New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-19
TMpROVED WAR.

II happens occasionally that the Gguratve
language OF the poet and the graduating young
man Is made actual fact. IL has long been
the delight Of these imaginative individuals 10
refer TO the game OF war; though IN poih' oil
fact war has been anything but game III the
past War has never, Of course. been so serious
as some games: the bloodshcd incident to live
gam. Of football between ccvens from rival
,hcokkical Summaries will frequently eNceeI
that OF pitched battles: nevertheless war has
been far from being what il generally consid"f'H
an outdoor sport. But .cnd-of-th"-cen'nry IN
,.or,io, il changing all of this. The next war
is going to be- as harmless ~ croqu"t ana as
agreeable as Copenhagen. II will be played Tor
points the first side TO score one 'houSahu u
be declared the winner.
The last great step in putting war on ioo'ihg
with progressive cuchre is the invention Of bullet
proof cloth. recently reported from Europe. As
already announced by The Tribune, the Austrian
army has adopted the kind invented by Herr
Sylanccr, Of Paris; while it is probable that the
German soldiers will have their new spring suits
mad. up from the variety turned ont by n tailor
named Dowl at Mannheim. Ii is Il fashion which
il certain 70 spread, and before the year Is over
we doubt not every army in Europe will b. wear
ing it, After ALL bullct-proof cloth rather than
crinoine is probably going TO be the great feature
Of the 1913 fashions.
No doubt with the Introduction of bullet-proof
clothes smoltcless powder small calibrc rifles. steel
bullets and other improvements. number OF
different interesting military games will gradually
develop Targets may I've chal!,ed out on the
soldiers OF each side. after which they will blaze
away for an hour or so, and then representatives,
of some neutral Power will 90 about, count mp the
score and announce the winner. Probably the
steel bullets will make slight dent in the
CLOTH thus enabling the judges TO count each hit.
Any soldier found guilty OF removing the dents
in his clothes before they have been counted will
he punished by fine and Imprisonment. Or, per-
hops, it will be found better TO have the judges
move about along the lines while
the firing is going on, also dressed in
embarrassing garments. Of course. and note
each hit as IL is made. every shot that hits
a Judge 70 take of Of the score OF the
other side. All bullets that strike outside OF
the painted targets will not count anything. thus
realizing the generous offer of the thin. slight
man TO the large IA. man. who. as they were
about to fight a duel with pistols. to the COM
plant OF his adversary tnat he. the fat man,
was at q great disadvantage in such n contest,
replied that the dissatisfied one could mark
out place the size Of me On yourself all bullets
| lodge outside OF that not 10 count" Or, per
haps. with war outdoor sport a hint NAV
be borrowed from the game Of billiards, and
simply 20 hit man my rot amount TO any-
thing o point being scored only when the ball
carroms on another. BY using neghboring trees
and rocks for cushions. no doubt many difficult
shots can be executed and large runs made Can
nous end all Overgrown guns will he RICHLY
barred from the game
The great advantage OF the new warfare will, Of
course. be in the saving Of men Thousands
who were swept away in the old-stylc war will
now be saved for social and political purposes
Care will have TO he taken that the men do
not organize football teams while in camp, and
spread death and destruction among themselves
The new cloth makes no prctensions TO being
able to withstand the devastating kick of an
enraged quarterback, or the venomous bite OF
a maddened member Of tho rush line.