stationed newly-acquired German territory in

to

China,

and was raised

the

strength of

one

sea-

10 fourth-class battleships.

107

SECOND TYPE
13 armored gunboats.

purpose of removing leak-water, or of

partments with ballast-water.

filling

some com-

The pipes connected

THIKD TYPE
1

with this system are conducted through the coats of

the

armored

cruiser.

ship

and are regulated by stop-cocks and

stop-

FOURTH TYPE
10 second-class protected cruisers.
7 third-class protected cruisers.

valves.

In order to protect the vital parts of the hull against

shot and shell, the battleships are provided with armor.

9 fourth-class protected cruisers-

The armoring
development

of

war vessels has kept pace with the

of the iron industry as regards material,

FIFTH TYPE
4 gunboats.

strength, and dimensions.

for the construction of

Rolled iron was

plate.

first

used

armor

Later on experiprocess which

SIXTH TYPE
11 despatch-boats.

ments were made with toughened

steel, a

led to the introduction of plates having steel on the

SEVENTH TYPE
14 training-ships.

outer side and iron on the inside.

At present armor

plates of nickel-steel are preferred, while the armored

ships of the latest construction are fitted with plates of

EIGHTH TYPE
11 torpedo-division boats.

Harveyized
120 torpedo boats.

steel.

In the modern battleship only the

in strong steel turrets.

heavy guns are placed

The

hull

carries a continuous armor-belt

from stem to stern and a

NINTH TYPE
10 ships for special use.
9 scout-boats.
3 station yachts.

strong armored deck, which protects the machinery, the

ammunition rooms, and the magazine hatchways.

The

new

second-class cruisers also have an armored deck,

12 dock-steamers.
5 pilot boats.

while the hatchways leading to the magazines below are

sheathed with heavy armor.

The despatch-boats

of a

3 depot and fortification steamers.

3 sailing yachts.

later type have a similar protection, consisting of a less

strong steel deck.

The smaller

cruisers

and the older

despatch-boats are more lightly armored, but have water-

TENTH TYPE
tight

bulkheads and a

cell

system;

the engines are

sluice

10 auxiliary cruisers of the Hamburg-American

line

and the North-German Lloyd

protected
of
in

Bremen.
system.
the construction of the
Kiel, Wilhelmshaven,

by the coal-bunkers and a proper

The navy-yards employed

navy are the Imperial yards

The

first-class battleships are the

Kurfurst Friedrich and

Worth,

at

Wilhelm,

Brandenburg,

Weissenburg,

and Dantzic,

the private yards '-Vulcan" near Stettin,

at

each of 10,033 tons displacement; Kaiser Friedrich III.

"Germania"
Dantzic.

Kiel,

and "Waser"

at

Bremen;

also

and Kaiser Wilhelm II.,

of 11,081 tons;

and Kaiser
latter are

the private dock-yards of "Schichau" at Elbing and

Wilhelm der
The four
the

Grosse, of 12,000 tons.

The two

in course of construction.

All the
the

German war German

vessels, with the

exception of

ships of the

Brandenburg type, and

consist of the

called

two

battleships,

Kaiser and Deutschland, were

"Brandenburg squadron,"

Branden-

built from

material and equipped with

German

burg, Weissenburg, Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm, and

guns.
is steel;

Since 1880 the material used in the construction

older vessels show iron construction, while the
entirely.

Worth

(flagship).

They represent

the chief fighting

is

strength of the

German navy.

The following

the de-

use of

wood has ceased

All devices in ship-

tails of their construction:

Displacement 10,033 tons;

building are for the purpose of protecting the vessel

against injury below the water line.

dimensions, length 380 feet,

beam 64

feet,

and 24

feet 7

The water-tight

inches draught; speed 17 knots.

The ships
in.

carry a contin-

bulkheads, which divide the ship lengthwise into a number of independent water-tight compartments, aid
neutralizing the
in

uous nickel-steel armor-belt of 15.9

ships, sloping to

thickness amidare placed

llf

in. at

the ends.

The guns

injury which the ship might receive

in barbette-turrets, protected

by overhead

shields,

which

when rammed.
verse

The use

of longitudinal as well as trans-

revolve with the guns.

For protection against

injuries

bulkheads above the armored deck adds much

by

the ram, torpedoes, and mines, the ships have a double

to the security of the ship

when

in

danger

of sinking, of cells

bottom reaching beyond the continuous armor-belt.

top of the latter
lies a

On

or in case of injury
is filled

by

shots.

The outer row

corkdam from stem

to stern.

with cork, the second row remains empty and

is

The

ship

is

divided in halves by a longitudinal water-

forms the cofferdam; while the rest of the space

pied by the coal,
provisions,

occu-

tight bulkhead, while eleven diagonal bulkheads separate

and other ship material.

the

double bottom into twenty-four water-tight

There

is

also a system of drainage established for the

compartments.

On

top of the armor-belt

is

the main

08

deck, armored with 2.5

in.

nickel-steel.

Between the

The most powerful

the

battleship of the

German navy

is

main deck and the gun-deck

rets

are

two

steel barbette-tur-

Kaiser Friedrich III.

This ship was launched

1st,

of

11.9

in.

armor;

the

third

barbette-turret
its

is

from the navy-yard of Wilhelmshaven on July

1896.

mounted on

a high forecastle

deck and

guns are

The
feet,

vessel

is

377 feet long, 65.6 feet wide, draws 25.9

tons.

carried eight or ten feet higher than those in the central

and displaces 11,081

The armor The

consists of

and

aft barbettes.

Close to the forward barbette

is

the

the best tempered steel which has thirty per cent,

resistance than

more

armored conning tower.

about 3,200 tons.
11
in.

The whole

ship's

armor weighs

common

nickel-steel.

plates, fur-

The main

battery, consisting of six

nished

by the rolling mills of

the Dillingen and the

all

Krupp

guns,

is

placed in the three barbette-turrets; the

establishments at Essen, surpass

abroad.

armor-plates

made

two guns

of the

middle barbette are 35 calibre (29.5

feet)

The Kaiser Friedrich III. has

in.

a continuous

long, while the other four are

40

calibre (32 feet) long.

to bear at

armor-belt, 6.5

wide and from

5.9 in. to 11.8 in. thick,

The
of

fire of all six

guns can be brought

an angle

covering four-fifths of the ship's length.

of the ship
is

The
in.

short aft

90 degrees.

One broadside

of the six

guns delivers
of the
of six

protected by an arched 2.8

armored

3,373 pounds Of steel.

ship, placed

The secondary battery

37-pound

deck.

2.5 in.

armored deck
hull.

rests

on the armor belt

are placed partly

below the two smoke-stacks, consists

which
fire

and protects the entire

in

The guns

4.1

in.

rifles,

shells provided with

revolving steel turrets, partly in separate armored

fuses at an angle of about 100 degrees.

As each gun many pounds

Near the
in.

casemates.

The main battery

is

protected by a 9.8
5.9 in. armor.

in.

can be fired ten times

in a

minute, the secondary battery

armor, and the secondary battery

by a

The

throws, in three minutes, from one side as

of steel as one

heavy

artillery consists of four 9.4 in. guns,

ft.)

which are 40

round of the

six

heavy guns.

calibre (30.4

long.

These guns are

sufficient to pierce

forward barbette-turret are placed four 3.5

firers,

quick-

armor plates of any thickness used on battleships.

fired at a right

A shell
in.

and

aft of the military

mast four after-deck guns of

angle will penetrate iron plates of 28

in. to

the

same

calibre.

Each
is,

of these can be fired fifteen times

thickness and 9.4

10.2

in. steel plates.

The powerful

in a minute; that

in three

minutes

it fires

2,777 pounds

English battleships of 15,000 tons displacement carry

an armor of only 10.2 inches.

of steel.

The Brandenburg,

therefore, delivers from

The secondary battery

is

one broadside 9,528 pounds of metal.

Besides the above

strengthened considerably, as the ship mounts eighteen

5.9 in. rapid-firing
in.

guns there are

0.28
in.

in the tops of

each military mast four

guns

of

40 calibre length, twelve

1.4 in.

3.5

machine-guns, and on the hurricane deck two

guns
in.

of

40 calibre length, twelve

and twelve

boat-guns, which

may

also

be used

in

an emergency.

0.28

machine-guns.

The
per

ship can deliver from one

For the discharge

of the 17.7 in. torpedoes six tubes are

broadside

148
steel.

shots

minute,

representing 8,867

provided, namely, three on each side, lying above the

armor-belt.
of

pounds of

The
off

ship

is

also supplied with nets capable

The

artillery of the ship,

is

which may be called a

citadel-

warding

attacks

by torpedoes.

The

ships of the
are

turret ship,

disposed on six decks.

in.

On

the

gun-deck

Brandenburg squadron have twin-screw engines which

tight

are placed
a
firing

two 9.4

guns

in a revolving turret giving

covered by the armored deck and separated by the waterbulkhead.

range of 270 degrees.

In front of the

aft

The twelve

boilers

furnish

with

turret the
tures.

gun-deck

is

covered with high superstruc-

natural draft about 9,000 horse-power, or with artificial

draft

In the corners of the four lower casemates are

in.

10,288

horse-power.

The maximum speed

coal supply
is

is

four 5.9
to a

rapid-firing guns, the

fire

of

which

is

limited
is

seventeen knots an hour.

tons.

The normal

800

range of 140 degrees.

On

the next deck, which

in.
fire

seven feet higher, are stationed fourteen 5.9

of

guns,

The rudder

the

Brandenburg

is

suspended and
is

six of

which are

in revolving turrets

giving a

range

connects direct with the steering gear, which

ulated by steam.
of the ship

manip-

of

180 degrees.

The other eight

are disposed in case-

Five steering gears direct the steering

mates separated by armored partitions.

can bring
of
its fire

Each

of the
at

guns

from as many different points.

is

The most im-

to bear

on objects which are

an angle

portant apparatus
is

placed in the conning tower, which

in.

130 degrees

to the ship's course.

On

the third deck, in

armored with 11.8

boats,

steel plates.

The

ship carries

front of the forecastle, stands the second powerful re-

twelve

two of which are propelled by steam.

is

volving steel turret,

guns.

in

which are the other two 9.4

in.

One

of these

fifty feet

long, and has for

armament

Back

of the steel turret is the

in. steel plates.

forward conning
Aft of the conning

torpedo tube and a revolving gun.

The rigging

of the

tower, protected by 9.8

Brandenburg shows two

lower platform of
tached.
of

steel
electric

military masts, at the

tower a long open deck

rises, in

the corners of which

which

searchlights

are

at-

ten 3.5 rapid-firing guns are placed, protected

there are also two 1.4
in.

by

shields;
shields.

Each

ship of the squadron has a

complement

machine-guns without

556 men.

The

fighting quality of the vessels equals

On
we
the

the fourth deck, the forward lower hurricane deck,

find four 1.4 in. machine-guns,

that of the English ship Barfleur

and the Oregon

of the

and two

rifled

cannon of
of the

United States navy.

same calibre on the

aft hurricane deck,

back

109

aft

conning tower.

The

fifth

deck, the forward higher

in.

the Sachsen,
of 7,400 tons;

Bayern, Wiirttemberg, and Baden, each

and the Oldenburg
Friedrich der
of 5,200 tons.

hurricane deck, carries two 3.5

rapid-firing

guns.

The

On

the

sixth,

the

tops of the military masts, 75 feet

in.

Preussen and

Grosse are
feet, a

constructed
of

above the water-line, four 1.4

posted.

machine guns are

dis-

of iron, with a length of

272

beam
in.

52

feet,

The twelve 0.28

in.

machine guns are

and a draught of 24

feet.

9.2

iron

armor-

tributed over the ship at suitable places.

The

9.4 in.

belt from stem to stern protects the water-line.

