How this is done I shall explain
when I come to transportation. In each of those district commandos
are depots, Montirungs-Kammern (arsenals), where a full equipment for
each individual on the roll is kept. The marvelous quickness with
which a civilian is transferred into a fully equipped military unit
must be seen to be believed, and is only made possible through
systematic training and constant maneuvers. These maneuvers are
costly, but have long been recognized in German military circles as
essential in training the units and familiarizing the commanders with
the handling of enormous masses of men. In the last Kaiser maneuvers
over half a million men were concentrated and massed; in fact,
shuttlecocked from one end of the Empire to the other without a hitch.
The control of the army in peace or in war lies with the Emperor. He
is the sole arbiter and head. No political or social body of men has
any control in army matters. No political jealousies would be
permitted. Obedience and efficiency are demanded. Mutual jealousies
and political tricks such as we have seen in the Russian campaign in
the East and lately in France are impossible in the German system, for
the Emperor would break instantly, in fact has done so, any general
guilty of even the faintest indication of such an offense. And there
is no appeal to a Congress, a Chamber of Deputies, or political organ
against the Emperor's decision.
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