New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-21
IMPROVEMENTS IN TIE ART OF VAR.

The gold medal offered by the Military Ser
vice Institution for the best essay Important I'M
provemens in the art of war during, the past twenty
years and their probab effect future military oper-
atons" has been awarded to Lieutenant-Coonel Henry
NJ. Lazele, formerly Commandant OF Cadets ana IN
structor of Tactics at the West Point Military Academy
The essay sxtysx pages Of printed matter and
is divided into two parts. Five essays submitted
to the committee award. Tho two that were re-
garled next to observation-disclosures Lazees In merit
written by Lieutenant Francis Yinton Greene, OF
the Engineer Corps aud General Merritt OF the fitn
Cavalry. The first part Of Lieutenant-Coonel Lazeues
essay devoted to the consideration of Important I'M
provements in the art Of during the past twenty
years" In his Introductory remarks he says: The
military spirit though occasionally antagonistc to rapid
evolution In civilization has not unfrequenty been a
large factor of the most progressive ideas Ana at all
times only has the conduct OF war been in harmony
with development OF the period, but the appliances
of have literally represented the relative state OF
material progress OF the age. The presfnt, rs the
machine age OF the industrial arts, reflects more than
any other the machine age of warfare Its characteristics
being the application Of mechanical arts to the Offensive
and defensive energies Of nations at war"
Colonel Lazclo then gives account OF the develop
OF rfed guns, whose advent restored In great
measure the prestige OF artillery after its Importance had
almost wholly destroyed by the invention OF rhed
small arms. The rned guns in in this and European
countries and the different systems OF ring are next
noticed, and high compliment Is paid to the krupp
gum which the writer says gun of greater general
accuracy and higher power than Others relative to
weight Of metal" regard to light field artillery he
also says that Herr Krupp has produced unquestonaoy
the best hit field gun In the world In regard To NOR
Colonel Lazele thinks II is question whether the
application OF rng and rihed projectiles to them Is
gain commensurate with the outlay demanded but be
lieves that the general ad ptn abroad OF 11ned how'll
GERS has been fully warranted by improved range aud
rent in the mechanism of breech-load
bepu MAJ
been simpled and made perfectly relablei they nave
thoroughly tested in war, and breechloading hed
guns have been adopted by great European Powers
England excepted. improvements IN breech-lO9dnS
racy OF Are IN the protection afforded ginners guns Of
all calibres; in rapidy OF LOADING heaYy gum anu III
reater safety from more complete spongng oil cham-
Improved sights range finders and machine guns are
rife firing machines have ammunition INTERCHANGEABLE
with that OF the infantry arms They discharge from
but little inferior to that OF the best breec loading Small
arms Their weight Is great compared 70 Tue enaIge,
and there IS no dstn )anee IRON rccoll Inc ile.hey
simple is little liable TO get out OF order ana Tor nahk
ing bitches, firing against columns or moving oodes 0i
infantry. cavalry or parks OF artn!eIy' Iese fs ar
invaluable It is urged. however that In obtaining an
from machine gun Of this cabre equal to that OF
about fifty men armed with the brcech loader, we are
liable to lose the whole at any moment from the GRIP
png OF any of the parts Of the gun and that the equip
ment in men horses and material OF battery OF these
guns cumbrous compared with so dler' ana mat snch
guns can always be antagOniZed ny Few superior
marksmen. While II is manifest that such gun win
the range of small cannot be successfully opposed
be very destructive; while gun sheld rife proof, in
terposed front OF It's gunners would prevent their
from the of battery Of six Calling guns rifle call
bre. against infantry line at from 1000 t. 1000
and tnat would require 400 men TO defend position
efficiently as ten machine guns the men being armed
with brcech-oaders." ,
In concluding the subject of improvements in small
arms, he says: BY comparison OF onr service rihe |
with chose Of European countries it will be seen that
Is about equal In power to any except the Martlhl-
Henry aggregate results of range penetration &C
curacy and rapdity of fire. gain of power in small arms
the last twenty years may be safely asserted as eght
times greater in accuracy; tWothrds greater IN range
and penetration, and five times greater IN rapidly or
aimed fire; while the weight OF cartridges mas peeII
minshed and the number per man that may be carried
increased"
in civil threw aside the traditions OF European
cavalry, jngling, brilliant and costly, massng and
sell 1eending power against al arms" The consider
alton armed defenses field elegaphy torpedoes and
second part devoted to the probable effect Of impor
tant improvements m the art 81 war IN future ut military
advantages gained to defensive works may be summed
up:-in the diminished number of salents; larger lines
OF defence cost the use OF simple lines In uniting
strong saens and the greater unity Of artillery and
Great stress laid the Importance of artillery in
warfare; and the system OF masSlng so success
fully employed by Napoleon Is advocated; In regard
the erect OF modern Improvements IN infantry ght
ing skrnsh line, closer than 1t was formerly and kept
up the maximum is laid down as the proper attacking
line. In regard to the defence Colonel Lazee says:
vantageous for fighting, and imposes less loss. He
TO move the instant the point OF attack is made manifest
as well "a be ready To assume. at any moment the
Offensive for strictly defensive battle is never won"
In conclusion he says BY lines OF rail and rivers. and
by the telegraph the operations OF war are brought into
close and rapid, strained connection. Distant
cnmuaigns formerly impOsshloare now wholly pract
"a ne Whatever of the theatre OF war results
are quickly integrated, and the ultimate effect is the
same as though the field of movement was far more
Contracted The mechanism OF IL more delicate,
and a force anywhere applied is everywhere Quickly
felt aud because of this state OF absolute tension OF
parts there should nowhere be permitted manipuations
by amy but master hands"