Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-05

LscfuRE.-Last evening Msjor Szabad deliv-
cred a lecture at the Smithsonian before the
Of War" The science of war, he said, IL d.
vided Into two parts-the knowledge how TO select
ground, and 10 prepare troops. IL IL a mistaken
idea to suppose that regulars are sny better than
volunteers, simply because they ara regulars.
Volunteers, with proper drill, are just efficient,
and In many cases more so, as they have volun-
tertly taken up arms TO battle for special object,
and engage In II with spirit and enthusiasm.
The locality of war IL divided into the base Of
operations, the line lines Of operations and the
stragetic points. The latter forms the most i'm.
portant part Of the science OF war, upon which
little knowledge can be derived save from the
example Of distinguished generals. These can
only bes determined by the judgment and fore
sight OF the commander. When rivers or noun
ains separate two hostile armies each having their
rear open, there Is but little trouble with regard TO
the base OF operations; but when face to face, II
then becomes necessary to occupy two bases which
forms the chief difficulty. The forming Of troops
II the essence Of their value, and 10 much easier
than strategy. The Invention of new arms and
weapons does not so much mark the progress of
the world In military science a. does the improved
arrangement Of troops, and the order and harmony
insufficient to supply the lack Of military knowl.
edge In q campaign. Tactics enhance the value
Of men, and by forming them into divisions
render body almost invincible against the attack
Of twice their number Of undisci plined troops
Tue reform In the line Of battle has much TO do
with the increased efficiency Of an army The
line OF Oustavus Adolphus, who was great
military reformer, would be Of little service now
and would subject Its troops 70 utter defeat The
Greek soldiers wee formed into solid body
sixteen deep and extending to the right and left,
rende1ing the army unwieldy and easy to be
thrown into disorder. The Roman legion was a
great improvement upon this. IL divided the
army into three lines, each ten ranks deep Each
line had ten companies, which rendered them
easy OF being shifted to repe attacks from different
quarters The line OF battle continued to be
reduced In depth, until In 1910 II was composed
only OF two ranks, Its presen. form. An army at
the present day occupies much more space than
In ancient times, add hence the difficulty of efi-
cient generalshlp. Orders upon a battlefield
cannot be arbitrary, but are given by the COM
handing officer, to be executed at distant point
subject to the discretion Of the officer in COM
mand in that locality. staff officers are not simply
Tor pomp and display, nor merely to carry orders
but are the advises Of the general, and help
work out the results Of campaign. The great
cnaracterstics OF an armys power 10 Its knowledge
OF tactics, by which 1t IL capable Of rapidity Of
transformation into different forms and Of unity
In assailing an enemy. Tactics, properly, are not
simply the rules Of military evolutions, but the
knowledge Of the proper time to move.
The lecturer illustrated his principles by means
OF diagrams, and the narration Of incidents in the
career OF Napoleon, when that general was en-
abled by strategy and military skill to overwhelm
an army vastly superior in numbers.
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