The Labor enquirer., 1883-11-17
How the People Will Meet the
VindHtiye Plots Of
Capital. Ilsi
Revolutionary War Science Dis
cussed by an Experienced
officer.
4 Scientific Article Dealing With
u Methsb gof Attack and II
Defense. 4nfssi


readers to the following valuable, and
highly important article, communicated
to certain Revolutionary Journal as far
back IS 1881, BY a military officer in ac-
tive service in the-army, in sympathy
with our cause, and whose standing is a
guarantee of his profound and thorough
knowledge of the subject treated.l
The chances Of two bodies of the same
strength as each other are, in the open
field, measured by their training, disci-
pline, and the skill of their commanders.
The chances of these same bodies on
the battle aeld inside Of a town depend
merely upon the knowledge of the locali-
ties, their proper utilization, and the or
ganization of those defending barricades.
1t is1eyident that, where an accurate
knowledge of the intricacies of irregular
ly built quarters is combined with ap-
propriate defensive operations, the ad-
vantage to the defensive force must be
very decided, permitting it to be even
very inferior in numbers to that with
which an enemy must attack it, thereby
enabling the defensive line to be proper
tionally reinforced. "a f~r.it A.
A defensive position in town must
fulfill the conditions which are essential
toevery military position; viz, security
to the fanks, strength to the front, easy
communications along the rear, and easy
lines of retreat. s,--5r5E5s ..sfr as-e
The method of organizing such a posi-
ton intown is generally to draw Gordon
across the town, covering that part which
it is intended to defend. The f1anks will
be the first objects of attention. If the
town be fortified, the fanks will rest on
the ramparts on each side, and will be
made as strong as local circumstances will
allow. The ramparts, where the fanks
rest, will be cut across by ditch, and
parapet behind, and any high and strong
buildings should be occupied, from which
a fire could be directed against the flank
: of the assailants as they advanced along
the rampant to the assault of the trench
and parapet. If there are no ramparts,
the fanks should rest on some large,
strong buildings; and, in order to protect
the rear, the lines of defense should form
a return face to the rear at each flank,
the termination of which must be as
strong as possible. The line of defense
between the hanks is formed by con-
structing barricades across all the streets
of approach, the houses on each side Of
which will afford fenking defense to
the barricades. Thus each street forms
a veritable defile, the enclosing houses
being occupied by troops, whose free pas
sage from one to another is insured by
breaking way through the partition
walls, which can easily, and without
much loss of time, be effected by ex-
plosive matters, or by creating means
of communication along the roofs, or by
both methods at once. g.. .f r
The assailants must then either venture
into the streets, exposed to direct fire
of grape from the barricades, and to a
fianking musketry from the houses, or
they must fight their way through long
line of houses in succession-the passage
from every house to the next being de-
file of the most formidable description.
The defenders would, besides, fortify and
occupy with garrisons any large and
strong buildings in front of the general
line of defense which happen to flank the
approaches of the enemy, provided, al
ways, that the safe retreat of the defend
ing part could be secured; also, all such
buildings which, being in rear of the line
of defense, command and str engthenth the
avenues of retreat.
It will be evident to anybody having
only the least military comprehension,
that to attack such a position in front,
and by open force, would be formidable
operation, and one nearly impossible to
succeed. No troops, even with artillery
can force barricade2 after barricade In
narrow streets, with the houses occu-
pied bv foes; their number would soon
melt away.
The only chance of success for the as
sailants would, therefore, consist in fore,
ing the defenders to attack by taking up
positions which molest them, and thus
compelling them to act against fortified
houses and barricades, instead of under
their cover. This was the case In Paris
in 1871, where the assailants, continually
working round one flank of the defensive
position, succeeded I'M establishing them
selves so as to threaten its communlca'
ton with the rear, and forced them te
quit, one after the other, the barricades
at the Champs Elysees the Tuilleries
the Rue de Rivoli. etc.
This could have been made impossible
by securing the fanks in an effective
way, which measure was inexcusably
neglected by the defenders of the Com
mune.
Had this been done, it would have
only remained for the Versailleans te
attack by open force, which would have
entailed such an enormous sacrifice o.