The

guns

fire

either

the short steel

shells,

weighing 352
473

two turrets which stand amidships on the gun-deck have

a 10.2 in. armor;

pounds, or the long shells with pounds.

a fuse attached, of

the conning tower

is

located on the

The charge

is

209 pounds

of

brown gunpowder.

great hurricane deck.

The

ship has six tubes for the discharge of the 17.7 in.

There are placed

in the

two turrets four 10.2

in.

in.

guns

torpedoes.

The tubes
at the

are

all

submerged, except the

22 calibre long, on the gun-deck one 6.7

afterdeck-

one placed

afterdeck, and discharge the torpedo

gun and one

6.7 in.

bow-gun 25

calibre long,

which

fire

below the water-line.

The

ship has

triple-expansion

a steel shell of 117 pounds weight.

Both ships mount

engines; the three screws give 13,000 horse-power and a

ten 3.5

in.

quick-firing guns of 30 calibre.

The
in.

military

speed of 18 knots.

The

coal supply

is

650
is

tons,

and the

mast has a steel top, armed with two 1.4

guns.

revolving

complement

is

655 men.

The

vessel

also

equipped

For the discharge

of torpedoes four tubes are

with six searchlights, and carries two military masts.

provided.
13
to

The engines give

knots.

the ships a speed of from

the

To the Wilhelm

second-class

battleships

belong the Kbnig

14

In fighting qualities
to the

Sachsen
in

of 9,757 tons displacement,

of

and the Kaiser

displacement.
the

squadron ranks next

the

Brandenburg squadron
ships belonging
to

and Deutschland, each

7,676

tons
in

German navy.

The four
at

this

The KUnig Wilhelm was launched

She
is
is

year 1868.

squadron were built

German

navy-yards, either imin 1877, the

a so-called battery-ship, the construction of which

perial or private, namely, the

Sachsen

Baybut

obsolete on account of the limited concentration of the

ern and Wiirttemberg in 1878, and the

Baden

in 1880.

fire.

At

the time the ship

was remodeled

its

circuitous
in.

They were
have
to

originally
classified

called
as

scouting
ships,

corvettes,

armor belt was fitted with compound plates of 11.9

thickness.

be

citadel

inasmuch as

On

top of the armor-belt are the long battery

for

more than one-half

of

the forward and after parts of

and the stands

the

heavy guns

of

the

gun-deck,

the ship lacks the vertical armor.

The

ships have two

in.

armored with 5.9

a

in. plates.

In 1895 the ship received

tiers of plates abreast; on the outside a plate of 10

modern armored deck.

The Kdnig Wilhelm

is

354

of rolled iron;

back

of this an equally thick tier of teakof 5.9 in. rolled iron

feet

long, 59 feet wide, with a draught of 25 feet, a

wood, followed by a plate

and

displacement of 9,757 tons, and a speed of 14.5 knots.

7.9 in. tier of wood, ending in a double iron skin.

The

The

coal supply
in.

is

800

tons.

The armament
in.

consists of
in.

vessels of the Sachsen squadron are of 7,400 tons dis-

twenty 9.4
rapid-firing

guns, one 5.9

gun, eighteen 3.5

placement.

They

are

298 feet

in

length, 57 feet in

rifles,

and eight machine guns.

The two

width, and of 19.3 feet draught.

Both the forward and

forward military masts have each two tops; the shorter platform aft mast, as well as the forward masts, carries a
with searchlights attached.

after parts of the ship are protected a

by

oorkdam and

cofferdam, which

lie

on the arched armored deck

vertical

The

ship has an armored

and join the lower edge of the

armor.
is

In

conning tower and eleven spars for manipulating the The complement is 732 men. torpedo nets.

case of injury to the outer skin, the cork

to swell

expected
the aper-

by the entering water, thus closing

the shot.

at

The Kaiser and Deutschland were both launched Samuda in 1874. They are 278 feet long, 62 feet
of 25.2 feet,

ture

made by

The

hull

is

divided into one

hundred water-tight compartments

the ship sinking

in order to
a

prevent

wide, with a draught 7,676 tons.

and

a displacement of

when injured by

torpedo or a ram.

Both

ships have an armor-belt of

9.8 in.

The

ships

of

the

Sachsen squadron are called lowrises

thickness and a covered casemate (a shortened battery with blunt corners) which is protected by 8.8 in. armor.

board vessels, as their gun-deck

only seven feet

of

above
10.2

the
in.

load water-line.

The muzzles

the four

In the casemate are posted eight 10.2

in.

guns, on the

guns placed in the large central battery are

in.

gun-deck eight

5.9 in.

and twelve

1.9 in. rapid-firing

about 17 feet above the load water-line; the two 10.2

guns, which are protected by revolving shields.

Both

guns

in

the

forward barbette
barrel
it

are

mounted
is

3.3

feet

vessels have military masts, in the tops of which machine

higher.

The

of

the

latter

only 22 calibre
fires a steel shell

guns are placed.

lights,
five

They

are also provided with search-

(18.7 feet) long;

of of

weighs 17 tons and

torpedo tubes,

and

torpedo

nets.

The

412 pounds weight and a 356 pounds.

shell with a fuse attached

engines give 8,000 horse-power and a speed of 14 knots.

The two bow-guns, which

fire

are placed in
of about

The complement

is

644 men.

the forward barbette, have a range of

270

To

the third-class battleships belong the Preussen

of 6,770 tons

and

degrees.

The guns

of the

main battery stand

in the four

Friedrich der Grosse, each

displacement

corners of the large barbette and have a range of over

110

125 degrees.

They

are covered

by a protective deck, on

A
line

circuitous armor-belt, of 8

in.

in

thickness, pro-

which are placed the quick-firing guns, and which serves

at the
tillery
steel.

tects the hull, reaching

from 2.3 feet below the water-

same time
delivers

as the hurricane deck.

The heavy

ar-

up

to the

gun-deck.

On

the latter, in front of the

from one broadside 1,648 pounds of

six 3.5 in.

smokestack, stands the barbette in the form of a horseshoe, provided with 8 in. armor,

The secondary battery numbers only

guns
of

which

rests

on a strong

rapid-firing

30 calibre (8.4 feet) length, which

layer of teak-wood.
1.9 in.

On

the armor-belt lies an arched plates

are posted on the protective deck on top of the casemate.

armored deck.
of rolled iron.

The armor

and the hull are

In each military mast two five-barreled 1.4 revolving

in.

Hotchkiss

made

The water-tight bulkheads and

similar
to

guns are placed.

Five

torpedo tubes are

compartments are arranged

Sachsen type.

those

of

the
a

fitted into the hull, of

which two discharge torpedoes

The twin-screw engines, separated by

a

amidships and one

aft.

The engines

are

twin screws

water-tight longitudinal bulkhead, furnish a 700 horse-

and are separated by a longitudinal bulkhead.

boilers have
in

The
is

power and yield

speed of about

9-J

knots.

As
two

protec3.5 in.

been replaced by new ones and the speed

to

tion against torpedo boats, each ship carries

consequence raised from 13

is

16 knots.
is is

The

coal

rapid-firing

and two revolving guns.

Back

of the baris

supply

500

tons.

One
All

searchlight

attached at the

bette stands the armored conning tower.

Each boat

forward smokestack, while the other

protective

placed on the

provided with one torpedo tube, placed near the bow,

deck.

the

vessels

are

provided with

and a spur for close encounter.

light draught these boats are

On

account of their

torpedo nets.
of

The complement

of each vessel consists

especially fitted for the

377 men.

defence of the narrows between the islands of the Ger-

The

fourth-class

German

ships,

comprising the Sieg-

man Ocean and

the

the Baltic Sea.

The armored gunboats

fried, Beowulf, Frithjof Hildebrand,

Heimdal, Hagen,

received a further addition of two more vessels, in 1883

and Odin, each of 3,495 tons displacement, and the

Aegir of 3,530
the
tons, serve

Brummer and
cruisers,

in

1884 the Bremse.

the purpose of preventing the

The

third type of

war vessels

is

represented by the
the

enemy from entering

mouths

of

the

German
first

armored
frigates

the

forerunners of which were

rivers

and from approaching the seacoast.

The

four

and corvettes.

The powerful

frigates,

mounting

are assigned to the naval station on the

German Ocean,
and draw

about

fifty

guns, used to fight in the ranks of the ships

while the other four belong to the Baltic naval station.

of the line; the light frigates, however,

known

as cruisers,

The

ships are 239 feet long, of 49 feet beam,

were represented by ships, which, on account

sailing

of their

good
for

17.7 feet of water.

The arrangement

of the water-tight

and cruising

qualities,

were

chiefly

employed

compartments

is

similar to that of the

a

Brandenburg.
security of

scouting and reporting purposes, though in part also for

corkdam and

cofferdam

add

to

the

destroying the commerce of the

enemy.

The

oldest
less

the ship in event of injury near the water-line.

The

corvettes were very small vessels, which

mounted

principal protection of the ship consists of a complete

nickel-steel armor-belt, 8.2 feet wide, amidships 9.4 in.
thick,

than twenty guns, and were employed for coast-defence.

The

first

sailing frigate of the Prussian navy, the Qeflon,

of

and sloping

to 7 in. at both ends of the vessel.

lies

which was captured from the Danes at the encounter

EckernfOrde, differed very
little in

On

top of the armor-belt

an arched armored deck,

construction from the

from

1.1 in. to 1.4 in. in thickness, protecting the

and ammunition rooms.

the

powder The four covered barbettes and

in.

daring privateer-cruisers of the Great Elector.

The introduction

of

steam-power

effected

at

first

conning tower are provided with a 7.9

armor.

hardly any changes in the form and construction of the

frigates.

speed of 16 knots.
long),

The twin-screw engines give 4,800 horse-power and a The three 9.4 in. guns (35 calibre
which
fire

From 1868

to

1878 seven were

cruisers,

formerly

called

covered

corvettes,

launched.

Of

these

32

in.

long steel shells of 474 pounds,

and a number

of 3.5 in. quick-firing

guns are disposed

which were constructed entirely of wood, the Elisabeth was the finest. She had a displacement- of
cruisers,

either in revolving turrets or in

superimposed structures.

2,508 tons, a

length
feet.

of

216

feet,

by 41

feet,

and a

The second type

boats. built
at

of

war vessels are the armored gunthe

of

draught of 18
six 5.9 in.

The armament
22 calibre length.

consisted of twenty-

The eleven boats of

the

Wespe
Bremen,

class,

which were

guns

of

Additional frigates

Weser yard

are the

Wespe,

of the cruiser type

bert,

were the Leipzig, the Prince Adel-

Viper, and Biene, launched in 1876, the Scorpion and

and the vessels of the Stosch type, namely the Bis-

Milcke

in 1877, the

Basilisk and Chamaleon in 1878,

marck, Moltke, Stosch, Blilcher, Stein, and Gneisenau,

the latter, however, constructed of iron.

the Crocodile in 1879, the Natter and

Salamander

in

All these ships

1880, and the

Hummel

in 1881.

All these boats have a

feet, a

lacked the necessary speed, also the practical disposition

of the artillery,

displacement of 1,109 tons, a length of 144

of 36 feet, and a draught of 10 feet.

beam

and especially any kind of armor.

cruiser, the

The
old
the

Each boat mounts

German navy had only one armored

armored
frigate

one short 12

in.

gun, the heaviest

German

naval gun,

Hansa, which was launched

She had

at

which

fires a shell

with a fuse attached of 725 pounds.

Dantzic yard in the year 1872.

a displacement

111

of 3,610 tons, a length of 223 feet, a

beam

of

45

feet,

Wilhelm, each
5,628 tons
;

of 4,400 tons

Hertha and Freya, each

of

and

draught of 19

feet.

The engines,

of 2,000 horse-

and the Victoria Luise, Hansa, Vineta, and

of 5,628 tons
;

power, gave a speed of 12 knots.

6.2
in.,

The armor-belt was

in. in

two more boats, each

the latter five being

and the armored casemate 5

thickness; the

in course of construction.

