2 Saxon Uhlan regiments (Nos. 17 and 18),
2 Württemberg Uhlan regiments (Nos. 19 and 20), and
2 Bavarian Uhlan regiments.
Of late years there has been a good deal of talk about reorganising the present force into a so-called “General” Cavalry, and this would be distinctly a move in the right direction. The term implies that all branches of the Cavalry arm should be equally and thoroughly equipped, armed, and trained for any service in which Cavalry could be called on to take part. An important step has been made in this direction by the recent arming of the whole of the Cavalry with lances. There is, however, no intention whatever on the part of the authorities to carry out the idea to extremities. Such measures as taking away their particular mode of action from the different branches of the Cavalry, or giving them all exactly the same uniform, would never be entertained for a moment. It is obvious that such measures would be the deathblow of all esprit de corps which, as we know, has led to such brilliant results in the past. The shock of Cuirassiers on their big horses, the charge of Uhlans with their fluttering lance-pennons, the sabre-work of Hussars, and the mobility of Dragoons and Chevau-légers, each has its particular effect on the enemy, and each distinctive attribute must be taken into serious account. There can be no doubt that a total amalgamation of the four branches, and the abolition of their distinctive uniforms, would produce much more harm in the end than good.
Before closing the subject of Cavalry, mention ought to be made of the lately-formed Empress’s Body-Guard, composed of one officer, two sergeants, and 24 men. They were first put on duty in August, 1889, during the visit of the Emperor of Austria. Their uniform is the usual dark-blue tunic, with cerise collar and cuffs, besides a full-dress white Cuirassier tunic. The skirts are lined with cerise cloth and fastened back with hooks. Both collar and cuffs have white braid-lace on them, like the rest of the Guard Corps. The breeches are of white leather, and big knee-boots like those of the Cuirassiers complete the costume.
Artillery.
Artillery has but one rôle to play on the battle-field, and that is to come into action and do as much harm as possible to the enemy from a long distance off.
The German arm is divided into Field Artillery and Garrison Artillery.
The Field Artillery is intended, as its name implies, for action on the field of battle. One particular branch of it forms the Horse Artillery, in which all the men are mounted. The whole of the Field Artillery is armed with Krupp cast-steel guns (C. 73), the Horse Artillery guns having a bore of 2·95, and the others a bore of 3·43 inches. They carry “double-ring shells” (a form of segment shell which fly into about 180 pieces), Shrapnel shells (each containing 240 bullets), and case-shot. The guns themselves are handy to work, and carry with great accuracy up to about four miles.