MANCEUVRES (Fr. niamrurre, OF. man ourre, manovre, from manuopera, V anupera, a working with the band, from Lat, manes, hand ± opera, work). Field exercises of large or small bodies of troops. designed to teach in time of peace the duties of troops in war. la Europe these are carried on in most great armies through out the year, the grand manamvres (of one or more army corps) usually taking place in the autumn. and simulating the conditions of war as closely as possible. In the United States there are similar operations. usually held in the fall, in which the Regular Army and the militia par ticipate.
Naval manamvres and the combined manamvres of sea and land forces working in harmony are of more recent origin than their military counter part. Frederick the Great of Prussia first con ceived the idea of having sham battles between his troops, an idea which Napoleon utilized in the great camp of Boulogne in 1805, during his preparation for the invasion of England. It was Von Moltke, however, and the Prussian general staff who first developed the idea of motheuvres into its full modern significance. and in the com bined naval and military operation around the city of Flensburg in Schleswig-Holstein (1890) set an example which was S0011 copied. The United States naval and military manwuvres held in 1902 in the vicinity of Ne'w York followed practically the same plan of campaign as did Germany in the instance already cited. England
and France. and the United States, hold periodh eal naval maincuvres, the problem usually being the attack or defense of shore defenses• in naval mameuvres particularly, conditions may he created which are faithful replicas of :lethal battles and campaigns. Besides their value in the formulation of the most effective seheme of shore defense against attack or invasion, they are just as important in the training under war conditions of the naval personnel. besides which they afford commanders excellent experienee in the practice of battle tactics and strategy. Flaws in methods and material which otherwise !night not he disenvoreli mail too late are noted and subsequently remedied: new ideas in the applica. lion of strategical or tactical principles carried out the employment of torpedoes, mines, de• strnyers, submarines, wireless telegraphy, search lights, and the various experiments in coaling at sea. thoroughly tested: and the whole carefully observed and noted by officers of the National Government appointed for the purpose. whose report usually forms the basis for future naval legislation. Sec TAcrtcs, Miumny; TACTICS, NA VA L.