These

fast,

but insufficiently

latter

covered one-fourth of the ship's length.

of
it

The

in-

protected, cruisers are necessary not only for service in

troduction
calibre

rapid-firing

guns

of light

and medium

foreign waters, but also for reconnoitring and reporting

in naval warfare.

made

urgent to abandon the old type of un-

In this respect these vessels

fulfill

protected cruiser-frigates and to adopt the

new type

of

the

mission of

the old cruising-corvettes,

whose suc-

armored and protected

cruisers.

In a modern navy only

first-class

cessors they are.

Of protected

cruisers,

which answer
five,

armored vessels are considered as

cruisers.

every modern requirement, the German navy has

as

They must be protected by an armored deck and by

side armor, while the

mentioned previously.

The Princess Wilhelm was

main battery guns are expected

to

launched in 1887 at the Germania navy-yard of Kiel, and

the Irene in 1888 at the navy-yard Vulcan of Stettin.

be of at least 8.2

in. calibre.

These vessels serve a double

purpose, namely, alike in times of peace and of war to

protect the interests of
waters, and

Bach ship has

308
feet, a

a displacement of 4,400 tons, a length of

feet,

the native country in foreign

beam of 45
is

and

draught

of

22

feet.

The

when

hostilities

break out to engage the

hull,

which

constructed entirely of steel, carries an outer

enemy's

cruisers.
cruiser,

skin consisting of a double tier of

wood

lined with plates

The only armored

which the German navy

of Fiirst

of yellow metal.

The longitudinal and

transverse bulkof water-tight

possesses, carries the proud

name

Bismarck.

heads, which divide the ship into a

number
to

This

formidable vessel has a displacement of 10,650

feet, a

compartments, are

arranged

similar
is

those

in

the

tons, a length of 393

beam

of

65

feet,

and a

modern

battleships.

Each

vessel
is

equipped with a

draught of 25.7

feet.

The engines, which

are of 13,500

3 in. steel

armored deck which

capable of being low-

horse-power, give a speed of 19 knots.

is

The

coal supply

ered, forward
line.

and

aft, to

about

six feet

below the water-

1,000 tons.

The Bismarck has

complete armor, 8

On

the armored deck rests a cofferdam about eight

feet in width,
to stern.

and reaching on the water-line from stem

turrets, the casemates,

feet wide.

The engines

are of 8,000 horse-power

and

The revolving

and the

give the ship a speed of over 18 knots.

is

The

coal supply

hatchways and scuttles are provided with nickel-steel

plates from 7.9 in. to 11.9 in. in thickness.

700

tons.
in.

The armament

of the vessel consists of

The arma-

four 5.9

guns, 30 calibre in length;

eight 4.1

in.

ment

consists of four 9.4 in.

guns

of

40 calibre length,
fire of

quick-firing guns, 35 calibre in length; and six 1.9 in.

rapid-firing

disposed in the armored turrets, with a range of

guns

of

40 calibre length.

The

ship has a

270 degrees.
5.9
in.

The secondary
rifled

battery, comprising twelve

is

further
side

armament

of five torpedo-launching tubes.

Besmall

quick-firing

cannon 40 calibre long,

these, each

cruiser

carries

on

its

deck

placed partly in the armored revolving turrets and partly

in single casemates.

torpedo boat, propelled by steam and provided with a

The

light artillery consists of ten

calibre long, ten 1.4 in.

torpedo tube.
is

The conning tower on

is

the hurricane deck

3.5 in. quick-loading

guns 30

armored, and

provided with two powerful searchof each ship consists of

and eight 0.28

in.

machine guns.

The

ship carries forsix torpedo-

lights.

The complement

365 men.
class,
is

midable additional weapons in the form of

In 1892 the third protected cruiser of the second

the Kaiserin Augusta, was launched.
largest of the cruisers of this class.

launching tubes for the firing of large torpedoes charged

with 198 pounds of gun cotton.

This vessel

the
is

Five of the tubes are

is

Her displacement
feet,

submerged

only the tube on the afterdeck

above the

6,052 tons
22.5
feet.

length 387 feet,

beam 51

and draught
steel,

water-line so as to be out of the the screws.

searchlights

way

of the rudder

and

The

hull

is

constructed

of

with
ar-

On
are

the top of the two military masts four

attached, while

double

tiers of

wood and
of

a metallic lining.

The

two more

lights

are

mored deck
set

consists
in.,

two

sets of plates, the

in.

upper

stationed on the sides of the ship.

The

ship's

comple-

being 2.8

and the lower one 0.7

is

in thick-

ment

is

565 men.

ness.

The armored deck

aft

highly arched and slopes

feet

Cruisers which

mount guns

of at least 5.9 in. calibre

forward and

from 7 to 3

below the water-line.

and are provided with

a protective

deck, are called

of the

circuitous cofferdam, 8 feet in height and 3.2 feet

modern protected

cruisers,

and form the fourth type

classified either

in width, extends

from stem

to stern of

the armored

German war
their

ships.

They are

according to
First-

deck.
of

The

cells of the

cofferdam are

filled

with strips

tonnage or the calibre of their main guns.

cork

glued together, which, independently of the

class protected cruisers, like the

Columbia and Minne-

water-tight compartments, add greatly to the security of

the ship in case of injury.

apolis of the United States navy, with a displacement

of 7,475 tons, are not to

The Kaiserin Augusta has

draught under the boilers

be found
of

in the

German

navy.
are

triple-screw engines which give her a nominal 12,000

Of the second
Kaiserin Augusta

class

protected
;

cruisers

the

horse-power.

With

artificial

of 6,052 tons

Irene and Princess

and an atmospheric pressure

of 1.18 in. the three engines

112

furnish 15,152 horse-power

and 501 additional horsewhich give the ship a

Falhe and Hussard, each

of 1,580 tons;

Schwalbe and

power

to the auxiliary engines,

Sperber, each of 1,120 tons; and one cruiser of 2,600

tons in course of construction.
to the naval station at Kiel.

speed of from 21-| to 22 knots.

The boat can be

it

easily

These cruisers belong

manoeuvred.
inside of one

At

a speed of 18 knots

can be stopped

on the Baltic Sea, and were equipped

and a-half minutes, making only 437 yards

is

They

are designed for service in foreign waters.

service on the western coast
of Africa, while

from the time the command to stop

given.

The

Two

are

employed for

and

normal coal supply, which, however, can be augmented,

is

two on the eastern coast

field of activity in the

two

find their

860

tons.

The armament
of

of the ship consists of twelve

in.

waters of Eastern Asia, and three

5.9

in.

guns

30 calibre length, with eight 3.5

length.

are designed for the protection of the

German

colonies

quick-loading guns of 30 calibre

From one
The
steel
in.

and settlements
cruisers are the

in the

South Sea.

The

oldest of these

broadside a mass of projectiles weighing 4,663 pounds

Schwalbe and the Sperber ; each has twin-

can be delivered in the space of one minute.

shell of the 5.9 in.

screw engines of 1,500 horse-power and a speed of 14

knots.

gun

pierces steel plates of 11.9

The

coal supply of

250 tons

is

sufficient for a

run

thickness.

All the guns are protected by armor shields.

five torpedo-dischargers,

of 3,000 miles at a speed of 12 knots.

The

boats are armed

tor-

The boat has

one placed

at the

with eight 4.1

in.

guns, five 1.4

in.

machine guns and a

bow and

the other four amidships, and carries, in addition,

pedo gun,

firing amidships.

An
is

electric searchlight is sta-

a torpedo boat 50 feet long, and two electric searchlights.

tioned in front of the smoke-stack on the hurricane deck.

The complement

of the

Kaiserin Augusta

is

418 men.

The complement of

the boats

116 men each.

in

The Husat Kiel,

The Freya has a displacement

of

of 5,628 tons, a length

sard and the Falhe, launched

1890 and 1891

344

feet, a

width of 46

feet,

and

draught of 20.5

feet.

are larger than the previously mentioned vessels. Theirdis-

The armament

consists of
in.

two

7.2 in.

guns

of

40 calibre

placement

is

1,580 tons; they are 268 feet long, 32 feet

feet.

length, eight 5.9

quick-loading guns, and a number

wide, and draw 16

No

other navy can boast such

furnish 2,800

of small rifled cannon.

The engines

are of 10,000 horse-

model

cruisers.

The twin-screw engines

power and give the

vessel a speed of from 18 to 19 knots.

horse-power and give a speed of 16 knots.

ers of a later date are larger

The four

cruis-

All cruisers provided with a protective deck and mount-

than the Hussard.

They

ing main guns of a calibre

less

than 5.9

in.

are classified
third-class

displace 1,640 tons, and are, in construction, armament,

as third-class protected cruisers.

The seven

equipment, and complement, on a parity with the Hussard.

cruisers are the Gefion of

4,109 tons, the Gazelle of

of

To

the

fifth

type of war vessels, which are called gun-

2,645 tons, and the

2,373 tons.
tons,

Arcona and Alexandrine, each

boats, belong the

tons,

Habicht

of

848

tons, the

Wolf of 498
The two

The Olga, Marie, and Sophie, each

used
for

of 2,169

and the Jaguar and

litis,

each of 895 tons.

are

training-ships.

The Gefion was

gunboats of the Albatross

class,

namely, the Albatross

at Dantsic in 1871,
feet,

launched in 1893 at the Schichau dock-yard of Dantsic.

and Nautilus, which were launched

She

is

constructed of steel and has a displacement of

feet, a

have a displacement of 716 tons, a length of 167

a

4,190 tons, a length of 344

a

beam

of 41 feet,

and

beam

of 26 feet,

and

draught

of

10

feet.

The

single-

draught of 19

feet.

The ship

is

strengthened below

screw engine, of about 600 horse-power, gives a speed of

the water-line with double planks,

and has a metallic

in.

10 knots.

Each boat has four

4.6 in.

guns and a com-

bottom.

On

the water-line lies a splint deck from 1

plement of 69 men.

The boats

are

employed
coast.

in

the

to lj in. thick, as protection against the shell-splinters.

scientific-survey service off the

German

Smaller

The engines

are protected

by

a 3.9 in. armor-cap

of 5.9 in.

made

boats than the two described were built for service at

the mouths of rivers and in the narrow waters of eastern
Asia.

of nickel-steel,

which

rests

on a layer

wooden

planks.

The

ship has also a corkdam, a cofferdam, and

Of these

the litis, which foundered in a typhoon,

bulkheads.

The engines

furnish 9,000 horse-power and

was launched

in 1877,

and the TFbZ/'and

of iron,

Hyane

in 1878.

a speed of 20^ knots.

The

coal supply

is

770

tons.

The boats are constructed

feet wide, of

and are 138

feet long, 25

The armament
guns

is

composed
;

of ten 4.1 in. quick-loading

six 2 in. rapid-firing
;

and draw 9.8

feet.

The single-screw engine, The

coal

of 35 calibre length
;

guns

of

340 horse-power, gives a speed of 9 knots.

is

40

calibre length

eight machine guns

fire

and one

2.3 in.

supply

100

tons, sufficient for a

run of 3,000 miles at a

boat-gun.

The Gefion can

at objects lying at

an

speed of 8 knots.
guns, one 3
in.

The Hyane

is

armed with two 5

in.
is

angle of 45 degrees to the course of the ship 7,040

gun, and three revolving guns, and

pounds

of steel in three minutes.

is

On

each side of the

employed
a

in the coast-survey service.

Each boat has

is

upper deck a torpedo tube

ing torpedoes of 17.7
electric searchlights, of
in.

fixed on a pivot, discharg-

complement

of

85 men.
is

Larger and better armed

174 feet
in length,

diameter.
is

The

ship has

two

the Habicht.

This boat

30 feet

in

which one
is

placed at the fore-

width, and of 11 feet draught.

of

The single-screw engine, The arma-

mast.

