The officers of the corps of Engineers are divided into the Engineer Staff Corps (i.e., generals and field officers) and 4 “Engineer-Inspections” (captains and lieutenants).
This is in the Prussian group. The Saxon, Württemberg, and Bavarian officers are not so divided. Engineer officers are employed either with the “fortification branch,” i.e., that branch which superintends the construction, repair, etc., of fortresses, or with the “Pioneers,” i.e., Field Engineers.
There are in the German Army nineteen Pioneer battalions, distributed thus:
1 Guard battalion and 14 others (Nos. 1–11, 14–16), including 1 Baden battalion (No. 13), to Prussia.
1 battalion to Saxony (No. 12),
1 battalion to Württemberg (No. 18), and
2 battalions to Bavaria.
Each battalion numbers 4 companies; of these the 1st is a Pontoon company, the 2nd and 3rd are Sapper companies: i.e., for sap-work, construction of siege-batteries, and field-works, etc.; and the 4th is a Mining company, for laying mines and subterranean galleries in siege-work.
Besides these, there is a Railway Regiment of 4 battalions (including 1 Saxon and 1 Württemberg company), and 1 Bavarian Railway battalion of 2 companies, for the construction of military railways and railway-bridges. Included in the Railway Regiment are the Field-Telegraph and Balloon sections.
Train.