(46 i ) 
THE IRISH MANCEUVRES, 1899. 
BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. M. MURRAY, R.A. 
T HE manoeuvres which took place last August in Queen’s County 
under the directorship of Lord Roberts, were of special inter¬ 
est, differing as they did from the usual course of English peace 
manoeuvres in producing some' strategical situations resembling as 
nearly as possible such as would occur in actual war. 
Although a narrative of the operations was published at the close 
of each day, together with the Director’s remarks, these documents 
may not always be forthcoming, and, in any case, the Committee may 
care to have a short account of what occurred placed on record in the 
“ Proceedings ” of the Royal Artillery Institution. 
It is not proposed to give a detailed narrative of the whole course 
of the manoeuvres, which lasted from the 8th to the 16th August, but 
merely to describe their general purport, with special reference to 
certain strategical facts which were brought to light during the opera¬ 
tions of the first three days before the troops came into actual tactical 
collision. 
Two opposing forces were assembled on the 5 th August—a South¬ 
ern or Blue Force at Thurles, and a Northern or Red Force at the 
Curragh. The distance between these places is about 50 miles. 
Throughout this paper the forces will be called Blue and Red res¬ 
pectively—the names of individuals and of corps being omitted. 
The strength of the Blue Force assembled at Thurles was as 
under: —■ 
6 Squadrons. 
4 Batteries (including 1 Battery of R.H.A.) 
5 Battalions. 
1 Provisional Field Company R.E. 
giving a total of about 3,800 men, 16 guns, and 1,150 horses. 
The strength of the Red Force asembled at the Curragh was as 
under: — 
4 Squadrons. 
4 Batteries (including 1 Battery of R.H.A.) 
8 Battalions. 
1 Field Company R.E. 
10. VOL. XXVI. 