The complement

302 men.

600 horse-power, gives

is

speed of 12 knots.

The

fourth-class protected cruisers are the Seeadler,

of

ment
and

composed of one
revolving guns.

5.9 in. gun, four 4.9 in, guns,

Condor, Cormoran, and Geier, each

1,640 tons;

five

The crew

consists of 179 men.

113

most interesting type of warship

is

the sixth one,

a cofferdam.
firing

The armament

consists of four 3.5 in. rapid-

the despatch-boats.

Of

this

type there are the Haiser-

guns and three torpedo tubes.

electric searchlights.

They

are also

adler of 1,700 tons, the Greif of 2,000 tons, the Blitz

equipped with two

The twin-screw

and the Pfeil, each

of 1,382 tons, the

Wacht and
975

the

engines of the Meteor furnish 4,500 horse-power and

give a speed of 21 knots, while the engines of the Komet,
of 5,000 horse-power, afford a speed of 23 knots. vessel has a

Jagd, each

of 1,250 tons, the Zieien of

tons, the

Meteor and the Hornet, each of 946

tons, the

Hela

of

Each

2,003 tons, and one other boat in course of construction.

complement

of 115

men.

The most modern

The despatch-boats
ships of the navy.

are the reconnoitring

and reporting

German
Bremen
feet,

despatch-boat, the Hela, which was launched at

in 1895, has a length of a

They

are like the cavalry of the land

344

feet, a
is

beam

of

48

army, and are termed the "eyes" of the fighting navy.

and

draught of 15

feet.

The boat The

built of the

The despatch-boats not only

in order to

sail in the

van of the

fleet,

finest steel

and

is

provided with a strong armored deck,

engines, of 6,000

espy and report the enemy's

position, but they

of

corkdam, and a cofferdam.

are

likewise employed

for the destruction

torpedo

horse-power, afford a speed of 23 knots.

The water-

boats, for

which reason they are

also called torpedo-boat

tight compartments are arranged similar to those of the

destroyers.

In the capacity of outpost ships they, in

modern

battleships; forty-five independent engines, with

connection with the cruisers, have to patrol great tracts

at sea in order to

eighty-five cylinders, are

needed

to operate the ship's

prevent hostile ships from breaking

lines.

machinery and other mechanical contrivances.

carries four 3.5 in. rapid-firing

The Hela
six

through the skirmish

At

the

same time these

guns 30 calibre long,

boats have assigned them the duty of breaking through

the enemy's outposts for the purpose of ascertaining the

1.9 in. quick-firing rifled

guns 40 calibre long, and four

torpedo tubes.

The

ship's

complement
is

is

168 men.

strength of the opposing

fleet.

The seventh type

training-ships.

of warships

represented by the
tons,

The side-wheel despatch-boat-ZTaisera^er was launched

at Kiel in 1876,

These include the Mars of 3,333

and served

for awhile as the imperial

the Charlotte of 3,222 tons, the Stosch, Stein, Moltke,

yacht,

under the name of Hohenzollern.

The boat has

Gneisenau, and Blucher, each of 2,169 tons, Nixe of 1,760

tons,

a length of 268 feet, a width of 32 feet, and a draught of

Garola

of 2,169 tons,

Rhein and Ulan, each

of

of

498

13

feet.

The engines,

of 3,000 horse-power, give a speed

tons, Grille of

350

tons,

Hay

203 tons, and Otter of

of 16 knots.

The armament
revolving guns.

consists only of

two 3.4

in.

129 tons.

guns and
318
feet,

six

The Greif has

a length of

As long
weapon

as the

gun

represents the most formidable

with a

beam
the

of only 31 feet,

being the sharpest

of naval warfare, the training of efficient

gunners

keeled vessel of

German navy.

The twin-screw

will constitute the navy's principal

duty

in time of peace.

engines, of 5,400 horse-power, give the boat a speed of

For

this

purpose the artillery training-ship

Mars

is

over 20 knots.

The armament comprises two

in.

4.1

in.

designed.

The

vessel,

which was launched

in 1879,

has

quick-loading guns 35 calibre long, ten 1.4

revolv-

a displacement of 3,333 tons, a length of 262 feet, a

ing guns, and several torpedo tubes

the vessel has an

beam

of

48

feet,

and

draught of 19

feet.

The

ship

axe-shaped

bow

for

ramming.

It

has a complement of

mounts about 30 guns

of almost every calibre used in

in.

151 men.

The Blitz and

is

the Pfeil are built of steel,

the navy, ranging from the 8

1.4 in. rapid-firing rifled gun.

and 9

in.

gun

to the

their length

246

feet, their

width 32

feet,

and

their

The complement

of

697
on

draught 13

feet,

with a speed of 16 knots.

The arma-

men

consists mostly of recruits,

who have

to serve

ment
long,

consists of six 3.5 in. quick-firing

guns 30 calibre

the vessel for a period of from three to six months.

one submerged
electric

torpedo tube placed near the

searchlights for detecting toris

Specially gifted seamen are here trained for the functions

of chief

bow, and two

pedoes.
the

gunners on board the war

vessels.

The

ship-

The complement

134 men.

The Wacht and

and a draught

boys, likewise, after having served their time on board

of training-ships, receive a course of instruction in

Jagd have
feet.

each a displacement of 1,250 tons, a

gun-

length of 275 feet, a 13

beam

of

30

feet,

of

nery.

Young officers, who aspire to the position of

battery

They

are provided with a steel-armored deck

commanders,

also take part in the practice with the guns.

of 0.9 in. thickness.

The twin-screw
20 knots.

engines, of 4,000

Aside from these functions, the

artillery

Mars
etc.

does duty in

horse-power, give a speed of

The armament
calibre long
is

and technical experiments, which are made with

comprises four 3.5

in.

rapid-firing

guns 30

newly-invented projectiles, caissons,

for this reason, of

The
to

vessel

is,

and three torpedo tubes.

The complement

140 men.

much

significance

the

navy

in

The Meteor and

despatch-boats.

the

Komet

are the smallest of the

at Kiel in

general.

For the training

in the

of the gunners,

who have

to

The former was launched

Each

become versed

handling of the quick-loading guns,

1890, the latter at Stettin in 1892.

ship has a

the old cruiser-frigate

iron

Carola

is

assigned, having the

displacement of 946 tons, a length of 262

feet, a

beam

of

gunboat

Hay

attached as tender.

30

feet,

and

draught of about 12
in. steel

feet.

They

are pro-

Since the year 1877, the old cruiser-frigate Blucher

has been employed as the torpedo training-ship.

vided with a 0.9

deck, also with a corkdam and

On

114

board of

this vessel the different

crews are drilled in the

ship
is

6 knots.

The armament
six

is

composed

of eight short 4.9 in.

use of the torpedo weapon.

The

supplied with
fitted into the

guns and

revolving guns.
in

The crew

consists of

384

from eight
hull,

to ten torpedo tubes,

which are

men. Though obsolete

type of construction, the train-

both above and below the load water-line, amid-

ing-ships have been recently used for the settlement of

ships,

and on the bow and afterdeck.

Here the

different

complicated situations, their employment being a case of

necessity
till

torpedo crews are trained in the technical and hazardous

the

German navy

is

sufficiently

equipped

handling of the torpedoes, after which training they are

with modern ships.

Fresh in the memory of most readers

employed on board

of the

war

ships.

Those

officers

who

to cite an instance of

many

is

the

German-Haytian
affair

perform the functions of torpedo

officers

on battleships

incident of

December

6th, 1897.

This

was ended menacing

and

cruisers, receive the

adequate instruction on board

at the

by the Haytian government yielding

attitude of

to the

of this vessel.

The Slucher,

same time,

is

em-

two German training-ships, the Charlotte and

ployed as an experimental ship by a board of torpedo

experts.

the Stosch, and accepting the

all its

German ultimatum with

by
the

This board consists of a

staff of

naval

officers,

conditions.
of

who

test

and approve

all

inventions

made

in the line of
is

The eighth type

torpedo boats,
is

war

vessels, represented

torpedo warfare.
the Ulan.
a length of
feet,

Attached to the Blilcher, as tender,

the most

modern and the most

interest-

This vessel has a displacement of 377 tons,

ing type of

all.

The boats

are classified into pole -torboats.

72

feet, a

width of 25

feet, a

draught of 10
service

pedo boats and fish-torpedo

The former were

and

a speed of 12 knots.

The Ulan does

rafts

successfully employed as early as in the United States'

Civil

in

towing torpedo targets, long

with submarine nets

War.

These boats were very small and were called

Attached on the bow was a pole
it,

attached as targets, which the torpedo has to traverse on

its

"Davids."

thirty-five

run.

feet long, with the torpedo fastened to

which exploded
in the

To
mines.

the

technical

training-ships

belongs

the

small

by

striking against the hostile ship.

is

Well known

steamer Shein, which practices the laying of submarine

annals of naval warfare

the attack which

was made by

The mines
off,

are laid in waters ofE the seacoast,

are

Lieutenant Cushing on the battleship Albemarle.

exploit took place on the

The
of

and, until fired

dangerous to an approaching
invisible, lying

Roanoke River on the night

enemy, inasmuch as they are

moored.

quietly
tons, a

the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh of October, 1864.

The Rhein has

a displacement of

498

By
in a

the explosion of a torpedo the

in her

Albemarle had an

speed of 9 knots, and a complement of 80 men.

small gunboat Otter, of 120 tons,
for the
is

The

enormous hole made

below the water-line and sank

employed as tender
This commission
is

few minutes, while the torpedo boat also foundered

upheaval of water caused by the explosion.

commission of naval
of a staff of

tests.

in the

Dura

composed

officers

and technical experts,

for the

ing the Franco-German war the German navy had

great

whose duties are

of all

to oversee

and vouch

speed

tests

number

of pole-torpedo boats,

which had a speed

new

ships of the navy.

They take down notes

For the training

of

of eight knots, but

were not used for any operations

observation and give the necessary hints for improve-

against the enemy.

The

first

torpedo boats

fit

for ser-

ments in the case of

deficiencies.

of

vice were built in England.

In Germany, the Schichau

in torpedo boat con-

the personnel necessary to replenish the force of naval

officers,

dock -yard
struction.

of

Elbing took the lead

the two old cruiser-frigates Stosch and Stein are

The

superiority of the Schichau torpedo boats

employed.

These ships receive the naval cadets for a

led to the introduction of their model into the English

course of one year's training in naval warfare, after the

latter

navy.

The German torpedo boats

;

are usually 100 feet

have passed their entrance examinations

of Kiel.

at the

long and 10 feet wide

with a draught of about seven feet

Naval Academy

During the summer time the

and

a construction of steel, they

combine the greatest

cadet training-ships take part in the naval manoeuvres

strength with the greatest lightness.

little

The boats show

which take place

in

home

waters, while during the winter

in the Mediterranean, in the

elevation above the water and their decks are com-

months the vessels cruise

pletely covered.

The

latter,

which

is

elliptical

on the

aft,

West
of

Indies, or in other parts of the Atlantic Ocean.

while the forward part extending from the stem to the

The ship-boy
an
efficient

training-ships provide for the training

offi-

conning tower

is

a so-called whaleback, secures the boat

and ample body of noncommissioned

ships the JVixe, which
is

more or

less against shot

and

shell

and against drenching

cers.

Of these

was launched

at

by

sea-water.

On

both sides of the stem the launching

directly

Dantsic in 1885,

the newest; she has a displacement of

tubes project.
is

The compartment lying

below

1,760 tons, a length of

a

177

feet, a

beam
is

of

41

feet,

and

used for the storing of the torpedo, the ammunition,

for the

draught of 17

feet.

The

vessel

constructed of iron,

and the apparatus

which
this
is

launching of the projectile,

of an air-pump.
will

after the fashion of the old covered-corvettes,

cially fitted for sailing;

and spe-

effected

by means

Adjoining

they usually

make 10 knots

compartment are the quarters, which

accommo-

with a favorable wind.

