Why preparedness; the observations of an American army officer in Europe, 1914-1915

Front matter

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Introduction

HENRY J. REILLY has performed a distinctly public service in the preparation of his work "Why Preparedness." It is unfortunate there should be any uncertainty on this vitally important matter. Such as there is must be charged to the lack of interest in this subject, which has been general until recently. Captain Reilly's very clear and able statement of the reasons for preparedness is most opportune at this time.

The American people as a whole do not appreciate the fact that to-day all the other great nations of the world are thoroughly organized and prepared either for offense or defense. They do not realize that wealth and numbers avail little when opposed by well-thought-out preparation, discipline, and good leadership. Many of our people have been taught to believe that money can serve as a substitute for patriotic service; that willingness can take the place of willingness plus preparation; that one can buy preparedness ready made, as it were; that our vast population is an insurance against attack; that untrained men can meet successfully equally good men physically who are trained and disciplined.

X vi WHY PREPAREDNESS

'- All these assumptions are wholly false. Great wealth without ability to protect it is an incentive to war, a temptation to the would-be aggressor, and a menace to the world's peace. Great numbers untrained, undisciplined, without leadership and ignorant of the use of arms, are of little value unless adequate time is given for training and preparation. Modern war does not give time for preparation. Its approach is that of the avalanche rather than that of the glacier.

Captain Reilly is a graduate of West Point. He served for a long time in the regular army and had extensive experience in various parts of the world. He is a capable, skilled, and critical observer. He has had almost unexampled opportunity for observation during the Great War and has seen it from various standpoints as an actual observer in the field. What he writes from the military standpoint can be depended upon as accurate, and is entitled to the most careful consideration by our people. Such consideration cannot fail to create in the minds of the great majority of intelligent people reading this book a realization of the vital need of systematic, well-thought-out preparation; nor will it fail to dispel false ideas as to the value of undeveloped resources in the face of the type and degree of organization and p'reparedness for action which exists throughout the world to-day.

INTRODUCTION vii

Modern war involves the organization of the financial and material resources of a nation as well as the training, discipline, and equipment of its soldiers. This organization must be such that the nation can apply its maximum strength in the minimum of time, and maintain it at top pressure for the maximum period. This all means organization in time of peace. It means an observance of Washington's advice, " In time of peace prepare for war."

The question as to preparedness can be answered in various ways. The answer most to the point is that we believe our country is worth defending and we know it cannot be successfully defended without thorough preparation, a preparation which rests not only upon organization of the industrial and financial resources of the nation, the training of its men, and the provision of adequate supplies, but also upon a moral organization which will create in the heart of each and every one of us a sense of our obligation to prepare to render efficient service for the nation in time of war as well as in time of peace; an organization which involves the practical application of the basic principle on which democracy and representative government rest — that with the privileges and opportunities of citizenship go its obligations in war as well as in peace; that manhood suffrage means manhood obligation for service.

viii WHY PREPAREDNESS

We believe in arbitration and in the support of the great effort to establish world peace. While striving to attain these ends, we must not be unmindful of the conditions under which we live or forgetful of the fact that never at any time in the world's history was thorough preparedness more essential for national peace and safety than to-day.

Leonard Wood.

Contents

PAGE

Introduction — Major-General Leonard Wood . . v Author's Preface ?:v

PART I The Entente Allies at War

chapter

I. From Manila to France in War Time . i

II. France at War 15

III. How France Goes to War .... 22

IV. A Trip to Arras 31

V. Why France in 1914 was not the

France of 1870 41

VI. How France Has Maintained a Large Trained Army since the Beginning, of

THE War 51

VII. What Invasion Means to the French

People 58

VIII. The Experiences of a French Woman

AND HER Daughter 72

IX. The British Campaign in France and

Belgium 88

tx

CONTENTS

PAGE

X. The British Land Forces 95

XL Kitchener's New Army 104

XIL Conscription Needed in Great Britain 112 XIIL Summary of the Western Campaign to

the end of May, 1915 122

PART II Swiss Preparedness for War

XIV. The Military Preparedness of the Swiss 145

PART III The Central Powers at War

XV. The German Army 155

XVI. The German Army in the War . . . 164 XVII. The Austro-Hungarian Army as a

Factor in the Present War . . .175 XVIII. Communications of the Austro-Hungarian-German Armies in Russian

