448 
GERMAN IMPERIAL MANOEUVRES, 
Britz, their right also evacuated Klein-Ziethen, and retreated on the 
prepared position between Mariendorf and Britz; while the centre— 
where, as before stated, many batteries were posted—held on to 
Bolkens-Berg apparently much too long, for both its flanks were 
actually passed by the enemy, who would have captured nearly the 
whole of it, had not at this period the signal been given by the Emperor 
to cease firing, which brought to an end the manoeuvres of 1880. 
The critique on the whole of the proceedings was then given by the 
Emperor, after receiving the reports of the generals in command, and 
the umpires. The Duke of Connaught, Sir Garnet Wolseley, and 
officers from nearly all the armies of Europe were present. 
Artillery . 
The great improvement which has taken place in the German 
artillery, both as to its equipment and horses, in the last few years, was 
a subject of general remark. Though, even at the reviews, there was 
not much sign of a burnisher having been used, the iron work was all 
kept clean and free from rust, and the whole turn out eminently sug¬ 
gested the idea of thorough serviceableness. The batteries, both horse 
and field, acted admirably in combination with the other branches of 
the service to whom they were attached. Their action was most 
thrusting; and no attacks of any importance was made by either 
cavalry or infantry which were not preceded by a rapid advance of 
guns, which, utterly regardless of all other objects, brought their fire 
exclusively to bear on the position or troops about to be assailed by 
the former. Positions were taken up by the guns at a very rapid 
pace, and though when moving over rough ground the long pole 
seemed to sway dangerously, and looked as if it must bear the wheelers 
down, no accidents of any kind occurred throughout the manoeuvres, 
which speaks volumes, for though the country was open, and as a rule 
flat, it was intersected in every direction by ditches, which were 
always crossed as they came, without loss of pace. 
The field artillery equipment of Germany has been so exhaustively 
set forth in a pamphlet of Capt. Wille, of the Foot Artillery, trans¬ 
lated in 1877 by Major Fairfax Ellis, B.A., that it would be superfluous 
to treat of it here; the following points, however, in which a difference 
exists in this arm in England and Germany will be of interest to 
artillerists. 
Brakes are used on both the gun carriages and wagon bodies, with¬ 
out exception, and are found to answer perfectly. 
Axletree-seats are only applied to the heavy or field artillery guns, 
they are provided with indiarubber washers to diminish jolting. The 
limber boxes are provided with wooden backs which greatly conduce 
to the safety and comfort of the gunners seated thereupon. The 
limber-hook is attached to a futchel which protrudes considerably 
beyond the rear of the limber. 
