The morning call., 1894-07-07
BULLET-PROOF COATS.
Worn by Soldiers Cannon Will
Supersede Rifles.

we are right in our reasoning and If, again.
th-re IS not some latent but fatal defect in
Herr Doves system, he result on warfare VIII
Be a very remarkable one. Since the object of
war is 10 klI-"to place hOrs d. combat" is only
q less crude way Of putting the fact-new ways
Of Killing infantry and cavalry will have to
be devised. The chances Of hitting men in
the. lace at long distances with rife fire viii
not be good enough. But the only ways OF
killing effectively that will remain open will be
:arliIeIy hre, close combat with DayOnet and
ciupOed Ilne - preferably the latter, as the
eQlTass Will make the bayOnet difficult 10 use
Win eHect-and riding men down by cavalry
cDalges. 1he nrsL OF these, artillery fire, has
hitherto been regarded as of comparatively little
Importance 10 the matter Of killing. 1t is often
declared, indeed. that the chief effect produced
by the guns Is the moral effect. Though not
many are kllled, men do not Ike to be within
range OF artillery. Possibly, however the effect
OF artillery IRE could be increased In anv
case, and since everything is relative, the fact
Of the falling on Of efficiency in rife fire must
Increase the importance OF artillery fire
II is obvious, however, that the chief effect
Of bullet.prOof soldiers on the circumstances of
battle would be 10 Increase enormously the
amount of band-tO hand fighting. But hand-to-
hand fighting means an advantage 10 he
strongest and most athletic force. Now, it Will
seem from the bare enumeration OF the changes
which see NJ likely TO follow bulletproOf soldiers
that-a great advantage will be given TO England.
Bullet.proof cuirasses will give an advantage
TO the nation which can only bring small num-
ber Of troops into field. But that nation is Eng
: 'ianu. F. VIII increase the importance of artll
lery. But this should be In favor OF England
f0rtnOugh we have not the conscriptton and
so cannot get men in large quantities, we can
manufacture as many guns as we choose.
Next, the revival Of close combat ought TO be
:: in our favor, for Englsbmen are certainly bet
fer at the rough-aud-iumbe of close fighting
than their neigbbors. The infantry are nal urai-
~ more handy and more athletic, and tile cav
airy are. If not theor tcallv better riders more
capable lfoTsemen. An Englshmsn is more
likely TO get his horse 10 do the Impossible than
Eenchman or German. H. then. Herr
Doves invention enters The egion Of practical
warfare, The change will be IN EngIand's favor.
It viii give us chance 10 escape being
pres ed TO the ground by hostile millions.
In the navy, no less than in the army, the
'cGiTaSS should be Of enormous Importance.
During sea fight a great many things Will
want doing under storm OF rlfe-fre, but will
. hardly be double except In one OF Herr Doves
Jackets. A few bullet-proof sailors would be
godsend 10 captain when he was fighting his
shin against heavy Odds Iu the field, 90, the
curass will be OF great use 10 aItillerymen.
Since they do not have 10 march, but either
Tide.or sit on the gun-carriages there is no
reason why the gunners should not be very
elaborHInely protected by means Of
they are, they will be able 10 work their guns
in the open ana close quarters in a way which
is now eften impossible owing to the ire OF
sharpshooters. In truth there are hundred
points on which the buet-prOOf clolh-
ing alters all the conditions OF war 1t will
alter, 100, some of the conditions of civil life.
ItisurrectiOn against tinvulnerable men viii be-
come even more impossible than il is now.
Again. the result on small bodies of men travel
Ing in savage countries will be very marked.
When the savage cannot wound his white foe,
ey MEN so brave as the MataDeles VIII IND
resistance hopeless.
Possibly, however, all we have written is des-
tined 10 be quite beside the mark. not because
OF any law IN Herr Doves system, but for a
totally different reason. Suppose that the gun
smiths retaliaIe on Herr Dove Dy making gun
which Will send DulleI through bls culrasS? ln