The

vessel has also a small steam

date twelve of the crew.

this

The tower which stands above

engine of 700 horse-power, which gives a speed of about

compartment contains the steering gear, by which

115

the

boat

is

directed

in

its

course.

The

roof of the

upward or downward
an even keel.

until the torpedo

comes back

to

tower carries a Hotchkiss

revolving

gun; separated

by

a water-tight bulkhead, the boiler-room follows next.

Behind
air

this

chamber

is

the reservoir for compressed

Here, for inducing ventilation in

gine
is

bad weather, an en-

and

in the rear of that a three-cylinder

this force sets in motion.

brotherhood

placed, which affords a pressure of two atmos-

engine which

Behind the ma-

pheres.

Separated

by another bulkhead comes the

,

chinery compartment comes the buoyancy chamber, the

engine-room.
this

Near

the

hatchway leading down

which carries a 1.9

to
in.

purpose of which
or to sink
it.

is

to bring the torpedo to the surface a

room

stands the aft tower,

Then comes

compartment containing the

quick-loading gun.

The room

situate at the stern serves

ship's material.

bevel gear which causes the propellers to revolve in

opposite directions, and finally the rudder supports
the rudders.
in a tube

for the storage of provisions

and other

and
it

The

coal bunkers are placed on

afford,

both sides of the boiler-

The torpedo

is

started simply

by placing

room and
boilers.

when

filled,

some protection

to the

and lowering

it till it is

completely submerged.
is

On the
is

afterdeck, back of the aft tower, a swivel

By

a lever attached to the tube a valve

opened which

torpedo gun

placed, which can

fire

toward both

sides.

allows the condensed air to enter from the reservoir into

the engines, thus starting the torpedo on
its

Most torpedo boats are equipped with dynamos for electric lighting and searchlights, also with the Kaselonsky
signal apparatus.

journey.

This form of launching

teries for coast-defence.

is

only practiced in torpedo bat-

The complement

of a boat of

about

On board

of warships

and

tor-

90 tons displacement consists

1 machinist,
sailors,

of 1 officer as

commander,

pedo boats, tubes are provided from which the torpedo

is

2 boatswain mates, 3 machinist mates, 4

stokers.

discharged either by condensed

air or

by

a small charge built

and 4

In some respects the torpedo

In con-

of

powder.

The tubes

are either

submerged and

boats represent the cavalry in naval warfare.

into the hull, in which case aim has to be taken by steer-

nection with the despatch-boats they are engaged in the

ing the ship, or they are placed above the water-line, adjusted for aiming in every direction.

reconnoitring service.

One

of their greatest merits lies

As

a protection

in the circumstance that a torpedo boat crew of 15

men

against this treacherous projectile, the battleships are pro-

can hold in suspense night and day the complement of a

battleship consisting of

vided with torpedo nets.

As

the explosion of a torpedo

ship, nets, con-

600 men.

For an attack on a
forming a

works destruction only when close to the

war ship from

four to six boats are united,

sisting of steel rings, are fastened to the points of a

num-

torpedo-boat division, under the lead of a so-called torpedo-division boat.

ber of spars 30 feet long, which stand

in a horizontal position

off

from the hull

in

The weapon, which has

The

effected a
is

and are suspended vertically

lies

real revolution in the naval affairs of all nations,

called

the water when the ship

alongside.

As

the torpedo

the

Whitehead torpedo.
is

original inventor of this

adheres to the nets without doing any harm, the torpedo

boats are equipped with special explosives for the de-

weapon

the Austrian naval officer Lupis.

consists of
a

The Whitehead torpedo

cigar-shaped

struction of the nets.

An

adversary of a more dangerous

is

envelope of phosphor bronze from twelve to twenty-five Its motive power is compressed air; it is feet long.
propelled

character to the torpedo boats

firing guns,

to

be found in the rapid-

and

especially in the torpedo-boat destroyers.

fast

by two two-bladed screws revolving

same
axis,

in op-

These boats are very

and are

called, in the

German

posite directions about the

at

and

is

maintained

navy, torpedo-division boats, or sea-going torpedo boats.

constant depth

by

horizontal

rudders and on a

There are eleven of these boats

in readiness,

numbered
at the

straight course

by

vertical fans at

an angle determined
torpedo resembles

1 to

11.

The

boats, which

were launched

by experiments.
a

In

this respect the

submarine

vessel.
its

The torpedo

contains several com-

partments for

propelling, directing, and exploding

ex-

Schichau dock-yard during the period from 1887 to 1896, have a displacement of from 300 to 380 tons, a length of from 166 to 213 feet, a beam of 22 feet, and a draught
of 6.7 feet.

mechanism.

The forward compartment contains the

The twin-screw engines,

of

from 2,000 to

ploding cartridge, which consists of a

series of disks of

4,000 horse-power, give a speed of from 21 to 26 knots.

wet gun cotton, perforated

the priming tube of

in

their centres to receive

The armament
firing

consists of from four to six 1.9 in. rapidof

dry gun

cotton.

The second com-

guns and

from three to four tubes, which are

partment contains the immersion regulators which so control the horizontal

placed amidships on the upper deck of the modern and

very fast boats.

rudders as to carry the torpedo

it

down

to a given

depth and keep

there during

its

journey.

The

division boats have in front of their smokestack

This chamber pendulum connected with

contains also a hydrostatic balance, a

the horizontal rudders,

a large superstructure which carries the hurricane deck,

a

and

room provided with

charts,

and several other compart-

combination of springs, which, in connection with the

pressure
of

ments, also an

electric searchlight for use at night.

The

the

water on

the hydrostatic piston, are

the

complement

consists of about

40 men.

to counterbalance

each other, while

swinging
to

of

Of

late the

torpedo boats have been employed for

the vertical

pendulum causes the rudder

be turned

highly interesting experiments with the captive balloon,

116

which are commended by the prominent naval author,

Stettin on
tons, a

June 27th, 1892, has

feet,

a displacement of 4,187

Willy Stower,

in a treatise

on the captive balloon in the

length of 380
feet.

beam

of 45 feet,

and

service of the navy.

draught of 18

The twin-screw

engines, of 9,000

"An important feat of reconnoitring at sea could be seen at the lower end of the bay of Kiel, in the Baltic
Sea.

horse-power, give the ship a speed of about 22 knots.

The rigging shows three

masts, each

made

of

one piece

The detachment
undergo
construction.

of balloon
a drill

troops, stationed at

Berlin, had to

of timber, the forward one of which carries a signal-yard.

with a dragon-balloon of a

Very interesting at these exercises, which lasted two weeks, was the employment of the balloon on board of torpedo boats. The construction of the new model is peculiar, differing from all those formerly in use. The balloon consists of two parts, namely, the
main balloon, which is oblong in form and rounded at both ends, and of a smaller balloon, which is attached to the lower rear end of the larger one, and adheres to the

new

The

flag-poles are

mounted with tops displaying

The armament

the

emblem

of the imperial crown.

consists
in

of three 4.1 in. quick-loading

guns 35 calibre long

in.

time of war, and of eight 1.9 time of peace.

quick-firing

guns

in

All the guns, which are placed on the

upper deck, are provided with shields for protection. A double bottom, holding many water-tight compartments

The smaller balloon serves somewhat main balloon, which, thus held in an oblique position, is prevented from swinging, and is steered in a straight course, even toward the wind. The gondola, which is independent of the guy-rope, affords a
latter like a pad. as a

and bulkheads, secures the ship

outer skin.

in case of injury to the

is

helm

to the

The equipment
tasteful.
is

of the interior ship a

com-

modious and

For the imperial family

all

number
room

of apartments

assigned, which

open out into the

large dining
is

largest room, "the

is

Blue Salon."

splendid point of perspective observation, securing great steadiness and accuracy. In order to transport the balloon

located on the upper deck.

On

top of this

the high-

from one locality to another, without lowering it and interrupting observation, torpedo boats were used, which are specially adapted for this purpose on account of their enormous speed. Even on water, experiments were made
to

est deck, the so-called

promenade deck, the

after part of

which

is

used as a smoking cabin.

is

The complement

of

the ship

307 men.
oldest armored vessels of the
the

The two
the

move

German

navy,

the windlass which operates the guy-rope of the

Arminius and

balloon from one torpedo boat to another lying near its bow. The balloon with the windlass was likewise con-

Prinz Albert, were monitors.

The

former was launched at the Samuda dock-yard of London

in 1864. It

veyed on shore from the boat in a short time. Both experiments were reported as highly succesful. "In order to contrast the range of sight to be gained on the gondola with that afforded by the lighthouse tower, the balloon arose in the neighborhood of Bulk. There, at the northern end of the bay of Kiel, a lighthouse tower, ninety-six feet high, was erected.

was

of a

low build and had a displacement

of 1,583 tons, a length of 196 feet, a

beam

of 38 feet,

and

a draught of 12 feet.

The

entire hull

was protected

above the water-line by 4.7

tiers of

teak-wood.
in.

in. iron plates and by 9.4 in. The two revolving towers have an

armor of 4.7

thickness.

The

In each tower are placed two

range of sight gained on top of this tower covered a range of only fifteen sea-miles. The occupants of the gondola, however, were enabled, by the aid of good telescopes, to overlook the entire Danish waters.
see

guns

of 8.3 in. calibre.

The spur

is

short and nearly

round.

Later on the ship was equipped with revolving

tubes.

guns and torpedo

The engine,

of 1,200 horse-

They could

power, gives a speed of 10.5 knots.

struck from the
list

east beyond the island and on the west over the German Ocean, lying west of Holstein. The warships moored in the waters of the G-reat Belt were readily recognized according to of Rtigen,
Officers of the army and navy were practiced observing and distinguishing the ships and their positions at sea from the balloon. To the navy the widening
their types.
in

beyond Copenhagen, on the

In 1892, the ship was

is

of warships,

and

now employed

as an
like-

ice-breaker for harbor use.

The Prinz Albert was

The armored

wise ordered out of commission.

frigates
battlein

Friedrich Karl and the Kronprinz were the

ships of the

first

North-German navy.

Both were launched

1867.

The

beautiful frigate, Friedrich Karl, which has

of the scope of sight

is

of great significance, as a
is

due

recognizance of the enemy warfare."

a displacement of 6,007 tons, a length of 282 feet, a

exceedingly valuable in

beam

of 48 feet, and a draught of 23 feet, was launched at the

dock-yard of La Seyne, near Toulon.

The

frigate

The ninth type

of

German war

Kron-

vessels

is

composed

of

prinz, of 5,568 tons displacement, a length of 285 feet, a

ships for special use. These are the imperial yacht Hohenzollern, of 4,187 tons the battleships Kronprinz, of
;

beam

of

48

feet, a

draught of 23

feet,

and a speed
of

of 13

knots, was launched at the

Samuda dock-yard

5,568 tons, and Friedrich Karl, of 6,007 tons; the armored

London.

Arminius, of 1583 tons; and the corvette Luise, of 1,710 tons, which are used as harbor ships. The MOve of
vessel

Both ships carried an armored battery of 4.5 in. thick iron, and a circuitous armor-belt of 5 in. thickness. These boats
did efficient service
in the

848

and Albatross and Nautilus, each of 716 tons, are employed in scientific survey work the Pelikan of 2,360 tons and the Eider of 402 tons are transport-steamers.
tons,
;

cause of the Fatherland, as was

sketch of the navy.

mentioned

in the historical

At

pres-

ent, the boats, in the capacity of harbor-ships, have a

His Majesty's yacht, Hohenzollern,

quiet and contemplative existence, and are employed for

different purposes.

is

a masterpiece of

German

The Friedrich Karl

serves as a tor-

shipbuilding.

The

ship,

which was launched at

pedo

training-ship.

The former corvette Luise, now used

117

as harbor-ship,

was launched
1,719 tons,
feet.
is

in 1872.

