7" 
si 
NOTES ON GERMAN MANGUVRES. 
men anole after they had gone to bed. The dry straw caught fire 
and burnt like tinder, and three men of the Third Infantry “of the 
Guard were burnt to death and much property was destroyed. 
Except for transport of men’s rations, Government carriage is but 
little used, all carts required for bageace and the various stor es, being 
obtained on requisition from the farmers, or in the town from those 
persons who keep carts. ‘Twenty-four hours notice is generally given 
to a farmer that he will be required to supply one or more carts, and 
should he fail to comply with the order he subjects himself to severe 
punishment. Officers are allowed but little baggage, a small trunk 
or valise is all that is taken; with a marching order under these 
light conditions, one country cart drawn by three horses will generally 
suffice for the officers’ baggage of a battalion. The mess kit is always 
of the lightest description, as, except in bivouacs, everything will be 
supplied by the owner of the house on whom the officers are billeted. 
When in bivouacs a large number of carts are required, as all straw for 
the men’s bedding, firewood, etc., must then move with the troops. 
The system under which the military train arrangements are managed 
is most thorough, every petty detail being worked out with a surprising 
degree of accuracy. ‘I'he impressed carts assemble at an early hour at 
the named place, and are formed up in lines, classified according to the 
number of horses by which they are drawn. ‘he wagons are then told 
off as required to the various regiments and brigade-divisions of 
artillery, one man being detailed to accompany each cart belonging to 
his corps or regiment. ‘The carts for officers’ baggage proceed at once 
to the houses in which the officers have been quartered, while the 
remainder are led to the wood or straw stores, according to whatever 
load they may be required to carry. As soon as the carts are loaded 
they are formed up on the road, the carts being kept together according 
to their regiments; a division of fifteen thousand men will require a 
very large number of carts, so the length of the column is a most 
serious matter. 
The carts and wagons follow the direction taken by the troops, and 
when some appointed place is reached they halt until orders arrive 
as to the place where the troops will bivouac. This information cannot 
come to them from the front till the whole operations of the day are 
over and it has been decided where the troops shall pass the night. 
The wagons are at once led forward and as they approach the neigh- 
bourhood where the division will bivouac, they are met by orderlies, who 
conduct them to the various camping grounds, selected for the various 
corps and regiments. ‘This is undoubtedly carrying out transport, 
arrangements as closely as possible to the conditions of actual war, for 
when troops move off in the morning, it is absolutely undecided where 
they will bivouac that evening. The whole system of transport is ex-. 
cellent, and there is a complete absence of hurry or disorder of .any 
kind. The orderly manner in which the carts are driven into their 
proper positions and controlled on the line of march, could only be 
effected in a country where every wagoner, though wearing corduroy. 
clothes and a peasant’s cap, 18 as well disciplined as the men in the 
ranks wearing the Imperial uniform. ; 
1 
