must learn the words of command, as well as the names of all the most necessary and important articles and details of the soldier's life, in German, but the instruction is imparted to him in his own language. Again, the absence of old experienced non-commissioned officers, so essential to the well-being of an army, is felt to be a very great evil; the man is just commencing to be useful. when his period of service with the colours expires, and he passes on into the reserve. Till lately but little was done to induce the best men to re-engage, the small extra daily pittance and premium allowed being insufficient to attract them, in the face of the great demand in civil life, without a claim to eventual pension.

Two years ago a law was passed which it is hoped. will produce, when it has come thoroughly into operation, the effect of inducing the really useful experienced men to serve on; it gives those who have served with the colours 12 years, 8 of which as a non-commissioned officer, claim to certain employments in the civil departments of the State, and on railways, &c., guaranteed and subventioned by the State, and makes it compulsory on such companies, &c., to reserve appointments and posts for this class, or at least to give them the preference before other candidates, under pain of punishment in the event of neglect. In view of these disadvantages, it must be acknowledged that the excellent and, to the uninitiated, almost incomprehensible results obtained from the system, are almost exclusively due to a hard-working

body of officers, who give themselves up entirely to their profession, not only doing the work of our officers, but also the duty which with us falls on the non-commissioned officers. The responsibility descends from the regimental, through the division and squadron, to the section commanders; these latter have, during the period between the joining of the recruits in October to May 1, when the section instruction must be completed, an uninterrupted struggle against time and difficulties; after imparting to the men the theoretical instruction in the school and the practical instruction in the open, the young horses have to be ridden and broken; they act, indeed, as rough-rider, riding-master, and school-master. Then, through the summer and autumn months, succeed squadron, division, regimental exercises, and lastly, according to circumstances, exercises in brigade or larger units. It is scarcely to be wondered at if the constant drudgery, the small pay, the indifferent quarters and slow promotion, now make it difficult, as undoubtedly is the case, to officer the cavalry.

On a mobilisation, the increase in men is obtained by calling up the furlough and reserve establishment to the extent required, and in order to ensure a sufficient number of non-commissioned officers, 10 per cent. in addition to the full war complement are required to be always maintained on the reserve roll of each regiment. The increase in officers is provided from the list of cavalry officers of the reserve, which comprises the one-year volunteers, who have

passed the prescribed examination on completing their year's service, and officers, who have been transferred at their own request from the active to the reserve list. These officers of reserve are assigned in peace to the several regiments they will be required to augment in war, and are borne on their rosters accordingly.

A very noticeable point in the cavalry organisation is the pioneer-training; the 4th section of the 6th squadron in each regiment is specially trained in the duties of destroying and repairing roads, railroads, &c., and lines of communication in general, so as to render the cavalry in war as independent as possible for every phase of operations; these sections are armed and equipped like the remainder of the regiment, but in the field carry also the tools, &c., required for their important duties. In each of the other squadrons of a regiment four men are trained to the more simple duties of pioneers, such as would ordinarily occur on the line of march, in camp, action, &c.; one man has a pick, and one a shovel, the others a hatchet, an axe, and a bag with small articles, nails, wire, &c. Each regiment, in war, has also to furnish a certain contingent for the field gendarmerie service, and, in peace, detaches two or three non-commissioned officers or men for training in the special duties required of them, under duly qualified and appointed officers; the instruction is imparted to the contingents of one or more brigades, combined into one detachment, at the larger manœuvres, in

camps, &c.; these men are borne on the supernumerary strength of the reserve squadron in war. The armament of the cavalry consists of the sword, carbine, lance, and pistol. The sword, with scabbard, weighs somewhat under 4 lbs. The carbine is the Werndl' breechloader, weighing about 7 lbs. 3 ozs. ; the calibre is 432 inches, length of barrel 22:14 inches; it is sighted up to 800 paces, and is in every respect an excellent weapon. The lance, of oak, weighs about 4 lbs. 2 ozs. ; the shaft is about 10 feet long, the head 8 inches; no flag is used. The pistol is a 6-chambered revolver, length of barrel about 7:32 inches, calibre the same as the carbine; weight about 3 lbs. Metal-cased, central-fire cartridges are used. Dragoon and hussar regiments carry sword and carbine; in lancer regiments 32 men per squadron, distributed equally among the four sections, are armed with the carbine instead of the lance, and placed in the centre of the rear rank, the object being to enable these regiments to employ a certain number of men, when necessary, as infantry. The non-commissioned officers are armed throughout with sword and pistol. The carbine is slung over the left shoulder, and held fast by a strap, attached to the pouch-belt at the centre of the back, which passes round the carbine just below the back-sight, and buckles on to the belt at the side, behind the right pouch. (The pouch-belt is worn round the waist, and has two pouches, one on either side of the clasp in front, each holding 15 rounds; in peace one only is carried.)

When the carbine is required for use, the sling is loosened, and the fastening strap unbuckled; the rifle is then slipped over the head; carried in this position, it is perfectly secure and steady, readily grasped, and, when the man is required to dismount for fighting on foot, being attached to the man, not to the saddle, does not occasion any loss of time; there is also no liability of injury to man, horse, or rifle. The belts are all of brown grained leather.

The Austrian cavalry soldier has no valise; he carries his kit in two large saddle-bags, connected by a band of leather about 4 inches long, which form part of his personal equipment; each bag, when flat, measures 14 inches by 8. The off bag contains the man's personal necessaries:-viz. I small book, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of drawers, I pocket-handkerchief, I pair of foot-wrappers, I towel, I pair of gloves or mits, I cap, I clothes-brush, a small looking-glass, a tooth-brush, a comb, a piece of soap, and a housewife. The near bag contains the cleaning articles, &c. :-viz. horse-brush and curry comb, 3 blacking and boot brushes, I grease-brush, oil-bottle, grease-box, blacking-tin, wooden salt-box, buttonstick and brush, knife, fork, and spoon, apron and nose-bag; in the field also 24 rounds of ammunition. The saddle-bags are fastened to the pommel of the saddle. When packed, they weigh 16 lbs. 5 ozs.; in the field, the ammunition brings the weight up to 17 lbs. 13 ozs. The cloak is carried, rolled, behind the saddle; the weight is 6 lbs. 14 OZS. The advantage