The

ship,

whose

As modern naval warfare demands many

ber by enlisting the
fast steamers of the

cruisers, all

displacement

is

203 feet long, 35 feet wide,

consists of six short

large navies endeavor in case of war to increase their num-

and draws 16
5.9 in. guns,

The armament
in.

commercial

fleet,

two 4.7

guns, and four revolving guns.

which are equipped accordingly, and are called auxiliary

cruisers.

The crew numbered 238 men. The MOve, Nautilus, and Albatross
scientific

These boats form the tenth type of war

four fast steamers of the

ships.

are used for the

is

In the German navy

Hamburg

survey of the coast.

The Move

employed

in

mail-boat line are selected for this duty in case of emer-

Australia, while the latter

two are stationed

for a like

gency.

The

ships are the Fiirst

of

Bismarck,

of 8,874 tons

purpose in the Baltic Sea and in the German Ocean.

survey of the coast of the
to be

The

and a speed
of

German Ocean,
as the

especially, has

20$ knots; the Palatia and atria, each 7,118 tons and a speed of 20 knots; and the Augusta

performed repeatedly,
is

depth of the navigable

Viktoria, of 7,671 tons and a speed of 19%- knots.

six fast boats of the

The

water

subject to constant changes, caused by storms,

ice.

North-German Lloyd chosen

as aux-

undercurrents, and drifting

iliary cruisers will, in all probability,

be the Bahn, of

Worthy to be mentioned under the

special service
ship,
is

class of ships for

5,351 tons and a speed of 19$ knots; the Saale, of 5,267

tons and a speed of 17$ knots; the

the transport-steamer Pelikan.

at

This

Tram,

of 5,262 tons

which was launched

Wilhelmshaven
259

in 1891, has
feet, a

and

a speed of

17$ knots; the Aller,

of 5,217 tons

and

a displacement of 2,360 tons, a length of of

beam

a speed of 17$ knots; the

of

Ems,

of 4,612 tons
of 4,900 tons

and and

a speed a speed

38

feet,

and a draught of 16

feet.

The single-screw

17$ knots; and the Werra,

engine, of 3,000 horse-power, gives a speed of 16 knots.

of

17$ knots.

These

ships, in case of war,

would be
guns and
service.

The armament, which

sists

is

placed on the upper deck, con-

equipped with a great number machine-guns

in order to
fit

of quick-loading

of

four 3.5

in.

guns 39 calibre long, and four

them

for active

war

machine guns.

The crew numbers 183 men.

war

As

these fast-sailing steamers, however, lack any kind of

Other dock and harbor vessels are the pumping steamers.

armor protection or water-tight compartments or bulkheads, they are more suited for use as outpost ships on
the skirmish line, or for the capturing of trading vessels.

These are employed

in time of

for giving assist-

ance to those vessels which spring large leaks when

injured by the ram, shell, torpedo, or by the explosion of
a

Their employment as war ships

question.

is

entirely out of the

submarine mine.

The two pumping steamers, Kraft The

and Norder, have a displacement of 800 tons each.

The German navy,

ters,

as described in the preceding chapIt

engines, of 1,200 horse-power, can be used for extinguish-

does not appear insignificant by any means.

suffice,

does

ing

fires

and

for

tug purposes.

Steam tugs

are used in

not

however, for the task alloted, namely, the de-

time of peace and of war, for the moving and wheeling of

disabled ships which cannot be individually manoeuvred.

fence of the

German

coast and

its

harbors, or for the pro-

tection of imperial subjects and their interests in foreign

countries.

The tugs employed

at the three imperial

dock-yards are

The annual expenditure on

behalf of the navy,

the Aeolus, of 50 horse-power; the Boreas, of 380 tons

amounts

to 82,000,000 marks, while the total value of

and 900 horse-power; the Notus,

Zephir, of 250 horse-power;

of

600 horse-power; the

the foreign commerce, and the ships

engaged

in the latter,

the Friedrichsort, of 67

represents a

sum

of 4,600,000,000 marks.

The foregoing

tons and 75 horse-power; the Swine, of 50 horse-power;

the Rival, of 190 tons

statement ought to show clearly that the increase of expenditure recently granted by the Imperial Diet does not
stand in any proportion to the value of the ships and lives
to

and 290 horse-power

and the

Motlar, of 130 tons and 320 horse-power.

boats,

The two

Caurus and Jade,

are used for the transport of

be protected.

According

to a

law passed by the Im-

drinking water.

In the pilot-service and in that of the

perial Diet on

March

28th, 1898, the strength of the Gerfor special

to 17 ships

transport of casks, the pilot-steamer Wilhelmshaven, the

man navy
use,

pilot-schooner

Wangeroog, and the cask-layer Heppens,

and Usedom do mis-

and

torpedo boats, training-ships, ships be raised gunboats excluded

is

to

are employed, while the Schilling

of the line, ready for immediate service; 8 coast-defence battleships; 9 large cruisers; 26 small cruisers; all to be

cellaneous service.
for the
at the

There are also signal ships stationed

purpose of

showing the course

of navigable water

put

in

commission

at once.

To

the naval reserves are to

mouth

of the river
in

Jahde

in the

sound

of Minsen,

be added 2 ships of the

cruisers.

line, 3

large cruisers, and 2 small

on the Genius banks

the river Jahde, and on the

Subtracted from

this

number

are 12 ships of

Adler grounds

in the Baltic Sea.

the line, 8 coast-defence battleships, 10 large cruisers, and

The

three sailing yachts, Bust, Biebe, and Wille, serve

is,

23 small cruisers, which are already

course of construction.

in

commission or

in

for the practice of the sailing sport, that

for reviving

The

real increase

amounts

to 7

the old seafaring spirit,

and thus aid

are

in

promoting marito

ships of the line, 2 large cruisers, and 5 small cruisers.

time efficiency.

The yachts

from 47

52 feet long,
officers of

The

first-,

second-, and third-class battleships are rated as

and are used

for drilling

and racing by the

ships of the line; the fourth-class battleships are designated

the harbors during the

summer months.
IIS

as coast-defence battleships; the armored cruisers, and

first-

and second-class protected

cruisers are called large

and zeal manifested by those serving

general interest which
is

in the

navy, the
at large in

cruisers; while all the third-

and fourth-class protected

as small cruis-

shown by the public

all

cruisers
ers.

and the despatch-boats are classed

the welfare and growth of

are augurs of an

German

enterprises abroad,

enhanced efficiency of the German navy.

The
sonnel
is

force of the navy's per-

Its

duty

is

to hold aloft

and protect the German

flag

likewise to be raised to 1,598 officers and 25,039

artillery excluded.

abroad, and, allied with the army, to defend

coasts

German

men, the marine infantry and marine

and her foreign possessions when they are enIts

These important increases of the German navy are

necessary in order to provide proper protection to the

dangered.

powerful position on land and sea, comis

manding

universal respect,

in

itself a

protection of

German commercial interests German Empire an adequate

nations.
in the

abroad, and to secure to the

position

Germany
of

against any attack or encroachment.

In case

amongst seafaring

war, however, the

German navy

will

undoubtedly

The

foresight which the

of

government displays
at sea, the love

endeavor to win an honorable place alongside the army

in the annals of the heroic

development

Germany's power

deeds achieved by the German

nation.

The Kaiser and

his naval

heads Admiral von

Tirpitz, in centre, and

Admiral von Holt-

zendorf at the right

119

CLASSIFICATION OF THE NAVY

Commander-in-Chief, His Majesty,
King, William
II.

the

Emperor and

Inspectorates of the

German
;

littoral

1st,

East- and

West-Prussia,

Neufahrwasser

2nd,

Pomerania

and

NAVAL CABINET AT BERLIN

IMPERIAL NAVAL ADMINISTRATION, BERLIN
1.

Mecklenburg, Stettin; 3rd, Ltlbeck and eastern coast of

Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel
wig-Holstein,
;

4th, western coast of Schles-

Husum;
;

5th, the district of the

Elbe and

Central department.

Weser, Bremerhaven
a,

6th, Jahde, the East- Frisian coast

2.
b,

General marine department:

military section;
c,

and Heligoland, Wilhelmshaven.

Technical institutes:

section pertaining to pensions and legal affairs;

The navy-yards

of Kiel,

sec-

Wil-

tion treating

on the

affairs of the

government

of Kiau-

helmshaven, and Dantzic; commission for ship

naval observatory,

tests, Kiel;

Chou.
3.

Hamburg.

Technical

department, consisting of the former

Bureaus intrusted with the clothing of the navy, Kiel

and Wilhelmshaven.

marine department and the bureau of construction.

4.
5. 6. 7.

Department

of Administration proper.

Bureau

of Ordnance.
of the navy.

WAR
First-class

SHIPS

AND WAR VESSELS

BATTLESHIPS

Bureau treating on the personnel

Nautical department.

FIRST TYPE

sea-going battleships: Kaiser Friedrich

8.
9.

Medical department.
Justiciary department.

III., '96, Kaiser

Wilhelm II,

'98,

each of 11,081

t.,

13,000

h.p.,
t.

655 men; Kaiser Wilhelm der

G-rosse, '99, of

10.

Intelligence bureau.
Staff of

12,000
rich
'91,

(in course of construction);

'91,

Kurfurst FriedWeissenburg,
h.p.,

General naval inspection department, Berlin.

Wilhelm,
WOrth,
'92,

Brandenburg,
t.,

'91,

the admiralty, transacting the business of the admiralty

each of 10,033

9,000

556 men.

and treating on naval and

political matters.

Second-class sea-going battleships:

'68, of

Kbnig Wilhelm,
'74,

Command
Kiel
;

of the Baltic naval station, Kiel; 1st division

;

9,757

t.,

8,000

h.p.,

732 men; Kaiser,

8,000
h.p.,

Deutsch-

of marine artillery, Friedrichsort

1st torpedo division, 1st naval inspec-

land, '74, each of 7,676

Third-class

t.,

644 men.
Preussen,
t.,

1st battalion of marines, Kiel.

sea-going
'74,

battleships:

'73,

tion, Kiel: 1st

seamen division
of the

(1st

and 2nd detachments),

Friedrich der Grosse,

each of 6,770
'78,

5,400 h.p.,
t.,

Kiel; 1st dock-yard division, Kiel.

544 men; Sachsen,

station,

'77,

Wiirttemberg,
'78, of
t.,

each of 7,400
t.,

Command

North Sea naval

Wilhelmsartillery,

5,600

h.p.,

389 men;

Bayem,
t.,

7,400

6,000

h.p.,

haven: 2nd, 3rd, and 4th divisions of marine

389 men; Baden,

Oldenburg,
'84, of

'80, of

7,400

6,000

h.p.,

389 men;

Wilhelmshaven, Lehe, and Geestemtlnde

division,

2nd torpedo 2nd

5,200

3,900
:

h.p.,

389 men.
t.,

Wilhelmshaven.
:

2nd naval inspection, Wildivision,

Fourth-class battleships

Siegfried, '89, of 3,495

'90,

helmshaven

2nd seamen

Wilhelmshaven

4,800

h.p.,

271 men; Beowulf,

Frithjof
'93,

'91,

Hildeeach
t.,

dock-yard division, Wilhelmshaven.

brand,

'92,
t.,

Heimdall,
4,800
h.p.,

'92,

BTagen,

Odin,
'95, of

'94,

Bureau
at Kiel

of inspection of the torpedo service, Kiel, in-

of 3,495

276 men; Aegir,

3,530

cluding the

command of

the department for torpedo tests

at Friedrichsort.

