Through this vast and far-reaching system of
transportation Germany is enabled to throw a million fully equipped
men on to either of her frontiers within forty-eight hours. She can
double this host in sixty hours more.
VICTUALIZATION
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.
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