The Secrets of the German War OfficeGraves, Armgaard Karl
History
The Secrets of the German War Office
Graves, Armgaard Karl
Germany -- Foreign relations -- 1871-1918
Napoleon's dictum that an army marches on its stomach is as true
to-day as it was then, adequate provisions for man and beast being the
most important factor in military science. The economic feeding of
three-quarters of a million men in peace time is work enough. It
becomes a serious problem in the event of war, especially to a country
like Germany which is somewhat dependent on outside sources for the
feeding of her millions. The authorities, quite aware of a possible
blockading and consequent stoppage of imports, have made preparations
with their usual thorough German completeness. At any given time
there is sufficient foodstuff for man and beast stored in state
storehouses and the large private concerns to feed the entire German
army for twelve months. This might seem inadequate, but is not so,
the authorities being well aware that war in Europe at the present
time could and would not last longer than such a period.
Once a year these storehouses are overhauled and perishable or
deteriorating provisions replaced. Tens of thousands of tons of
foodstuffs, especially fodder, are sold far below their usual market
prices to the poorer classes, notably farmers. Likewise the material
used by the army is as far as possible supplied by the farmer direct.
The total absence of bloated, pudgy-fingered army contractors in
Germany is pleasant to the eyes of those who know the conditions in
some other countries I could mention.
Besides, the whole of the German fighting machine is so organized that
in all probability decisive battles would be fought in the enemy's
country, in which case the onus of feeding the troops would fall on
the enemy, called in military parlance "requisitioning and
commandeering." In this, German, and especially Prussian,
quartermasters are in no way behind their English confrères of whose
activity in the Boer War I know from personal experience.
To give but another instance of the scientific thoroughness in detail,
take a single food preparation--the Erbswurst (pea-meal sausage), a
preparation of peas, meal, bacon, salt and seasoning, compressed in a
dry state into air- and water-tight tubes in the form of a sausage,
each weighing a quarter of a pound. Highly nutritious, light in
weight, practically indestructible, wholesome, this is easily prepared
into a palatable meal with the simple addition of hot water. Of this
preparation huge quantities are always kept in stock for the army.
INTELLIGENCE
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