4,800

h.p.,

276 men.

and the torpedo laboratory

Bureau
haven.

of inspection of the marine infantry, Kiel: 1st

SECOND TYPE
Wespe,
pion,
'77, '76,

ARMORED GUNBOATS
'76,

battalion of marines at Kiel,

2nd battalion

at

Wilhelms-

Viper, '76, Biene,

Mucke,
'81,

'77,

Skor-

Basilisk, '78, Oamdleon, '78, Krokodil, '79,

'80,

Bureau

of inspection of the marine artillery,

Wilhelms-

/Salamander,
t.,

Natter, '80,

Hummel,
'83,

each of 1,109
'84,

haven, including the naval-telegraph school at Lehe and

the commission of naval tests at Kiel.

700

h.p.,

88 men; Brummer,
t.,

and Bremse,

each of 866

1,500 h.p., 78 men.

Department

of the marine depot inspection,

Wilhelmsat

haven, including four ordnance

Friedrichsort,

and mine depots

THIED TYPE

ARMORED CRUISERS
t.,

Wilhelmshaven, Geestemunde, and Cux-

Fiirst Bismarck, '98, of 10,650

13,500

h.p.,

565

haven.
Inspection department of the navy's educational
tutes,

men.

FOURTH TYPE
insti-

PROTECTED CRUISERS
None.
'92,
t.,
t.,

Kiel: Naval academy, Kiel; naval school, Kiel;

officers,

First-class protected cruisers:

school for deck

richsort;

Kiel

ship-boy division, Friedof

of

Second-class protected cruisers: Kaiserin Augusta,

government of Kiau-Chou; 2nd battalion

6,052

t.,

12,000

h.p.,

418 men; Irene,

'88, of

4,400 4,400

marines at Tsintau.

8,000

h.p.,

365 men; Princess Wilhelm,

'87, of

120

8,000
5,628

h.p.,
t.,

365 men; Freya,

h.p.,

'98,
;

Hertha,

'98,

each of

men; Rhein,
377
t..

'67, of

498
203

t.,

200

h.p.,

80 men; Ulan,
350
t..

'76,
h.p..

10,000

439 men

Viktoria Luise, llama,

t.,

800
140

h.p.,

41 men: Grille.
t.,

'57, of
h.p.,

700

Vineta, and two more, of 5,628

(in

10,000

h.p.,

439 men

74 men;

Hay,

'81. of

160

40 men;

Otter, '77,

course of construction).
Third-class protected cruisers: Gefion, '93, of 4,109
t..

129

t.,

h.p..

43 men.

9.000
of

h.p.,

302 men; Arcona,

2,400
h.p.,

'85,

Alexandrine,

'85,

each
t.,

EIGHTH TYPE
Eleven
boats.

TORPEDO BOATS
destroyers
t

2.373

t.,

269 men;
'81,

Gazelle, of 2,645

torpedo-boat

or torpedo-division
h.p.,

6,000 h.p.; 0/e/a,

2,169
t.,

'80.

Marie,

Sophie,

'82,

each of

'87-95. of 3(10-380

2,000^1,000

15-40

2,100

h.p.,

269 men.
'92,

men.

Fourth-class protected cruisers: Seeadler

'92,
h.p.,
t.,

Condor,
t.,

First class:

46 torpedo

boats, '90-98, of

110-150

t.,

Cormoran,

'92,

Geier, '94, each of 1,640

'87.

2,800

1,500-2,500

h.p.,

15-20 men.
74 torpedo boats, '82-'90, of 50-100
t

269 men; Schwalbe,

h.p.,
t.,

Sperber,
'90,

'89.

each of 1,120
'91,

Second
500-1,000

class:
h.p.,

1,500

116 men; Bussard,

h.p.,

Falke,

each

about 15 men.
SHU'S EOT. SPECIAL USE
of 4.178
t..
t..

of 1,580

2.800

160 men; and one boat

in course

NINTH TYPE
of construction.

Hohenzollern.

'92.

9.000
h.p..

h.p.,

307 men:

FIFTH TYPE
litis, of

GUNBOATS

Arminius,

'64, of

1,583
t., t..

1,200
h.p.,
h.p.,

130 men; Kron-

895

t.,

1,300 h.p., 130 men; Habicht, '79, of

;

pr'niz. '67, of 5.568

4.800
3.500

540 men; Friedrich

540 men; Luise,
'79, of
t..

848

t.,

600

h.p.,

129 men

Jaguar,
h.p.,

of

895

t.,

4,300 h.p.;

Karl.

'67. of
t..

6.007

'72,

and Wolf,

'78, of

489

t.,

340

85 men.

of 1.719

2.100

h.p..

238 men; More.

'71. of

848 t,
h.p.,

600
SIXTH TYPE
Kaiseradler,
'76, of
t.,

h.p..

132 men; Albatross.

'71, of

716

600

99

DESPATCH -HOATS
t..

men; Nautilus,
'91, of

716

t..

600

h.p..

09 men; Pelikan,

1,700 5,400

3,000 h.p., 150 men;

2.360
t..

t.,

3.000

h.p.,

183 men; Kraft and Norder,

Greif, '86, of 2,000

h.p..

155 men: Blitz,

'82,

of
t..

800 900

1,200 h.p.; Aeolus, of 50 h.p.; Boreas, of 380

Pfeil, '82, each of 1,382 t, 2,700 h.p., 134 men; Wacht,

'88,

h.p.;

Wotus, of 600
t..

h.p.;

Zephyr,
320

of

250

h.p.;

Jagd,

'88,

each of 1,250
t.,

t.,

4,000

h.p.,

140 men;
'90,
t.,

Friedriclisort. of 67
of 190 t.

75

h.p.;

Swine, of 50
t.,

h.p.;

Rival,

Zieten, '76, of 975

of

2.350

h.p.,

115 men; Meteor,

250

h.p.;

Motlar, of 130

h.p.

946

t.,

4,500

h.p.,

115 men;
'93.

Komet,
2.003
t.,

'92. of

946

5,000

h.p..

115 men; Ilela,

6,000

h.p.,

108

TENTH TYPE
Fast steamers of the

AUXILIARY CRUISERS

men; and one boat

in course of construction.

Hamburg
knots;

mail-boat line: Ftirst

Bismarck, 8.874

t..

20 1
t.,

Palatia, 7,118
and.

t..

20

SEVENTH
Mars.
'85, '79,
t.,

TY-PE
t.,

TRAINING SHIPS
h.p.,

knots; Patria. 7.187

20 knots;

Augusta Viktoria,
Leihn,

3,333

2,000

697 men; Charlotte,

'77, Stein, '79, '77,

7,071

t.,

19^ knots.
:

3,222

3,000
t.,

h.p.,

455 men; Stoseh,

Fast steamers of the North-German Llovd

5.351
t., t..

each of 2,856

2,500

h.p..
t.,

446 men; Mo/tke,

2,000
h.p.,

Gnei-

H)i,

knots; Saale, 5.267

Aller, 5.217

t..
t.,

17 1 knots; Trove,
17-J knots;

senau, '77, each of 2,856

of 2,856
h.p.,
t.,

461 men; Blocker,

'85,

5,262

17J knots;
17-|

Ems,

2,500

h.p.,

460 men; Xi.ee,

'80, of

1.760

t.,

700
269

4,912

t.,

knots; Werra, 4,900

t.,

17J knots.

384 men; Carola.

2.169

t.,

2,100

h.p..

German

Far Eastern squadron " Scharnhorst," "Cneisenau," "fcmden," "Leipzig,"

and "NUrnberg" a( anchor

in

Kiao-chau Bay

121

Captain.

Commanding

Admiral.

Assistant-Surgeon.

Naval Cadet.

Seaman

of the

Imperial Navy.

Battalion of Marines on Picket Duty.

%<T,

"rfm^m
..*-**

Skirmish

of

a Landing Party of

Marines.

<'W

'-

1:
.>

The Brandenburg Squadron

at

Sea.

*
'

~'^^.-

c*nv

*=-

'

H. M. First-Class Battleships "Kaiser Wilhelm

II.

and "Kaiser Friedrich

III."

H.

Fourth-Class Battleship "Aegir," and H. M. Third-Class Protected Cruiser

"

Gefion.

H.

M. Armored Cruiser

Fiirst

Bismarck.

ttgntf

&

KIEL

Practice with Captive Balloon on Board

of

Torpedo Boats.

H. M. Dispatch Boat

"

Wacht

"

Turning Searchlight on H. M. Second-Class Protected Cruiser

"

Kaiserin Augusta."

H.

M. Second-Class Protected Cruisers "Princess Wilhelm

"

and "Irene"

at

Dover.

squadron of German fighting ships in battle formation. These vessels are of the older or predreadnought types

The

Seydlitz," one of the latest 28^ knots, was so badly

and largest German battle cruisers, having a displacement of 24,350 tons and a speed of damaged in the Battle of Jutland Bank as to require several months for repairs

133

THE FAMOUS GERMAN SUBMARINE

Early
in

(J-9

the war. September 22, 191-1, the power of the submarine was demonstrated when the German TJ-9 torpedoed and sank three British cruisers the Aboukir, Cressy, and llogue

SUBMARINE, U-14 This undersea boat has been active in sinking British ships since Germany has attempted a submarine blockade of England

GERMAN

134

THE KARLSRUHE
A
small

Gorman
effective

cruiser of high speed, which has waj ed

war on English merchantmen

THE KONIGSBERG
After raiding English commerce, this up in the Rufiji River,

German cruiser was finally German East Africa

bottled

135

THE SCHABNIIOBST
The
flagship of the

German squadron that sank three British warships on November The Scliarnlwrst finally went down in a battle with a British fleet on December

1,

1914.

THE GNEISENAU
A
German armored
Chile and
cruiser that aided in the victory over a British squadron near the coast of went down with the Scliarnlwrst in the battle near the Falkland Islands

136

The German light and German

cruiser "Frauenlob," lost in the Battle of Jutland Bank. Such vessels were constantly employed by both British admirals, in keeping the capital ships in touch with the enemy, especially when fog and darkness increased

The

'"Ost-Friesland,"

German

battleship completed in 1911, a sister-ship of the "Oldenburg," the " Thuringen/ and the "Helgoland." Each of them carries twelve 12-inch guns

137

THE GERMAN ARMY

1914-1918

*0

An

officer in

the Kaiser Jager-Sturm Battalion

138

THE GERMAN ARMY

'

p-ikM

Li

CUIRASSIERS

GENERAL AND STAFF OFFICER

THE EMPEROR REVIEWING CUIRASSIERS OF THE GUARD

139

UULAN TRUMPETER

140

grenadier of the guard

battalion)

(1tsii.ker.

141

A GERMAN TELEPHONE POST OX THE WESTERN ERONT

This
is

a post established early in the war.

concealed.

From

More often telephone shelters are such points troops and artillery receive directions

The Crown Prince hands out Iron Crosses

to

men

of a Jager

Regiment

142

Uniforms of the 122 and 246 Infantry Reserve Regiment

in

WW

143

WW

Jtf-r

.-

German

troops

fire

thru pipes at the French lines in the early part of the war.

*&W%-$i$te

**

German

troops on the way to the front lines, every carries two extra bandoliers of ammo.

man

144

Uniforms

of the

Landstrum

in

World

War

145

Men
Here
is

of the

Landsturm Off

to Fiht

a photograph showing men of the German Landsturm on their way to the fighting line, where they will fill a gap made The picture was made in Allenstein, where this unit of "Germany's reserve forces" enin the ranks of the regulars. trained for the front.

146

Uniforms of the 26th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

in

World

War

147

German

Field Artillery of the 1880's

.-.

v."

huge German gun, which has just arrived

in

Constantinople

These German soldiers are dragging a great siege gun

for use in refortifying the city of

into position

Antwerp

148

Uniforms of the State

of

Wurttemberg Army

at the beginning of

WW

149

Truck transport was a rare treat for the

WW

German

soldier,

most infantry went

to

the front on foot

Either walking or riding

Hot food was a rare occasion

150

-^4

if

German

soldiers loading the Old

Model 24.5 cm Minenwerfer

near Chateau-Thierry during

WW

151

Artillery played a of the 380

mm

major

role in shell fired by

WW

I. Notice the tremendous some German railroad guns

size

152

Giant railroad guns pulverized French

cities

and fortresses

153

Artillery observers attached to the Infanterie Geschertz

Battery No. 42

154

German Mountain

Artillery troops 1914-1918

155

powerful

German
in

siege gun transported by the use of caterpillar wheels heavy guns that gave Germany easy victory over Belgian

It

was her advantage

forts

German aeroplane

guns,

mounted on
and
to

turntables.

