The Royal Scots Greys were the first regiment of dragoons raised in
Great Britain (1681). There are now half a score of dragoon guard and
dragoon regiments, all mounted and equipped as medium heavy cavalry.
They are armed with carbine and sabre, and wear metal helmets (except
the Scots Greys). This noted regiment has served with distinction in all
parts of the world, and has already counted big in the British defense
in France and Belgium. The "Grey" does not refer to the uniform, but to
the horses, which all have their tails trimmed half-short.
[Illustration: THE FAMOUS SCOTS GRAYS
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
The Grenadier Guards--British
Veterans of the Boer War
In the Boer War the Grenadier Guards shared the brunt of the fighting,
and it was in South Africa that their leader lost his arm.
The Prince of Wales is a second lieutenant in this regiment.
The building on the right of the picture is Buckingham Palace.
[Illustration: THE GRENADIER GUARDS--BRITISH VETERANS OF THE BOER WAR
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
British Field Artillery at the
Marne
This 18-pound ordnance is of English make, and will shoot both faster
and farther than the Krupp guns. Its caliber is 3.3 inches, and the
muzzle velocity 1,600 feet per second. The gunners are able to get away
29 shots per minute, while the German rate of fire is only twenty. The
maximum effective range is 6,300 yards against 6,000 for any other gun
of its class. Each gun and carriage weighs 2,690 pounds. There are six
guns in a battery, and the number of rounds of ammunition normally
issued is 176 per gun.
[Illustration: BRITISH FIELD ARTILLERY AT THE MARNE
PHOTO (C) BROWN BROS., N.Y.]
Canadian Troops Off for the
War
The loyalty and enthusiasm of the Dominion at this critical time is very
impressive. The picture shows the Ninetieth Winnipeg Rifles on the march
from the training camp at Valcartier, eighteen miles north of
Quebec--the largest practice encampment ever established in America.
Many of Canada's soldiers are veterans of the British army; some saw
service in South Africa; the rest are intelligent farmers' sons or young
business men from the cities. Thirty-three thousand Canadians
disembarked at Plymouth on October 14, with more to follow.
[Illustration: CANADIAN TROOPS OFF FOR THE WAR
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
Exhausted French Dragoons
Camping in Village Street
Dragoons were originally trained to fight either on horseback or afoot.
Many of them carry bamboo lances, said to be even stronger than steel.
The term "dragoon" probably comes from the dragon worked on the muzzle
of the old carbine they used to carry, as dragons were supposed to spout
fire. The bivouac on piles of straw, with weapons stacked ready for
instant service, suggests vividly the condition of soldiers in the
intervals of hard fighting. This is an actual scene on the line of
retreat toward Paris.
[Illustration: EXHAUSTED FRENCH DRAGOONS CAMPING IN VILLAGE STREET
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]