Poland 182

XIX. The Russians as Seen from the Austro- Hungarian Side ....... 187

XX. What Invasion Has Meant to the Poles 193 XXI. Summary of the Russian Campaign to

THE End of August, 19 15 . . . . 204

CONTENTS xi

PART IV Modern Battle PAGE

XXII. The Volunteers' First Sight of War . 215

XXIII. The Approach to a Modern Battlefield 223

XXIV. How the Armies Have Become En-

trenched 237

XXV. The Psychology of Battle 278

XXVI. How THE Wounded are Brought in from

THE Battlefield - . .288

XXVII. Modern Infantry in Battle .... 307

XXVIII. The Famous French Field Gun . . .313

XXIX. Artillery in the Present War . . .326

XXX. Cavalry in Modern War 345

XXXI. Machine Guns in the Present War . .352 XXXII. Aircraft in the Present War . . .357

XXXIII. Reconnaissance and Espionage in the

Present War 370

XXXIV. Fortresses in Modern War . . . .381

Conclusion

XXXV. Lessons America Should Learn from

the Great War 389

ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE

French 75-mm. Gun mounted on Motor-Truck. .Frontispiece'^ Gurkhas in Egypt on their^way from India to France . lo"^ Gurkhas about to make Camp at Ismailia .... 10 "^

French Infantry in their Trenches 18'^

French Infantry on the March 26'^

The Town Hall of Arras after Bombardment . . . . 38 The Graves of French Soldiers on the Marne Battlefield . 54 '^

French Chasseurs d Pied 54"^

Ypres after Bombardment, showing Ruins of the Cloth

Hall and Cathedral . 66^^

Ruins of French Houses on the Battlefield of the Marne . 74 -^ British Infantry about to go into Action near Bethune . go- British 4. 7 -inch Gun in Action on a Rainy Day . .90

Infantry of Kitchener's New Army 98''

Infantry Wagons of Kitchener's New Army . . . .98*^

Field Artillery of Kitchener's New Army 106'^

Signal Section of Engineers, Kitchener's New Army . 106'^ A Recruiting Meeting at Trafalgar Square, London . 116'^

Swiss Infantry on the March 148'^

German Field Artillery changing Position . . . .160"^

Typical German Infantry Reservists 160'''^

German Infantry at Brest Litovsk 170"^

A German 15-cm. Howitzer 17C

Austrian Infantry on the March in Poland . . . .178" Austro-Hungarian Field Piece in front of Ivangorod . 178"' Ruined Railway Bridge over the Vistula at Ivangorod . 184^'' German Reservists on their way to the Front in Poland . 184'^' Russian Prisoners leaving the Citadel of Brest Litovsk . 190'

Russian Soldiers captured at Ivangorod 190

Field Sketch of the Fighting along the Vistula . . . 194" , Polish Refugees 202 ^

xiii xiv ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE

Ruins of Nova Alexandria 202-

British Lightly Wounded arriving at Bet hune . . .218'-

British Heavily Wounded at Bethune 218"^

French Munition Wagons en route to the Front . . . 234<^ Looking down on a Communicating Trench .... 250^ Russian Trench from the Front showing Loopholes . .250'^ French Sappers at work underground on a Mine Gallery . 266'^ Serbian Infantry advancing under Artillery Fire . . .282*^ French Lightly Wounded taking a Hospital Train . 298*^

Austro-Hungarian Wounded 298^^

British Infantry in a Reserve Breastwork 310*^'

Where twelve Russian Infantrymen were killed . . .310"^^

A French 75-mm. Gun in Action 314'^

Mounting a 305-mm. Mortar in Poland 330^

A 305-mm. Mortar mounted and ready for Action . . 330 '^ French Dismounted Cavalrymen Armed and Operating as