They can be turned

is

quickly to any direction

whatever angle of elevation

required

156

Uniforms of the World War I machine gun troops Note the short trench knife on the soldier with the field glasses and the to help carry the machine gun on the other soldier

157

DEFENDING THE MASURIAN LAKE COUNTRY, EAST PRUSSIA

German
soldiers in the trenches are keeping

up a continuous

machine guns. They are directed by an

officer

who watches

fire from their shield-protected the results through a field glasa

158

Machine gun company at the beginning of the

first

World War

in

1914

Machine gun troops drag an 08/15 Spander machine gun. The gun mount was designed like a sled for easy dragging

159

First

company

of ski troops 1914-1918

160

Mountain troopers from the state of Wurttemberg

in

WW

161

Uniforms of the Dragon Regiments 1914-1918

162

Bavarian Cavalry

Officer in a 1900

Parade Uniform
19th Regiment Ulkan from

Wurttemberg

in

1900

Prussian Hussar

Office] of
1

1900

in

Parade Uniform

Unter

Officer in the

Prussian Jager Regiment in 1900

163

J,

German

infantry at Tsing-tau, mounted on stocky Mongolian ponies. soldiers aided in the defense of Kiao-chau

These

large division of

German

cyclists on

one of the

muddy and

difficult

highways of Poland.
the armies

Throughout western

Russia,

swamps and bad roads hinder

164

"
UNIFORMS OF THE GERMAN AIRFORCE
IN

WORLD WAR

The early pusher type airplane was one of the earliest armed fighter planes. The propeller was in the rear to allow a machine gun to he placed in the front.

1013 Air Force Officer

The Alhatros D. Va was one of Germany's best I fighter planes. Spandu machine guns and had a speed of llfi 1IPH

WW

It

carried 2

rnifi^

cu H ,i,w

'

The D.F.W. biplane was used

1914-1915 period.

as an
It

unarmed observation plane during was later used as a trainer.

the

Feldwebelleutnant, Flying Corps of 1917

165

Flying

officers

uniforms of 1914

Flying

officers

uniforms of 1917

^:^^^^^; ,':':-:^^:>:::i ^^u:^^:^:\:yi^:^^-^i^^^.^i^

: :

ZZ^&&L3^12$&f/Z,

VOLUNTEERS FROM TUE BEST FAMILIES OF GERMANY

German aviators are volunteers, and despite the fact that the air service is the most perilous of all, the youth of the best families are eager to get into it. When a young man approaches the age at which he would be drawn into the army he bends every effort to get assigned to the aviation branch. The training is rigorous,
All

and no man

is sent to the fighting line until he has passed exhaustive tests in handling various styles of machines. Captain Boelke, who was killed in an air duel, was the hero of the German aviation corps, having destroyed about 40 Allied machines on the Western front before being sent crashing to earth by a young British aviator.

166

Major

in the

Airship service in 1906

Airship

officers in the

beginning of

WW

I,

1914

German

battleship squadron with

its

guardian Zeppelin

167

Jk

fighter pilots preparoff in their Fokler triplanes in 1916.

German

ing to take

German observers

in I aircraft had to brave the intense cold of the slip stream from the aircraft propellers.

WW

and blast

168

THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ARMY

halberdier (emperor body-guard)

EMPERORS BODY-GUARD HUNGARIAN

KMmiOU's BODY-GUARD

AUSTRIAN

THE EMPEROR AND STAFF

169

i.--

YIELD CHASSEORS

170

'

>

%JW"

I'lir.AN

(uNE-YEAK YOLUSTEEKS)

VMtW
FIELD AUTU.I.KRV

171

AUSTRIAN INFANTRY

JAGKR OFFICERS

172

fcljrrnbrjrugnngen.
A Rumanian cavalryman.

When Rumania
all,

about 20,000 cavalry, and, in

entered the war. she had about 600,000 men under arms

Archduke Karl Franz Joseph inspects some Austrian troops before they launch attack upon the Serbians.

173

ACCOUTREMENTS

Colonial Afrika Corps Troops

174

^as Patkat

fces tEomiJIera.

SJatronenbebfllttr for
*acTf(t)ati)tel

jr

etn

SBaftfitbtuttl

8clljubet)8tbeutel.

Wliitii

SKcdjltr

S*u5

eBfi)rtf(r.i'

Writer Soil's

Huftragebfltftf

5lflfd)bud)(f

<MMma/L2&maia<y(s Qavzaaxi.

de?J\ 104c no aj,

The above

illustrations

show the contents and proper position for the

field

pack.

175

<zAv,

nuwuuu'i

GLpfi.eMciAviiuq
-3 J

&

Uioq <$iuvnxtt

*^?fe md&t 91Sitt& ^Utc^

Saowte.
^pnicktae.-

3cuilfnht,

va/iwichxMOc

tUUAtw
fccxct.

rVMAAYWWMO-

achiniid&k<mikA&vn,

JOKVUD,

The above

illustrations are reproduced from a 1914 soldiers hand book and explains various details of the military stance. It shows the correct position for Attention, Present Arms, and At Ease.

uniforms and

176

3af)ne:itud)

roeifj

gatjnentud) von bet garbe ber cfjultetflappen.

^reufjijdje @arbe=

^tcuJ3iid)e ^inten-

gafjne.

gafjnentucb,

roeife.

Sa^fijche 3nfanterie=
3at)ne.

SBurttembcrg. 3n{antcries
gnfjnc.

The
Flag carrier of the Baden Grenadiers

flags are representative of the various states that

make up

the

German Empire

The

illustration above

shows the proper position for the State Flag

on a staff car.

177

GERMAN ARMY BADGES OF

1914

t&r^
Tank Corps
Observer
Pilot

Navy

Pilot

Reconnaissance

Navy

Pilot (Coastal)

Navy Observer

Colonial Troops

Aircraft Gunner

178

HELMETS

Mecklenburg

Generate

Sachsen

Bayern
Generate, General- und Fliigel-Adjutartten

Generale

Senats-Prasldenten und Ober-MIlitaranwalte

MWVWm0h
Wfirttemberg

Tropenhelme
Generale, General- und FIGgel-AdJutanten

Adjutantur

Grenadler-Reglmenter 112

und

Infatit.-Regt. 145

Pelzmutzen

179

Braunschweig

Dragoner-Regiment 9

Oldenburg

Artillerle, Ingenleur-

und Plonier-Korps, Train, Invalidenhauser Festungsbau-Offiziere und Zahlmelster

Hessen
Infanterie-

und Fusilier- Regimenter, Sanitats- und Korps und Infanterie-Armee-Uniform

Veterinar-

Thtiringische Staaten
Infanterie-Regimenter 9395, 2. und 3. Bataillon Regiments 96 und Infanterie-Regiment 15

Baden
Grenadier-Regiment 109

180

lager, Schiitzen, Telegraphentruppen und Luftschiffer-tiieffer-Bataillone

Tschakos nebst Zubehor

und

Konlgl. Sachslsche Jager

I.

u. 2.

Garde - Dragoner- Regiment, Gendarmerie

Feldjager-Korps

u.

Reltendes

I.

Garde-Regiment
Parade-Mtitze

Kiirassier-Re?imenter

5.

Garde -Regiment

z. F., 1. 5. Garde-Grenadier-Regiment, Garde-rusiiier-Regiment und Kadetten-Korps

181

Sharpshooters Badge

Navy Airship Badge

Submarine Service

Wound Badges

Army

Airship Badge

Issued to sailors

Issued to soldiers

wounded

in

combat

Wounded

in

combat

Stutnont

Dberleutnant
jut

6ce

Seutimnt

Oberlciihiant

Snubtmann

3Jtaior

(general btr Snfauteric uf.

Rank and

insignia of the

German Navy

in

WW

182

Hiite

SDliige

bee iUiilitarbcamten,

bic bcr

Softmt

iinijioii

niuR-

bic bet

IHuqe bev ilJilitiubcamtcn, colbat nidjt w gmjjen bviuuht

Epaulettes

Brustschllde fiir Offlzlere der Gardes du Corps und Kurass Reglmenter I und 2

Sabeltaschen
H usaren-Of f Izlere

German

WW

officers

wore a wide variety of headgear when on parade

183

The pack saddle shown above had two belly bands and a large saddle bag on each side

The mounts

of the horse soldiers carried a

rolls to

wide variety leather gear. Ranging from bed

sabers

Mmm
pii -I
i
i

ffl

Numerous saber blades and hilt variations were found among the mounted troops, but the lion's head on the left was by far the most common.

Sabers were attached to the saddle as shown except when worn as part of a dress uniform.

184

GERMAN ARMY PISTOLS

German Army made wide use of these 11 MM single action revolvers. These large awkward weapons were replaced by the Luger pistol in 1908. Although the Luger was more difficult to manufacture, it was far superior in shooting and loading. Because of its fine shape and balance it was easier for
In the 1880's the
the novice to shoot accurately.

used

WW

The standard model 4" barrel Luger was the most widely German hand gun in
I.

The Navy model is shown here with

a shoulder stock and a 32 round drum magazine.

The long barrel model with the shoulder stock was issued to machine gun troops and artillery troops.

right)

Although the Mauser pistol (shown on the was never officially adopted by the German Army, great numbers of them were used as a substitute standard side arm during

WW

I.

185

GERMAN MANNUCHERS

Mannlicher Rifles and Carbines were still in use in 1914 but were eventually replaced by the Gew 98 shown below

GERMAN MAUSER CAL. 792 MM.

10.35

MM KAR

1871

The Gew 98 and the 98K were the

basic infantry

weapons of

WW

186

RIFLES

AND MUSKETS USED BY THE GERMAN ARMIES

1)

CAL.

FLINTLOCK MUSKETS YEAR OF ADOPTION

1720-1782 1720-1782

20.4mm 20.4mm 16-18mm

16-

1720-1782
1720-1782

18mm

18.5mm 18.6mm 15.7mm 18.6mm 17.5mm 17.8mm 20.5mm 17.6mm

2)

M.1782 M.1784 M.1805 M.1809 M. 1777/1802 M.1809

PERCUSSION MUSKETS
M.1839

18.04mm 18.5mm
16.2mm

U/M
(Umgeaendertes Modell)

U/M
(Umgeaendertes Modell)

3)

RIFLED FLINTLOCK
M.1787 M.1798 M.1810

WEAPONS

16.9mm
18.05

15.00mm 14.6mm

(Potsdam Modell)
4)
14.

RIFLED PERCUSSION

WEAPONS

6mm

18.4mm
5)

M.1835 M.1839
(single shot, for

BREECHLOADERS

15.43mm 15.43mm 15.43mm

WORLD WAR GERMAN MACHINE GUNS

The
Plate

standard light automatic of the

as

shows gun

fitted

The Light Maxim 08/15 German armies in the First World War was the 08/15 .Maxim. Above with water jacket and bipod mount and with the 125-round magazine attached.

Standard Model 1908/15 on heavy ground sled mount.

German

troops at the front

late 1918

189

Uniforms

of the

German

Signal troops in

WW

190

5^.

>

;
in

Uniforms of the German Motorized troops

WW

191

f
#
Uniforms of the German Airforce
Observer on the
left, pilot

in

WW

on the right

192

Artillery spotters in

WW

run for cover during a gas attack

193

Uniforms of the German Minenwerfer troop

in

WW

194

Soldier's

duty
11,

November

is done 1918

195