This variety of light cavalry was introduced into central Europe by the
Tartars of Asia in the middle ages. They were armed with sabre, pistol
and lance, at first carried in the left hand. The pennon is intended to
frighten the enemy's horses, and identifies the men as Prussians. The
Poles, Austrians, and Russians also adopted uhlans. In the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870 they led the invasion of northern France,
and won great fame by their fearless activity.
[Illustration: THE TERRIBLE UHLANS
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
Feeding the Men in the Trenches--A
German Field Bakery
Napoleon said "An army travels on its stomach." This is part of the
wonderful German organization for supplying the men in the field with
daily bread. Each wagon supplies 1,600 men--there are twenty-five with
each army corps of 40,000. The war ration includes bread, biscuit, eggs,
meat, beans, rice, dried vegetables, salt and coffee.
[Illustration: FEEDING THE MEN IN THE TRENCHES--A GERMAN FIELD BAKERY
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
The German Defense Against
the Airship--Krupp Gun on
Motor
This is one of the deadly Krupp aeroplane guns, mounted on a Mercedes
auto truck. The rear wheels are braced to steady the gun from vibration
under the heavy shock of firing.
An aeroplane is a very difficult target, not only on account of its
rapid flight, but also because the only vital spots are the engine and
the passengers.
[Illustration: THE GERMAN DEFENSE AGAINST THE AIRSHIP--KRUPP GUN ON
MOTOR
PHOTO (C) BROWN BROS., N.Y.]
Crack Austrian Regiment
from Vienna
Austrian military traditions are equal to any in Europe. In the
sixteenth century they turned back the tide of Turkish conquest and
saved Europe. Military service is compulsory on all able-bodied males
from 20 to 42, and totals twelve years--three in the line, seven in
reserve, and two in the "Landwehr." The long trousers worn by these
troops show that they are recruited from the Germanic part of the
empire--for the Austrian army, like the empire itself, contains men
speaking twenty-six different languages.
[Illustration: CRACK AUSTRIAN INFANTRY FROM VIENNA
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
Cossacks--The Rough Riders
of Russia
The Cossacks of the river Don pay no taxes, but are liable to military
service from eighteen to fifty, and each must furnish his own horse.
They are wonderful riders, and excellent scouts or skirmishers. Their
hollow circle formation is a favorite one for defense.
The government is so arranged as to furnish the largest military array
on the shortest notice. In personal appearance, the Cossacks are more
slender and handsomer than the Russians.
[Illustration: COSSACKS--THE ROUGH RIDERS OF RUSSIA
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]
Russian Regulars on the March
Through Galicia
Contrary to popular impression, the number of trained men in the Russian
army is no greater than in the German. The number of recruits available
is, of course, much larger.
The Russian infantry is famous for close fighting with the bayonet,
which is made a part of the gun and cannot be removed. The faces of the
men are a distinctively Slavic type. They are patient, enduring, brave,
and fight with a stubborn tenacity which has wrecked the hopes of every
general in history who attempted the invasion and conquest of their
territory.
[Illustration: RUSSIAN REGULARS ON THE MARCH THROUGH GALICIA
PHOTO (C) UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y.]