The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-12
THE FUTURE OF WAR.
Great Changes WIN he Brought
About by Modern Guns.

Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in the Century.
The modern guns win make great chang
IS in the art Of war, and the plans en-
ployed in former campaigns by the great
manders will receive many notifications.
Defensive battles will be at a premium.
and defensive warfare will be simplihed.
Armies will vancouver for position. and
the generals commanding them VIII gain
fame by movements skIufuliy conducted
TO concentrate their scattered battalions
to the proper time with the purpose Of fore
ing an antagonist 10 give rather than ac-
cept battle. If a campaign with a deslg-
mated objective point is planned, and the
strategy is offensive on the part Of one
of the commanders, II possible his tao
tics will be defensive Hostile armies will
keep at greater distances and in open
country out of sight of each other, un-
less they can take up line at night and
intrench; and direct flank movements VIII
not be attempted while troops are visible
before tho assault. Field balloons viii To-
cate the position end photography mark
the formation, of eontendng forces, while
telephones and electricity will plav an
important and profninaht part in the war
drama Night marching and night at
tacks win 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 tme possible.
Raging battles will be fought by infan-
try and artillery, and one of the problems
will be the protection of the horses that
draw the guns. Temporary field works
cannot shelter them; unless hills afford
protection they will perish in the leaden
hail Cavalry will not be employed on the
main field of a battle, but on the TANKS Of
armies against cavalry. Cavalry chief
tains will no longer assail Infantry OF artil-
lery, and no, more charges will be re-
corded Hike those { ffaofEsonby Water
loo or Murat at Jena. This arm will stll
be effective in "Reminiscences picketing,
guarding trains and as escorts; but eX-
cept in small bodies its use for advance
and rear guards will be diminished. The
target presented is too large TO he risked
before field guns firing with great rapid
ty, even IL several miles distant, as well
as before infantry rifles necessarily fash
ing a mile away.
Maneuvering q calvary corps with, say,
TO- 600 horses on future battlefield would
be a high type of cruelty to animals; but
the regiments, brigades and divisions com
posing IL can still render good service.
They can be moved with celebrity long
distances, and the troopers, except the
horse holders; can be aismounted and used
as infantry, their modern carbines being
nearly as effective as the magazine rife Of
the infantrymen; but II will be most diff
cult to protect the horses while locating
them in such position as to render their
riders or to be reached by them quickly,
when necessary.
Perhaps the most interesting problem
to 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 capacity. Next to the
commanding General and his principal as
sistants will rank in Importance the field
chief or ordnance, who has the location
of supply depots and the management Of
the transportation of large and small cart
ridges to the combatants. The continual
replenishing of caisson and timber boxes,
the smaller charges for infantry dur
ing actual conflict, and the safety and eff
ficiency Of vast trains where electric or
steam roads connot be constructed, will
require a brave, enterprising, cool vigil
liant officer of conspicuous ability and ex-
ecutive capacity.
The medical departments, too, must
be reorganized and enlarged TO convey
the disabled to field hospitals, for field
ambulances cannot be placed close to bat
tie 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 win grasp the importance of SO
maneuvcriHg as to force the7antagonist to
give offensive battle, and who will never
be without a "clear conception OF the OBJ
ject to be achieved and the best way Of
achieving IT," They will parry and fence
like great swordsmen, but they will thrust
only when the enemy rushes upon them.