ARMY AND NAVY MANOEUVRES. The object of manoeuvres is to train, in time of peace, the fighting forces of a nation by han dling them, as far as practicable, as in time of war, the forces designated being divided for this purpose into two opposing bodies. Previous military training is presupposed. Manoeuvres are of three kinds: First, Land manoeuvres, tak ing place entirely on land; second, Naval manoeuvres, where fleets manoeuvre against fleets; third, Combined army and navy manceu vres. The last two are of comparatively recent origin. Manoeuvres are now annually held in all the principal countries of Europe. They are the culmination and test of the military in struction of the year. As operations in the grand manceuvres are carried on over a large extent of territory, the time fixed is after the crops are harvested so that agricultural interests are interfered with as little as possible. The annual manceuvres begin with regimental and brigade exercises for the infantry, with battalion exercises for field artillery (a battalion consists of two or more batteries) and with special manceuvres for cavalry. Manoeuvres are also carried on all over the country by the army corps not participating in the grand manceuvres. The program for the grand manceuvres is carefully worked out beforehand by the general staff.
These manceuvres are of great value in train ing officers, especially staff officers. They also serve as a sort of examination for officers, whose work in the field comes under the obser vation of their superiors. Officers showing zeal and ability are marked for advancement, while those whose work does not come up to the standard are reproved or even more severely dealt with. In the United States circumstances have prevented the carrying on of army manceu vres except on a small scale, the American army being so widely scattered that a large enough force to make it worth while could not be brought together without great inconvenience and expense.
Naval Manoeuvres may be tactical or stra tegical; the former having to do with the handling of fleets when they are within sight of each other, the latter when they are not. As all the elements, such as size and speed, character and arrangement of armor, number and power of guns, of different classes of ships, battle ships, cruisers and torpedo boats, are well known, it is supposed, when they come in con flict, that the result will be a foregone conclu sion, assuming the personnel to be of equal quality. The personal element, the man behind
the gun, while of vital importance in war, is a factor that cannot be easily estimated in tactical manceuvres. Much more attention is therefore given to strategical manceuvres. A fleet going out for manceuvres is divided into two squad rons, one to attack, the other to defend. A passive defense is not contemplated. While the object may be the defense of a harbor, the way to accomplish it is not to wait in port for the enemy, but to go out to seek him on the open sea. Otherwise the advantage of one of the most valuable characteristics of ships, their mobility, would be lost. In the United States combined army and navy manceuvres were in augurated in 1902. The decision as to whether the fleet or the land forces win is of minor im portance. The manceuvres are of great value to both the army and navy. For the former they give instruction in the most efficient means of coast defense, including the co-ordination of all its various elements; the best system of fire control; the best location and employment of search-lights and range-finders; the best means of obtaining and transmitting information. They serve to point out any defects in the lo cation and plans of the fortifications, and whether the number, type and mounting of guns are the best adapted for the purpose at any particular site. For the navy they afford a test of the means of obtaining the'ranges of the forts and batteries, and of conveying the infor mation to the officers in charge of the guns. They give information as to the effect of mines and obstructions in impeding the movements of ships and the methods to be used in forcing such a passage or in removing the obstructions. They give instruction as to the best manner of approach and of manoeuvring under fire, the formations to be used, the speed and the dis tance between ships; the method of attacking by night or in a fog; the use of the search-light for lighting the target or blinding the eyes of the enemy s gunners or range-finders. The manceuvres rouse the interest and stimulate the esprit de corps of the personnel of both services and teach it to make the best use of war ma terial under conditions as nearly as possible like those of actual war.