===========++===================== || DOUBLE TIME. ++--------+------------ || | PER MINUTE. || +------+----- || Length |Number| || of | of | || pace. |paces.| || m. | | m. -----------++--------+------+----- Germany ||0.75- | 170- |127- ||0.90 | 180 |162 -----------++--------+------+----- Austria ||0.90 | 160 |144 -----------++--------+------+----- Italy, Line|| | | and Alpini ||0.90 | 170 |153 Bersaglieri||1.00 | 180 |180 -----------++--------+------+----- France ||0.30[72]| 180 |136 || | | -----------++--------+------+----- || | 170- |181- Russia ||1.066 | | || | 181 |192 -----------++--------+------+----- Japan ||0.85 | 170 |144 -----------++--------+------+----- England ||1.02 | 180 |183.6 -----------++--------+------+----- || | | Switzerland||0.90 | 160 |144 || | | ===========++========+======+===== [72] The following, taken from _La marche du fantassin_ (_Journal des sciences militaires, 1897_), is here inserted for comparison. _French Drill Reg. of 1791_ (in force until 1862): _Pas ordinaire_ 100 paces at 0.65 m. = 65 m. per minute _Frederick The Great’s Infantry_ 75 „ „ 0.70 m. = 52 m. „ „ _Prussian Drill Reg. of 1812_: _Ordinary pace_ 75 „ „ 0.70 m. = 52 m. „ „ _Accelerated pace_ 108 „ „ 0.70 m. = 75.6 m. „ „ In general, double time is considered of little value. In Austria double time is to be maintained for periods of two minutes, quick time of five minutes duration alternating, up to sixteen minutes, _i.e._, until a distance of 1,726 m. has been covered. In Germany, an alternating quick and double time march in heavy marching order is prescribed. A different practice prevails in Italy. According to the Italian Regulations all troops are to be trained to march in double time without rest and without knapsacks for 2 kilometers (with knapsacks, 1 km.); _Bersaglieri_ without knapsacks, 3 km. (with knapsacks, 1¹⁄₂ km.), also without rest (_i.e._, 13 and 16.8 minutes respectively). When we consider that in double time with the necessary alternating step, 2,000 m. can be covered in 17 minutes, and in accelerated step, in 19-20 minutes, the time gained is unimportant when compared to the fatigue of the men and the exertion of the lungs, which interferes with deliberate, accurate firing. During an Austrian firing test the number of hits fell from 76.5%, attained while advancing in quick time, to 51% after a period of double time.