NO USE FOR CAVALRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8664, 5 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

NO USE FOR CAVALRY.

Magazine and machine guns would seem to sound the knell of possible employment of cavalry in battle. No matter how dislocated are the infantry ridden at, so long as they are not quite demoralized, however ruse the cavalry leader—however favourable to a sudden unexpected onslaught is the ground—the quick-firing arms of the future must apparently stall off the most enterprising horseman. Probably if the writer wero arguing the point with a German, tho famous experiences of Von Bredow might bo adduced in bar of this contention. In the combat of Tobitachau, in 18(JG, Von Bredow led his cuirassier regiment straight at three Austrian batteries in action, captured the eighteen guns and everybody and everything belonging to them, with the loss to himself of but ten men and eight horses. It is true, says the honest official account, that the ground favoured the charge, and that the shells fired by the usually skilled Austrian gunners flew high ; but during tho last 100 yards grape was substituted for shell, and Bredow desorvod all the credit he got. Still stronger against my argument was Bredow's memorable work at Mars la Tour, when, at the head of six squadrons, he charged across 1000 yards of open plain, rode over and through two separate lines of French infantry, carried a line of cannon numbering nine batteries ; rode 1000 yards further into the very heart of tho French army, and came back with the loss of not quite one-half his strength. The Toldtenritt, as the Germans call it, was a wonderful exploit, a second Balaklava charge, and a bloodier one, arid there was this distinction, that it had a purpose, and that that purpose was achieved. For Bredow's charge in effect wrecked France. It arrested the French advance which would else have swept Alvensleben aside, and to its timely effect is traceable tho sequence of events that ended in tho capitulation of Met/.. The fact that, although from the beginning of his charge until he struck the front of the first infantry line, Von Bredow took the rifle fire of a whole French division, yot did not lose above fifty men, has been a notable weapon in the hands of those who argue that good cavalry can charge home on unshaken infantry. But nevermore will French infantry shoot from tho hip as Lafont's conscripts at Mars la Tour shot in the vague direction of Bredow's squadrons. French cavalry never got within yards of German infantry, even in loose order, and the magazine or repeatinn rifle held reasonably straight will stop the most thrusting cavalry that over heard the "charge" sound.—The Nineteeuth Century,