Infantrymen in Flanders 346"^

Hungarian Cavalrymen 346*^

French Machine Gun ready for Action 354*^

On the Parapet of Fort Kobilyani in Front of Brest

Litovsk, showing Shell Holes 382^

One of the Ivangorod Forts Demolished by the Russians

before their Retreat 382 >/

MAPS AND DIAGRAM

The Campaign in the Western Theatre of War . . Map 142^ The Campaign in the Eastern Theatre of War . . Map 212"^ How the Armies have become Entrenched . . Diagram 276

Author's Preface

WHEN the great European war broke out in the latter part of the summer of 19 14, the author happened to be in Manila, Philippine Islands. He immediately proceeded by way of Hong-Kong, Singapore, Ceylon, and the Suez Canal to Marseilles and Paris. The news of the victory on the Marne had reached Marseilles the day before his arrival. After spending several weeks in Paris and London, he joined the American Ambulance Corps in France, where he served in various sections in the field, from the middle of October, 19 14, to about the middle of February, 19 1 5. During this time, he was with the British and French armies in northern France, and, on one occasion, was with the Belgian army for several days. In the latter part of February, 19 15, in company with Mr. Robert R. McCormick, president of the Chicago Tribune, he again visited both the French and British fronts in northern France. Seeing the similarity of England's problem in time of war to that which would confront the United States under similar circumstances, the author returned to England in order to observe the workings of the system of raising big armies by

XV xvi WHY PREPAREDNESS

voluntary enlistment. After a month in England he went back to France, and soon came to the conclusion that the British and French were not going to attempt a real general offensive during the spring or summer of 191 5.

Italy entered the war at this time, and the author, considering the possibilities good of Germany and Austria-Hungary making a combined offensive against Italy, decided to accompany, if possible, the troops of the Central Powers in the Italian campaign. This decision was made primarily for the reason that, having seen the British and French troops on the defensive against heavy attacks, the author desired to see something of the methods of an army acting on the offensive; also, he wished to see something of Germany, because of his interest in the question of how far comparatively small resources, well organized prior to war, could sustain an army in the field, as against immensely superior but unorganized potential resources. So much had been said of the inevitable downfall of the German army due to exhaustion of its supply of men, material, and food, with consequent victory for the Allies, even though they attempted no real offensive, that the author desired to see for himself how far the German army was being hampered through economic causes.

Accordingly, toward the end of May, 1915, the author crossed from France to Switzerland, thence

PREFACE xvii

to Bavaria, and later proceeded to Berlin. Finding that there was no intention in Germany of declaring war on Italy, at least for the time being, and that consequently there would be no offensive campaign by Germany in that direction, permission was obtained to go instead to the Polish front with the Austro-Hungarian troops.

Having joined the field headquarters for the correspondents and military attaches, which was maintained near the general headquarters of the Austro-Hungarian army, the author made two trips to the actual front — one to the Twelfth Corps, General von Kovos, in front of Nova Alexandria and Ivangorod, and the other to the Sixth Corps, General Artz, at the time of the capture of Brest Litovsk. As German troops were operating alongside of these two corps, the opportunity was afforded of seeing them, as well as the Austro-Hungarians, in action. In the latter part of September, the author returned to the United States from Vienna by way of Bavaria, Switzerland, Paris, Bordeaux, and New York.

The time actually spent in Europe was a few days over a year. Having been a professional soldier for nearly fourteen years, and therefore being deeply interested in everything connected with his profession, the author tried from the beginning of his observations in Europe to put aside personal prejudice and to study the armies and xviii PREFACE

countries visited with a view of getting at the real historical and military lessons to be learned from this great war, particularly those lessons which should be of imiportance to the United States.

