Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-04
THE RIFLE AND THE SPADE MOP.
EkN WARFARE.


EkN WARFARE.
few days ago. Captain Tyler, of the Royal
Engineers, deliver n lecture in London on
The Ride and the Spade, or the Future of
Field Operations which seems to have at
tracted much attention. IA fOreshadowing what
part gunPowder may play in shaping the des-
TIMES OF Europe with the added potency of
recent inventions. The relative capabilities of
the ride and field srtilery were considered in
detail kIhemen produced the results of their
practice. and asserted that Geld artillery could
NO longer stand against them. Advocates of
the latter, though conceding that rifles might
be uncomfortable il brought too near believe
that the standard Of intelligence i'm the army
Is not up TO the requisites for efficient rihemen
The Armstrong gun did not so closely affect
this question rs might be expected. Its powers
to produce accurate effects at long ranges were
very great; bu, il would prove little superior
To other guns. ia keeping of wholly or partly
concealed skirR.ishers, aud its powers could
not Ge proftably employed in a contest with
this sort of men. at small arm range The
ridel musket would not OF course prove as
effective IL actual warfare as in home practice
because the men would not fro with the same
steadIneSs; and for this reason many who had
expected great results from the introduction of
this arm had been disappointed Old disei-
Piined soldiers. only. would realize all reason
able expectations which had been formed of
the efficiency of the new weapons Improve
ments generally were travelling in the diree-
tiOn of increased power and precision. both
In artillery and small arms; and any means
IN which large quantities of expensive am
munitlOn were employed with comparatively
small or uncertain results. would necessa-
rily give way to some extent before these
qualities Captain Tyler proceeded 10 speak
of the essential notifications which the use
of improved weapons must effect in military
tactics. particularly in the use of earth-works
and other defenees; and doubtless having re-
ference To the late experience of English troops
in India, his observations are Of practical value
Upon this point he remarked as follows:
But II was clear that the guns must be placed
more under cover than they had hitherto been.
when they are expected TO act against infantry
at short ranges; and it was evident that the
tendency would be for guns to be employed
more against each other, more against de-
fences, more at longer ranges. and less against
troops with half mile ranges than heretofore
While field artillery would thus be partially
superseded IN one set Of duties, there were
Others Of the highest Importance devoIvine
upon 1T. The new rilled guns would, under or
dinsry circumstances. he more valuable in con-
requenee OF their improved precision at ranges
from coo to 5000 yards, and Of their lower
trajectary, than or account Of the still greater
ranges that could be obtained from them An
accurate FIRE Of shot and she'll to ruin defenses
and of shells fired at higher elevations amongst
the defenders, would be urgently required in
all future eases of assaults. to assist in restor-
ing to the attack that which il has lost, in con-
sequence of the superiority which the rifle had
afforded to the defence. Without such assist-
ance to the attack, infantry soldiers would be
able. at least by day. in small works feeble
entTenchments, Villages or farms to make
the most obstinate reSiStances. and to occasion
the most serious losses to their assailants
The best artillery we could procure also
was urgently required for the defence of in
.,rtqu uOIUtS 4
be more than ever wanted for general use in
consequence of the increased use of entrench-
Iaeuts that wVuld result from the common en-
ploymcnt Of the rife. The necessity for such
eEtfeA hments had become obvious No body of
troops contending against an enemy AIMED
with the improved weapons of modern times
would be safe when rihed guns and muskcts
came into full use. 50 long as they were un-
covered. and 50 long aS hostile sharpshooters
could approach within half a mile. or hostile
field guns within three times that distance of
them IL would not be possible efficiently to
protect tie masses by means of skirmiShers
sent out for the purpose. Soldiers could carry
nH armour tha! would save them from the ef-
fectS of such weapons. and earthen parapets
combined with natural obstacles were the ONLY
means by which future armies could hope TO
Iiace themselves beyond the reach of continual
annoyance, and even of gradual annhiIatiun
An army taking GP position III presence of
the enemy would, therefore, fnd it necessary
in future to entrench itself in that position
Defensive works. constructed as not TO inn
pede subsequent offensive operations, would be
required for the protection Of defensive pOsi-
tiunS, and similar works would even be re1uired
IN AID Of offensive operations. When a lost
was occupied 1t must De entrenched in order to
be maintained; when piece of ground was ac-
quired from the enemy which it was important
Ia hold. 1t would be useful, if not indispensable,
u entTench II IN order that ii might serve as a
firm basis from which further advances might
be made: and any works that were seized would
require to have their defences reversed in the
shortest possible time. In fact, field engineer
ing must. in consequence of those rifle i'm
prOyements, enter more and more into combi-
nation with military tactics; facilities for the
employment of the spade arc becoming of great
er importance IL proportion as the range and
accuracy of the soldiers musket and of heavy
guns are practically increased. We could not
expect TO make the most of our rifles or to find
ourselves IN the position which ought to as
sumo in future warfare, without n better in
: strncted digging infantry and vastly increased
force OF sappeTs. who would shoot at least as
well as other troops, who would be ready 10 dig
or To fight, To conduct their special duty, or 10
perform the ordinary duties of the soldier as
might be required Of them. The infantry SOL
dier,whO, in virtue of his senOrmously-increased
powers, has become Of 50 much greater IMPORT
ance, shUdId nov be better trained, better elu-
Gated, with regard particularly TO his profes-
sl"nal aequIreinents,) and better prepared i'm
every way for that which he is to undergo
The best infantry that nation could now pos
sess. would be one In which every man was not
only good rifeman. but also a good sapper.
30 hereafter the shovel il one of the most ne
cessary implements Of warfare; and they who
thirst for glory can easily borrow this useful
tool for an hour or two, ut any time, and see
how they like it, without any personal risk
WHO INVENTED FRICTION MATCHES,
From the earliest ages the priority of yalua-
Die Inventions haa hcen claiInnd hr .Iia...s..