GERMAN MANOEUVRES. 
18 
duel. The lines of the Western Infantry began to descend the long 
slopes on their side and then the detachment at Epfenbach advanced 
and deployed across the road leading from that place to Helmstadtand 
brought a heavy flanking fire at 800 yards upon the enemy’s right 
flank, while battalion after battalion of the main detachment deployed 
and fired upon the Western Infantry, whose defeat must have been 
complete. The weather was so bad and the ground so deep that the 
operations were cut short, and “ cease fire ” sounded, before a counter 
attack, which must have annihilated the infantry of the attack, was. 
made. It was evident, from the first, that a frontal attack on such a 
position as that occupied by the Western Force was an impossibility 
with anything like equal forces, and it is difficult to see why the com¬ 
mander of the Eastern Force did not work round 'the right flank of his 
enemy and threaten his line of retreat, by occupying the heights south¬ 
west of Helmstadt with his guns and bringing his infantry up under 
cover of the woods, south of the Helmstadt-Waibstadt road, which 
would take General von Bocks’ strong position in flank and rendered 
it untenable. This ended the three days’ campaign, and the troops all 
went into quarters in the numerous surrounding villages for Sunday, 
Sept. 13th, which was fortunately fine, the only day without rain during 
the latter part of the manoeuvres. 
On the night of the 13th, the orders were issued for the Corps 
Manoeuvres, and on the 14th, the whole of the cavalry, with the 29th 
Division, was united and marched on the Neckar a day in advance of 
the Division, to cover the advance of the latter; no guns accompanied 
this Cavalry Brigade. 
In the meantime orders were issued for an engagement between the 
57th and 58th Infantry Brigades, for the 14th Sept., on which day the 
Grand Duke of Baden and General von Billow were present. 
The general idea was as follows :— 
A Northern Corps is situated on the line Eschelbronn-Neidenstein- 
Waibstadt on the heights north of the Schwarzbach on the 14th Sept., 
and from 6 a.m. is engaged with a Southern Corps. 
The forces are equal. 
Reinforcements are expected by both sides, by the Northern Corps 
from Zwingenberg, by the Southern from Hilsbach. 
Special Idea for the North. 
The left wing of the Northern Corps, marked by blue flags, is across 
the Waibstadt-Helmstadt road, 500 yards east of the former place. 
The Brigade von Bose coming from Helmstadt passes the western side 
of the Waschauf wood and marches on the Sackberg. At 7.15 a.m. 
its head reaches the southern side of the wood north of the hill, and is 
on the path which traverses the wood. 
The following order is received by Oberst von Bose, from the General 
Commanding the Northern Corps :— 
Kuhnberg, 14. 9. 96., 7 a.m. 
Received 7.15 a.m. 
You will march with your brigade to support in echelon the left 