This book is founded on the personal experiences of the author and the accounts of those participants engaged in the actual fighting whom the author considered to be competent eye-witnesses. Writing of events but recently past, and in some cases not yet completed, necessarily increases the likelihood of some error creeping in. The part which any one individual can see of such a tremendous whole as the present war is very small, indeed. Even when ^his limitation is well understood, and an attempt is made to guard against it, there is but little doubt that those events actually witnessed are frequently given importance out of all proportion to their true value. Another difficulty in getting at the truth is due to the fact that the average person who has participated in scenes of great excitement is frequently not competent to describe what has happened. This is true enough of such exciting incidents as may occur in time of peace; so much the more is it true in war time, when there is added to undue excitement the lack of technical military knowledge, which results in the witness being confused because only partly, or not at all, understanding the reason for what is going on around him. Few people, until they have seen it, have any

WHY PREPAREDNESS xix

conception of what war really is. Too many have considered it a sort of a game somewhat more dangerous, perhaps, than big game shooting. As a consequence, when they first come in contact with it, and in some cases, even for some time after, it makes an entirely disproportionate impression on them. For this reason, it frequently happens that the statements of many intelligent and honest people, who are far from being cowards, are practically valueless. Rumors, inexact observation, suppression or omission of part of the facts, with exaggeration of others, and the taking of isolated incidents as representative of the whole, have been, and still are, responsible for many false impressions of the war.

Much of the material in this book has appeared from time to time in the Chicago Tribtme and is here published with the kind permission of that paper. The photographs, with a few exceptions, were taken by the author.

The author wishes to express his appreciation

of the kindness of First Lieutenant H. S. Baker

and C. C. Saner, Company ''A," Battalion of

Engineers, Illinois National Guard, for valuable

assistance in preparing the maps for publication.

H. J. R.

Chicago,

January, igi6.

Chapter I

FROM the date of the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, the Manila papers had diseussed the Balkan question. The possibility of the Balkans precipitating a European conflict had been so frequently spoken of, however, that few people thought the long-predicted general European war was actually on the point of breaking out.

When it was learned that Austria had declared war on Serbia, and that Russia was ready to interfere, I believed that the war had finally come, and, accordingly, arranged to leave Manila for Europe.

Up to the time of leaving Manila on August 2, no news had been received other than of Austria's declaration of war on Serbia. The two days' trip to Hong-Kong was without incident, but full of violent discussions on the part of the passengers. On arriving off Hong-Kong at daylight, the port was found to be closed. A patrol boat informed the captain of our ship that he must anchor and be examined before he would be permitted to enter the harbor. Among the several ships of various nationaHties waiting outside was a German tramp. The only incident of a two hours' wait, without news and before being examined and permitted to enter the harbor, was the passing by of two submarines which were escorting a considerable fleet of mine-laying tugs. Going up the harbor, the turbine liner Empress of Asia, belonging to the Canadian Pacific, was seen lying at the navy yard having guns put in her, she having been taken as an auxiliary cruiser.

On landing, it was learned that while Great Britain and Germany were still at peace, it was probably only a question of a few days before they would declare war on each other. The British had called out their naval reserves, had put the station battleship in commission, and had taken over all the merchant ships belonging to the auxiliary navy. The question of getting to Europe was found to be a difficult one. The German liner due had failed to show tip. It transpired later that at Shanghai, just as all her passengers were on the tender ready to go down stream to embark on her, they were told that she would not sail. Instead, she went straight to Tsing-Tau, the fortified naval and land base of the German Empire in China.

Nobody could say whether the French and English mail steamers would leave or not. The mails were no longer being sent over the Trans-Siberian railway, and the Russian Consul refused to vise any passports to enter Siberia, which meant that, for the time being, the Siberian road was out of the question. The only ship about which there seemed to be any certainty was a Japanese steamer, sailing within a week.

After a few days, proclamations were posted everywhere announcing that Germany and Great Britain were at war. The white people, on the whole, took it very calmly; not so the Chinese. A rumor was circulated among them that the Germans would soon capture Hong-Kong, with the consequence that thousands fled by the different boats to Canton. As time went by, however, and nothing happened, many came back.

