GEFECHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 4

GEFECHT.

THE GERMAN MANOEUVRES OF 1911

THEIR INSIDE STORY.

THOSE WISE, WISE TEUTONS.

(By Grao.)

The German Army manoeuvres are ewioludins. Field-Marehal Von der Goltz's army, representing the defenders against so-called English invadci», retrieved as unfortunate position. In one caso information was secured in 55 minutes, which it otherwise would have taken a strong forvc of cavalry four hours to obtain. The manoeuvres wore earned out in cloudless ami windless weather. This enabled aviators to obtain complete details of tho dispositions. Experts believe it will bo hopeless henceforth to hide movements from the enemy clurine clear weather. —Friday's cables.

Carried out among tlie grey lakes of Poinoi'ania, the German manoeuvres of 19U aro now numbered in tho things of tho past. They aro never without a cerJ tain element of grandeur. What could meet thoso Germans on their own soil? The united English, Indian and Colonial armk6? Not by miles. Tho French Army, with its matchless field artillery? No. To make any sort of fight tho whole military resources of Japan, France, Engr land, India, and the colonies would hardly 1m enough. The Gorman Army stands by itself among tho armies of tho world—! alone, apart, distinguished.

Tho intense Teuton thoroughness and righteousness, which is pushing Germany so far ahead of tho nations in many brandies of activity—in music, philosophy, scientific research, ami theology—is probably ecen 1 nowhere" mora plainly than in its army. The size of that army is cnormous-ia war footing of 6,000,000 men in three weeks— but even that is inconsiderable when contrasted wit'h tho unparalleled German system where efficiency is everything and men are accounted nothing. Even the humblest quartermaster has to empty out his packets of tin-tacks and count them beioro an inspector, who makes unspccificd surpriso swoops on him two or three times during tho year.

Apart from tho present war scare, tho manoeuvres of 1911 aro very interesting, partly because this year marks the centenary of tho foundation of tho present Gorman military system, and partly bo. cause, bv a coincidence, Von Ber Golta happened to oouimand tho winning 6ido just at tho very time when tho aeroplane has given tho hall-mark to tho theory of modern warfare propounded by himself and others, and long laughed at and ridiculed by that astonishingly selfsufficient person—tho English war cor* respondent.

This is a littlo difficult to explain, lxv causo things to war aro so distorted in popular prints that everything in tho way of olucidation has to bo started ab initio, and that is tiresome. Tho Sydney "Bulletin" and "Lone lland," for in. 6tauce, aro often brimming with war, never pausing to consider whether it weno not time that they wero both sent to school to learn tho A B C of it., Tlicsu journals havo a great wido mouth for aeroplanes at present, and counsol Australia, tx> buy or make a llect of them. Tho crudo! idea is that these aeroplanes will be usoj ful for dropping bombs down the funnels' of war steamers, or .something like that. Tlie theory would make a German officer ill with laughter, for the aeroplane has, and will have, a much greater role. And what is going to be a great utility to Germany would bo of no use to Australia whatever.

The roal_ point which has exercised tho minds of Von dcr Goltz and other Germaii tacticians since 1873 has really been this! Will new implements in war favour th® offensivo or tho defensive? It means a great deal to .Germany, , for, not being strong fiflimcially, sho wants a short and a very bloody war, with tho Fatherland acting on the offensivo all tho time. On the other hand, England, being rich finau« cially, would prefer a long dragging' n'ar, with about H per cent, of casualties, so that, in rlie end, ,tha conflict would not be solved by blood, but, by money, and tho side with tho longest purse would win.

Every effort has been made by English writers and some others to prove that modern weapons havo given into tha hands of tho martially weak a defensivo and delaying power sufficient to spin a war out to any length of time. Tho Boor War gave this theory some confirmation, and it has been propped up in many other ways.

Indeed, just before tho Boer' War a Warsaw tanker named I. S. do Block published six volumes with a view to showing that tho defensive power of modern firearms was such that an impassable firo zone would now bo created between contending armies, and neither would bo ablo to approach the other. So tho duration of the wars of tho future would bo very great, aud every conflict would at onco blossom out into a "war of positions," where tho art of beating: would be_ always Gubordinato to tho art of not being beaten. This, _of course, would be a very fino thing for the sido which holiftho heaviest 'money-bags. This work, which was entitled, "Is War Now I'ossibloP" was hailed with unfeigned delight in England, and was particularly taken up by Mr. AV. T. Stead. Has anyone over seen that good man ever take up, a right view in relation to war? It rather scem9 that if there is any possible chance of getting at a military inaro'd nest Jlr. Stead will find it.

Tho events of the Jnp.moso Wat knocked M. de Block's theory of "impass* ablo tiro imnes" to pieces, but even sine® then English theorists havo not boon t|uile done with. They still raised their heads over tho housetops and shouted: "iiu! But look at smokeless powderl ll.t yon not sec how difficult it is growing, for tho attacker lo locate tho defender's positions? You can corlainly mako tho , 11.\ .iii|iv<mciinig his position, but you caiinot discover his line of delcnce, bOv-auK' lie cuius no smoke! Do you not see, 0 ye Germans, that (he deJ tensive power of modern weapons is grow* iug, and tho day of tlio long-spun war* is coming. And when that day comes, we'ro ih«> ones!"

To this Von dor Goltz and other heads of German military thought made nn reply, hut calmly _ kept on their wav, always holding tenaciously to the belief (hot (ho .swiftly-improving implements of warfare would ultimately favour tho sido, which was prepared to open anv'war with a vigorous oflensive. Aud how (ho aeroplane has come. Reconnaissance is easier than ever it has Ixvn in tho history of the world's conflicts, and the smokeless powder bogy is down and out for over* That is tho real aud inward meaning of tho German manoeuvres of 1911. Is it not astonishing how- often theso Germans provo correct? Fancy if there had been just one aeroSlano in tho Boer War! Eow long would ie Wet havo reigned?

Germany, of oourse, is not yet "out of tho bush." The English Navy still im-< ]>oses what would bo for her the exhausting necessity of a slow and dragging war, and that is.why Germany does not want to fight n't present, though certain interested clashes in England would pro; bably lilto to push on that war at onco. Germany will no doubt seek to ovado that issue by diplomacy, or even by backing down, waiting patiently for the day when tho march of invention will have so narrowed tho North Sea that navies will not count. That will be about 1925.