The National tribune., 1894-09-06
SCARECROWS.
The Losses in Future Battles to be Smaller
Than Ever.

Than Ever.
1.-THE Figarol
xessp yIng descriptions have been given of
the destructive effects of the bullets of the
modern rifles. Certainly the picture of the
future field of battle, drawn by the Surgeon
iG-Chief OF the German army, DR.. Won C0ler,
is not encouraging for those who expect to
take part in the lugubrious drama. One
shoulders at the thought of the horrible mu-
| tilations described by the German doctor.
But, after all, it is grave mistake to believe
| that these terrible engines of destruction will
increase the proportion of victims. On the
contrary, it is the opinion of those who ought
to know best that this proportion will be
reduced.
Notwithstanding outward appearance, the
application of science to the military arts
tends to render a battle less murderous, tax
ing it as whole. Experience and history
prove this conclusively. Without going
back to ancient times, when one army was
exterminated by another, when the Cartha-
gnians and the Romans often lost from 90 to
80 per cent Of their effective forces it is only
! necessary to deal with comparatively recent
dates TO show that, since the appearance of
firearms on battlefields, the proportion of
losses, considering the number of men en-
gagged, has always diminished in proportion
to the advances made in offensive weapons.
In the great battles of the 100-years' war
the proportion of losses was often from 80
to 80 or even 40 per cent. In the wars of
the First Empire it dropped to 20 or 25 per
cent, and at Borodino, the bloodiest battle
Of the Imperial epoch, it was only 80 per
cent.
In the battles of Magenta and Solferino
the losses were from Is to Is per cent, and
OF GaHn In 4ha
great battles around Metz in 1870 the losses
were still further reduced to IL or IA per
cent, and later on in the campaign the re-
duction dropped down to 5 and 6 per cent.
Are we now going to see this lugubrous
average increased? Are we going 10 return
to the battles for mutual determination
Not bit of it, and the reason is very simple.
What is a battle? 1t is the collision of
two armies, each seeking to drive back the
other by gaining over it, through the effect
of material destruction, that moral superb
ority which constitutes victory. Very
well; with the perfection of the present
arms the power of destruction is increased,
the material action is more rapid; but one
thing is not changed, and that is the human
heart; and as battle must always be an
affair of moral effect, the hearts of the SOL
diers at the critical moment must decide the
victory.
In the struggle death is in the air all
around, invisible and blind. The soldier
hears its kissing whispers as it passes.
Courage, discipline, the example of the COM
handing officers may hold the combatants
face to face for a time; but there comes a
moment when on ole side, as on the other,
the staying power gives out, and that means
victory for the one whose morale is the more
solid.
The more rapid and destructive the effects
of the modern weapons may be the less seri-
Gus, as a whole, must be the destruction nee
essary to obtain the desired result-the
retreat of one of the two opposing forces.
To prove this an example suffices, and it
will not be questioned by any one who
knows anything of fighting in the field.
Troops may be under fire for hours, and
may lose one-third of their effective forces
without waver, provided these cruel losses
are extended over a considerable space of
time. But if in few moments One-fifth Or
one-fOurth of their effective forces are swept
away, depend upon it, there are no troops in
the world that would not weaken. The test
would be too severe for any troops on earth.
The same company that might lose without
budging an inch 100 men in battle lasting
an entire afternoon would probably break
and run if they lost 40 in 10 minutes.
The conclusion, therefore, is that with the
new arms the effects will be terrific at GER
tain points but in their entirety proportion
ately, of course, with the number of combat
ants, the losses will be fewer than ever.