KITCHENS ON WHEELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15716, 17 September 1914, Page 6

KITCHENS ON WHEELS.

A recent cable message referred to the Germans' system of cooking with wheeled kitchens while troops were on the march. It-is well-known, of course, that this vehicular kitchen is not a German invention. The Russians seem to have the credit of developing this valuable adjunct to an army. An English officer, attached to the Russian forces in Manchuria 10 years ago, wrote:—"There is an excellent type of travelling kitchen (two-wheeled) which has been in use for several years in the Russian Army. I first saw them in Turkestan in 1894, and they were so simple and strong that I felt convinced that they world be admirably adapted for use in a | campaign in any region practicable for a draught mule or horse. This conviction has been amply justified by the experiences of the campaign of 1204, and I cannot recommend too highly the Russian typo of troop kitchen for all arms— mounted or dismounted. I cannot call to miud one instance, either in a hilly region or in the plains, in which the kitchens were unable to accompany their units, I while the roads in the plains were frequently io such a state thai guns, transport and even single limbers, had to be abandoned. Provided, rations were issued, ! which wag ty no means invariably the case, the kitchens cooked them, and cooked them well. It is difficult to conceive the conditions into which tracks (unmetalled) like those in Manchuria get after rain, combined, with heavy traffic, and these kitchens stood the test. Anybody can imagine the comfort to troops, and their consequent increase of efficiency, when they can have their hot meals at any hour and in any weather, either on the march or on arrival at the end oi their journey. Also the time and trouble saved to all concerned is a factor of the greatest importance in war, when sudden moves by day and night aro necessarily of frequent occurrence."

THE GERMAN UHLAN. Doubt, exists in the minds of many people as to who and what the German Uhlan is. The word " Uhlan" simply denotes a certain type of cavalryman in the German Army. The Uhlan is a lancer. There aro 26 regiments of Uhlans in the German Army—l 9 from Prussia, three from Saxony, two from Bavaria, and two from Wurtemburg— a total strens*.h on a peace footing of approximately 25,000. These regiments are ranked as heavy cavalry and aro used principally as independent cavalry, forming the« cavalry ' screen. The Uhlan .is armed with lance, sabre, carbine, and pistol. He is- well mounted and his equipment is especially designed for the purpose for which ho is employedready to fight or run, ridedown outposts or scouting parties of the ! enemy, harass his flanks and screen the movement? of hi* own main body. The word "Uhlan" itself is of Polish origin and denotes a, lancer. The Uhlans in the German Army wear the czanka, the peculiar flat-topped which was worn by the Polish Uhlans, and which to this day is the distinguishing mark in the uniforms of the lancer regiments of Great Britain and other European iouni tries. The Uhlans during the FrancoPrussian war made a name for themselves for their quick dashes and raiding expeditions and the ruthless manner I in which they ra.vaged the country through j which they wont. They have been no less notorious in the present war.-

HEAVY GUNS. I On more than one occasion it has been stated that in heavy artillery the Ger-1 mans possess a superiority over the allies.! Certain it is that at Liege and Namur they made every use of their big guns. In the lighter branch the French are confident that they are more than a match for the Germans, while the British artillery is a very efficient branch of the army. The heavy armament of a field army comnrises field guns, field howitzers, heavy guns and heavy howitzers. They all five shrapnel shell and high explosive shell, the former being provided either with time or percussion fuses. The chief difference between a field howitzer and a field gun is that the

shell used in the former is heavier, contains a large bursting charge, and has a I steeper angle of descent. Fire from howitzers, therefore, is more searching; the angle of descent of the shell may be as steep as 1 in 1. For this reason they can five from behind steep cover, and can therefore be well concealed; they can also be very effective against men in entrenchments, and can continue, with safety to support the advance of infantry, by firing over their heads much longer than can field guns. Shrapnel shell are hollow, containing as many bullets as possible, together with a bursting charge sufficient to open the shell, release the bullets, and give enough smoke to show where, the shell I burst. The bullets spread over an area about 25yds wide by 200 yds long. Shrapnel are burst cither by time or percussion fuses, that is either at a certain time; during flight or only after the. shell has . struck the ground or some other object. j Time fuses are used against men in the ' •open, percussion against troops behind ! buildings or walls. j GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. According to a St. Petersburg paper, the Veteherne Vremya, a new Austro-Ger-mau defensive understanding against Russia and France was concluded last May. Germany undertook to add two new army corps to her effective forces on tlio eastern frontier, to get adopted by the Reichstag a new law for the retention of soldiers with the colours after their term of service, and to develop the fleet on the basis of two additional Dreadoughts with subsidiary -units. Austria made similar engagements regarding the strengthening of its forces on the eastern frontier. A strategic railway was proposed to be built along the Russian frontier from Czernovitz to Cracow, Transylvania to be fortified, and two new military districts to be created in Bosnia. THE EIFFEL TOWER. The wireless station at the Eiffel Tower may bo utilised to communicate with Russia from Pai'ls, via. British stations in the Mediterranean, instead of by way of German stations, but Abe Eiffel Tower, however, could easily get its messages to Petrograd direct, for it is the most powerful wireless station on the Continent. The terrific "sparking" from its antennae, nearly 1000 ft above the ground, is so distinct that those conversant with the Morse code can read its time and weather reports in the streets of Paris without any instruments. But there is no powerful wireless station in Russia, and the round a>bout route will be necessary. The British Government is build ing a station more than 500 ft above sea level in a remote part of Oxfordshire, which will have a dozen masts, each as high as St. Paul's Cathedral. This station will be able, it is anticipated, to get into direct communication with Egypt tin the daytime, and possibly with India at night, when the ether is always a better carrier.