EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
305 
Not the least interesting portion of the Captain Nolan’s 
work is a somewhat lengthy translation from Berenhorst's 
well-known work, “ Betrachtungen iiber KreigsJmnst .” By this 
author the point is mathematically considered, so to speak, 
and it appears to be demonstrated that, if the cavalry line will 
but hold on its way after it has been once properly arranged, 
some score or two of saddles may be emptied, but the horses 
must get in. Infantry has but time to deliver two volleys 
(this before the long range), and thus to knock over every 
sixth horse. Twelve seconds are allowed the foot soldier to 
reload his piece. The cavalry soldier passes over 600 paces 
in 30 seconds — each 100 paces, five seconds. If the infantry 
fires when the cavalry is 300 paces distant, and 12 seconds 
later again, they have three seconds left to bring the bayonet 
to the charge. These are nice calculations, and from them 
we turn to another portion of the subject. In the disputed 
question between “ Heavies ” and 66 Lights,” Captain Nolan 
is entirely in favour of the latter. 66 If a heavy-armed horse- 
man gallops and exerts himself only for a few minutes, the 
horse is beaten by the weight, the rider is exhausted by sup- 
porting himself and his armour in the saddle — his sword-arm 
hangs helplessly by his side ; he can hardly raise his heavy 
broadsword ; such a man is at the mercy of any light 
horseman who may turn upon him.” This is but a dismal 
picture of our tall friends — the Heavies — in action. As may 
be supposed from this description, defensive armour is treated 
with the most supreme contempt, not only as useless, but as 
positively injurious, from the fatigue it causes to the wearer. 
Captain Nolan, indeed, is completely of opinion that heavy 
cavalry should be maintained, but that the weight should be 
in the horse, not the rider. The places where a cavalry 
soldier has to dread wounds are on the back of his head, his 
arms, and his legs. As for his chest, that must be left to take 
care of itself ; he has little to dread there from his actual an- 
tagonists, and a cannon ball or Minie rifle bullet would make 
light work of helm or cuirass. Small men, lightly but 
efficiently armed, on horses more or less powerful, as the 
cavalry is to be heavy or light, constitute the 'personnel of 
Captain Nolan’s system. He tells us the Hungarian Hussars 
are about the best light troops in Europe, and they are all 
small men. In a word, the great maxim would appear to be 
speed, not weight. If this maxim held good even during the 
last war, what must be the case now, when fire begins to be 
operative at so much more distant a point? 
