Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-08-13
THE NEXT WAR.
MODERN GUNS WILL NECESsITATE
CHANGE IN TACTICS.

Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, In the July Gen.
tury says: The modern guns will make
great changes in the art Of war, and the
plans employed in former campaigns by
the great commanders will receive many
notifications. Defensive battles will be
at premium, and defensive warfare will
be simpliiied. Armies will maneuver
for position. and the generals command
ing them will gain fame by movements
skillfully conducted TO concentrate their
scattered battalio1s at the proper time,
with the purpose OF forcing an antsgo-
mist to give rather than to accept battle.
IL campaign with q designated object
i've point is planned, and the strategy Is
offensive on the part Of one Of the
commanders, IL possible his tactics will
be defensive. Hostile armies will keep
at greater distances and in open country,
out of sight of each other, unless they
can take up line at night and intrench:
and direct flank movements will not be
attempted where troops are visible be-
fore the assault. Field balloons will
locate the position, and photography
mark the formation, Of contending
forces, while telephones and electricity
drama. Night marching and night at
tacks will be more frequent, and columns
Of troops organized to charge stationary
positions will be moved under darkness
TO close points, so that the charge at
dawn will occupy the shortest time possi-
bic.
Raging battles will be fought by To-
fantry and artillery, and one OF the
problems will be the protection Of the
horses that draw the guns. Temporary
field works cannot shelter them, and un-
less hills afford protection they will
perish in the leaden hail. Cavalry will
not be employed on the main field OF
battle, hut on the flanks OF armies,
against cavalry. Cavalry chieftains will
no longer assail infantry or artillery. and
no more charges will be recorded like
those OF Ponsonby at Waterloo or Murat
at Jena. This arm will still be effective
In reconnaissances, picketing. guarding
trains and as escorts; but except In
small bodies its use for advance and
rear guards will be diminished. The
target presented is too large TO be risked
before field guns firing with great rapid
ity, even II several miles distant, as well
ss before infantry rifles, necessarily
flashing mile away.
ManeuveriDg a cavalry corps with,
saw, 10000 horses on future battle
field would be high type OF cruelty to
animals; but the regiments. brigades,
and divisions composing II can still rem
der good service. They can be moved
with celebrity long distances and the
troopers, except the horse-holders, can
be dismounted and used as infantry,
their modern carbines being nearly a.
effective as the magazine Of the infan-
tryman; but IL will be most difficult to
protect the horses while locating them
In such a position as TO reach their rid
ers, or be reached by them quickly, when
necessary.
Perhaps the most difficult problem 10
be solved By those who organize armies
in the future is the disposition and ar
rangement Of the immense ammunition
trains. The greedy guns must be fed,
and great will be their rapacity. Next
10 the commanding general and his prin-
cipal assistants will rank In importance
the field chief of ordnance, who has the
location of supply depots and the man
agement Of the transportation OF large
and small cartridges to the combatants.
The continual replenishing OF caisson
and Timber boxes, the smaller charges
for infantry during actual conflict, and
the safety and efficiency Of vast trains
where electric or steam roads can not be
constructed will require brave, enter
prising, cool, vigilant officer OF con-
spicuous ability and executive capacity.
The medical departments, too, must
be reorganized and enlarged to convey
the disabled to field hospitals, for field
ambulances can not be placed close to
battle lines and the numbers OF the
wounded will be greatly increased.
The great captains Of future wars will
be those who fully comprehend the de-
structive power Of improved cannon
and small arms, and whose calm and
fertile intellect will grasp the impor-
tance of so maneuvering as to force the
antagonist to give offensive battle, and
who will never be without "clear con-
ception of the object to be achieved and
the best way of achieving it." They
will parry and fence like great swords
men, but they will thrust only when
the enemy rushes upon them.