As the days passed, the wildest rumors were circulated, even among the white population. The British squadron, joined by a French cruiser and several destroyers, had coaled and gone to sea to hunt for the German squadron, which was considerably weaker both in ships and guns. Every day there was a new rumor about a naval action having been fought. One time it would be that the Schanihorst, the flagship of the German squadron, had been found by the Allied squadron a short distance up the coast lacking food, water, and coal, and with ninety per cent of her men down with an epidemic. The next day the rumor would be that the British fleet had sunk the German fleet in^tlie

North Sea, and the most elaborate details would be furnished to prove it.

In the meanwhile, the British authorities were busy gathering tip all the German reservists they could lay their hands on. An American steamer from Manila was obliged to remain outside until the authorities had removed the German reservists known to be on board. Stonecutters' Island, a small island near Hong-Kong, was designated as the place on which they would be confined.

Different parts of Hong-Kong Island were prepared for defense. Some of the barricades erected showed very plainly that it was not so much a German attack which was feared, as the possibility of mob violence on the part of the many thousands of Chinese who lived in Hong-Kong.

The Hong-Kong volunteers, made up of various Britishers in commercial life, were mobilized. The older ones were used to guard banks and streets within the towns ; the younger ones were sent, some to Stonecutters' Island to guard the German prisoners, and others to various important points in the defense of Hong-Kong.

The small river gunboats which the Germans had near Canton were hurriedly taken by them well up the river into China, where the breech-blocks and all ammunition were thrown overboard and the ships abandoned. The crews, taking the wireless apparatus with them, were put on passenger boats by their officers with instructions to rendezvous, if possible, at Tsing-Tau.

A number of British merchant vessels in the harbor were prepared for transports. The rumor was that they were to carry the troops which could be spared to Europe. Others said that a combined expedition made up of Russians from Vladivostok, French from Indo-China, and British from Hong-Kong, was to attack Tsing-Tau, and that the Australian squadron was on its way to join the French and British squadron.

Food prices rose fifty per cent, partly due to the government having bought up large quantities of supplies, partly due to the price of exchange having gone up, but probably more than an3rthing else due to the readiness of the Chinese to make as much money as possible on the slightest pretext. Everywhere the Chinese were keenly interested in the war. If a white man entered a shop or office, and gave the Chinese there half an opportunity, they immediately besieged him with questions concerning the war, particularly as to who would win. They all seemed to be impressed with the strength of Germany.

The British point of view was an interesting one. According to them, the war would be over soon, because the Allies undoubtedly would crush Germany almost immediately. Little or no attention was paid to the armed strength of the Germans, or to the fact of their being perfectly prepared. The point most frequently made was the immense advantage Great Britain possessed in her wealth. The average man in the street allowed the Germans no good qualities of any kind, not even foresight. The few Britishers who thought differently were pooh-poohed and ridiculed every time they spoke.

The most noticeable thing about Hong-Kong was the excellent way in which the naval mobilization was carried out. The naval reserve made up of men and officers of the merchant marine, and of those on shore having to do with dockyards and such, quietly put on their uniforms, took their places, and set to work. In a very short time the big Empress of Asia was painted gray from waterline to truck, armed with 4.7 guns, with artillerymen as gunners, and was out at sea just off the harbor having target practice. In the navy yard all preparations were complete, so that when the other ships of the same line appeared they could be rapidly turned into auxiliary cruisers.

On several occasions the British caught German spies. One of them was caught at night cutting military telephone wires, and was promptl}^ beaten up by the guard before being arrested.

Finally, after a week's delay, the Japanese ship appeared in the harbor, and announcement was made that she would sail the next day.

The day of departure was an interesting one, as

FROM MANILA TO FRANCE IN WAR TIME 7 the passenger list contained a number of French reservists and French volunteers from Shanghai, who were joined by others from Hong-Kong. They sang the "Marseillaise" and toasted the British and the Allies, while several Britishers, who had been in the Boer War, and who were on their way home, sang "God Save the King" and toasted the French and the Allies. The German consul-general from Hong Kong, who being entitled to it, had a safe conduct, was also a passenger. After much cheering, to the accompaniment of considerable whistle blowing, the ship finally got under way and passed through the narrow entrance to the China Sea beyond. The batteries on both sides of the entrance had many tents in rear of them, and around them trenches and barbed wire entanglements to resist infantry attacks by landing parties. Buoys with red flags indicated a channel through the mines which had been laid outside.

