NOTES ON THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15701, 31 August 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR.

— ■»■ . READINESS OF BRITISH FLEET. Great Britain is often accused of unpreparedness for a big land campaign, but it is .universally admitted that on' the Fea her preparations are always well forward. The greatest optimists, however, could hardly hare expected that when war did come 't would find both the first, secor. i, and reserve, fleets manned and mobilised, ready to strike on the moment. Barely a fortnight before the start of the war', the annual naval review of Britain's sea forces took place at Spithead. The arrangements for this were made in.February, when a war with Germany was not dreamed of, This year, a test mobilisation of the Royal Fleet Reserve, instead of the usual naval manoeuvres, was held. Between 10,000 and 12,000 seamen and nearly 5000 marines of the Royal Naval Reserve responded to the official invitation, and went up for 11 days' training. This wis the first time that any test of the kind had been applied to the Fleet Reserve. In ordinary circumstances, them; Fleet Rcservemen of "A" and '• B " classes only come, up to do their tracing when they can afford the time, but tin's year not only were they asked to come in largo numbers, but a period was fixed for the training, so that they might all be out together. The test was rather )ic of tho arrangements for receiving the men at the depots, apportioning them to vessels, and embarking them in a given time. Although the clement of surprise was wanting— certain amount of notice having been necessarythe mobilisation was of real value, especially as a test of [he drafting arrangements. Moreover, is no preparations had been made with the ships, these were found by tho men when they reached them in exactly the same state, as they would be if the mobilisation had been for war instead of for practice. It was, therefore," a test of material in the Third Fleet. In another way the test was of value, because six vessels of different classos in the Third Fleet were actually officered and manned is it is intended they should be in time if war. The battleships and cruisers were taken into the .Channel and engaged in gunnery and torpedo exercises, as well a* fleet manoeuvres. There were over 200 ships at the great. Spithead review,

all ready for instant service. Thus it was that when Germany's action in attacking Belgium anj France made England's participation essential, her fillips and men were in tho pink of condition, in readiness to do their part in taking account of the German fleet. Besides the 200 ships of all classes that were present at this timely review-mobilisation, 32 aircraft also assembled.

TOTS IN THE ALLIED ARMY,

The French Army has, liko all armies, a large variety of troops, and these have special names in order to more »or less describe their duties. The infantry is composed of line infantry, chasseurs (light infantry or rifles), Zouaves (both French and Algerian, whose " Zouave " jacket is well known), tirailleurs (sharpshooters or rides), African light, infantry (natives). Formerly tliero were voltigeurs, tho nearest equivalent to our light infantry, and there were mounted voltigcurs (voltigeurs a cheval) as well as foot; in tho same way there avo chasseurs a pice© and chasseurs a cheval. Tho various cavalry types aro cuirassiers (wearing black breast and black steel pieces), dragoons., hussars, chasseurs, chasseurs d'Afrique, quartered usually in Algeria, and regarded a^ : a very crack corps: and Spain's, nativo Algerian Cavalry. In addition there ar© tho various branches of the artillery and engineer services, and the usual departmental services. The Belgian infantry typos aregrenadiers, who wear bearskins, and are picked men from the whole country; carabintara (rifles); chasseurs (rifles), and lino infantry. The cavalry include chasseurs n cln'val ; guides, with a very handsome uniform of dark green jacket, trimmed with gold lace, overalls of crimson (two guides regiments aro the fancy regiments of the cavalry); lancers. There are also artillery' and engineers and departmental services. The Gardes Cinques are local bodies and aro tho descendants of the Old' Town Watch or Guard. Bodies of Belgian Gardes Cinques used to exchange annual visits with English volunteer regiments. They are usually composed of the professional and business people.

'"THOSE WHO NEVER FORGET." An incident indicating tho intensity of the anti-Gorman feeling of tho French in Alsace occurred last month when Herr Jakob Waltz, better known to the French and German public as " Hansi," was sentenced by the Gorman Supremo Court at Leipzig to eno year's imprisonment for inciting to violence and insulting German policemen and teachers in AlsaceLorraine. Herr Waltz was a contributor to tho satirical periodical Durclis Elsass, and wrote a French children's history of Alsace-Lorraine and a Christmas book for Alfatvun children, called "Hon Tillage." This last, book was the fubject of the trials. It was dedicated " To those who never forget," and contained passages and illustrations ridiculing Germa.n policemen, soldiers, schoolmasters, and tourists, lamenting the annexation, and looking forward to a time when the lost provinces shall he restored to France.