FEELING FOR THE ENEMY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XIII, 31 March 1900, Page 607

FEELING FOR THE ENEMY.

A very interesting article by Major Arthur Griffiths, descril>es the formation of an army corps at the front. Discussing the uses of cavalry. Ma jor Griffiths says: — “There are definite rules for the advance of a division, which may la- varied by circumstances, but which generally follow the same plan. It must be premised that the whole front of the army corps, embracing all the divisions which are moving forward in nearly parallel lines, will be covered by the cavalry brigade, or whatever eavnflry force the corps commander has to bis hand. These horsemen are pushed ahead as far and us freely as

posible. not a few miles only, but several marches forward. The duty of cavalry is to “feel for" the enemy, to gain information of his strength, positions, and probable intentions: at the same t'me. it is like a screen of sentries thrown out to the front to protect the main body, giving it rest and repose safe from disturbance and vague fears of attack. What a good cavalry soldier should realise is well expressed by a German military writer:—“lt is a noble and right thing for the trooper to think that his com" rades can slee>p as he is awake. ‘My comrades.’ he says to himself, ‘have nothing to fear. I watch the enemy.'” This certainty of uninterrupted repose is one of the essential conditions for maintaining efficiency. As another writer has put it, the whole science of war consists in fighting and sleeping, using and producing physical power. The role of the cavalry. then, is to spread a curtain round the advancing army, and to do this the widest possible area to the front and on both flanks should be filled with horsemen, fairtiously creeping forward, reconnoitring with small patrols, parties of no more than half-a-dozen, spying out the whole land. The news they collect is sent back by signal or orderlies to the general-in-ehief. whose staff will collate and tabulate it tor his guidance. The cavalry covering an advance may, in fact, be compared to the antennae or feelers of some great insect, sweeping round the front and conveying impressions to tile slow-moving body behind. To secure the highest perfection in this the cavalry soldier should be trained as an independent individual, and not as one of a large mass of horsemen. A keen-eyed, quick-witted subaltern or sergeant, a trooper even, may render invaluable service by detecting what is imminent or already in progress among the enemy.