The six days from Hong-Kong to Singapore were distinguished by a complete absence of news and by considerable discussion of the war, mostly founded on conjecture. One young Englishman on board, of a military family, who was on his way home to join the volunteers, was sure that the war would be a very easy one; in fact, he was worried because he thought it would be all over before he could get to England. The main argument advanced by the Britishers was quite similar to that heard so often in America when the question of war is brought up: having plenty of money, they did not need to have much of an army, because when the time came they could get all the men they wanted and buy all the things they needed for them.

The attitude of the French was entirely different. With one exception, they had all completed their military service and were in the reserve. They all appreciated the value of military training and of a proper preparation for war. They all understood the tremendous strength of Germany and the tremendous advantage which her being prepared to start an aggressive campaign immediately gave her. They knew that the war was going to be a serious and hard one. They had no illusions as to its being over in a very short time. Though most of them were conscripts, they were perfectly willing to go to war; in fact, two of them, who were too old to be called to the colors, were nevertheless going home to see if they could not get back into the service. They showed plainly that a conscript can be just as ready and jvist as willing to fight for his country as any volunteer.

On reaching Singapore, it was learned that Japan had sent an ultimatum to Germany telling her to evacuate Tsing-Tau or she would take such steps as might be necessary. The effect of the news upon the different passengers was interesting. With practically no exceptions, all of them, regardless of nationality, were quite opposed to permitting Japan to take part in the war. All felt quite sure that anything Japan took would never be given back, no matter what she might say, and that any strengthening of Japan could not but be a great mistake from the point of view of all white nations with interests in the Far East.

In Singapore, as in Hong-Kong, the hunt for German reservists had been going on. A considerable number of them who had succeeded in getting on a Dutch steamer were removed by a British officer with forty infantry soldiers. Alongside one of the wharves were three German merchant ships seized by the British, when the war broke out. One, in endeavoring to escape capture, had repainted her funnels and printed a Chinese name in large Chinese characters on her side.

Many French reservists coming from the Straits Settlements and Siam joined our ship at Singapore, including thirteen Catholic priests going back to serve in the army as ordinary soldiers. Among the reservists also was the French Consul-General to Siam. The French Bishop of Siam, who was going home to join the army, had sailed a few days before on a British ship.

When the ship sailed from Singapore, so far as could be seen, the only Frenchman left behind was the French Consul. This sailing was another occasion for the opening of considerable champagne, the singing of the ''Marseillaise" and of "God Save the King," to the accompaniment of frantic cheering.

All sorts of rumors had been heard by the passengers while ashore. The Japanese said they had been told at their consulate that the British were going to use in the campaign in Europe not only white troops from India but the natives as well; also, that Japanese troops were to replace these troops in India. Of one thing there was no doubt: the British were accumulating a large store of coal at Bombay.

Malacca, the next day, showed no evidence of having been influenced by the war. However, Penang, struck the following day, was different. Here the police station and the residency had had their verandas filled in with sand bags built around steel plates with loop-holes in them, while around both buildings was a mass of barbed wire entanglement.

On leaving Penang, the ship's company again relapsed into a period of utter darkness so far as any news was concerned. The interminable discussions concerning the war continued. The Britishers, in their arguments, took the Boer War as a model for future military operations, entirely ignoring the tremendous difference in regard to the number of men engaged and the great dissimilarity of the geographical features of the two theatres of war.

GURKHAS IN EGYPT EN ROUTE FROM INDIA TO FRANCE

GURKHAS ABOUT TO MAKE CAMP AT ISMAILIA

FROM MANILA TO FRANCE IN WAR TIME ii

Finally, one morning, we entered Colombo Harbor. Here were six merchant ships which had been captured by the British. The pilot, on coming on board, said the Germans had entered Brussels, had captured Namur, were shutting the Belgians up in Antwerp and cutting off those in Liege. He also told of an engagement going on in the neighborhood of Charleroi and Mons.