THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
267 
Section II. 
Conducting , and Superintending Authorities . 
18. In carrying out a concentration of Prussian forces on a large scale 
by railway, the following departments of State are concerned:— 
(1) The Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Public Works. 
(2) The Ministry of the Interior. 
(3) The War Ministry. 
(4) The Staff of the Army. 
Deputies from these departments make the arrangements for the transport 
of the forces in accordance with the instructions they receive from their 
respective heads. The deputies form a 
Central Commission 
composed of a superior officer as president, an officer of the War Depart¬ 
ment, an officer of the staff, an official of the department of Military 
Economy, one or two officials of the Ministry of Commerce, and one of the 
Ministry of the Interior. 
The seat of the Central Commission is in Berlin. The members are 
nominated during peace, and can at any time be assembled. The heads of 
departments keep each other informed of any changes in the composition 
of the commission. They furnish their deputies with instructions and 
receive information from them of the results of the meetings which are 
appointed by the president. In peace time the duty of the Commission 
is to consider such changes as may be necessary in the regulations for the 
ordinary transport of troops by rail. When war threatens the first duty of 
the commission is to test the ftoute and March Tables proposed by the 
staff, in their relations to the technical conditions of railways. The Line 
commissions, which are called into activity in the event of war, and 
the railway administrations on which devolve the disposition of the 
rolling stock, &c. on the lines included in the Tables, are next appointed. 
The chief halting stations are selected; special instructions for the several 
members of the Eoute commissions are drawn up, and all other questions 
of detail which present themselves discussed and settled. 
19. Two members of the Central Commission, namely an officer of the 
staff, and an official of the Ministry of Commerce form a special Executive 
Commission. 
These two members, acting in concert, order and direct the measures to 
be carried out for the troop-transport in. accordance with the decisions of 
the Central Commission. Each member represents especially the interests 
of his own department and keeps the other currently informed of what 
occurs in it. 
