The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-02-19

10 return 10 earth and see with what
strides the science OF war has adj
saneed during his absence. No more
'ould his heavy battle columns BE- sue
'esaiully launched. no more could Mu-
-at' his magnificent cavalry leader
ide over an army with his daring horse
men.
In place Of the grand and picturesque
bayonet charge We have thin aklrmish
lines. seeking 10 crush the enemy with
their fire alone. and modern cavalry
viii probably never again charge on the
battlefield.
To begin with. Il o. assumed by mill
AIRY authorities at present that the &C.
'upation Of territory by a hostile army
AN be such a crushing burden that we
must prevent u al an hazards. The
hrai and perhaps the decisive battle
u the war will therefore take place as
soon aud as near the frontier as pos
siDle. Where this frontier. as In most
European countries. Is merely line on
me map. aud Is not a natural obstacle.
che commander-in-chlef will probably
set his forces in motion for It as soon
after the declaration OF war a. Is pos
slble.
His army will be preceded by great
clouds Of cavalry. pushed forward both
10 reoonnoltor and TO hold back the
advanced bodies OF the enemy. In ad-
Hilton 70 this. his screen OF cavalry will
serve 10 conceal the movements OF his
main body from the enemy. skirmlshes
between the advanced cavalry Of the
Two armies viii BE- OF frequent occur
'ence. AZ last one OF the commanders
not wishing to advance further without
accurate Information aud prevented
rom obtaining this by the enemy's cav
airy screen, will make arrangements for
breaking through this screen. Concen-
rating his own cavalry. be will launch
{ al some weak point IN the enemy's
mounted advance guard.
II the attack Is kept secret Il proba-
oily will succeed with ease: II the enc
NY Is warned In time he. too. will con
'entrate and great cavalry battle will
'esult The victor In the engagement
viii succeed In obtaining all the in
formation he desires. while the defeated
cavalry viii tall back on their main
body Of infantry Thus will end the
irst phase Of a modern war.
Every gun OF his artillery will be
brought TO bear upon the guns OF the
iciense. and until the concentrated ar
tlllery FIRE succeeds In sllenclng and
rushing the defenders artillery the at
tackog will move forward with his
infantry. for a rifled gun will nov carry
over five miles. It's FIRE becomes decisive
Al $500 yards. and murderOus at 2 700
Yards. so that an infantry attack would
be doomed TO disaster al the outset un-
less the artillery Of the defense were
drst sllenced.
AZ last the ineessant pounding OF the
guns has done It's work-the opposing
artillery has been silenced. and the
artillery Of the attack can rest for a
time. Now comes the chance for the
Infantry. Spread on, into three thin
lines hring lines. supports aud re-
serves they move forward. The firing
line. IN open order. moves a quarter or a
hIf-mlle In front Of the supports. a like
or greater interval separating these
from the reserves. who may be- In
Slightly denser order.
The defense has probably improvised
some way OF hastily lntrenehlng itself.
an that We see Is a little ridge OF earth
stretching along In front OF ua, and all
ve know Is that somewhere behind that
ridge lies the enemy. We cannot see
them. for they are sheltered by the
trenches: we cannot even see their posi-
ton when they FIRE. for smokoless pow.
der does not hotray IT, user. A thou
sand yards away. and the firing limo Is
losing heavily; the supports are closing
up on Il, aud at half a mile the sup
ports have melted into the firing line.
The advance Is being made by rushes
of twenty or thirty yards Ever trifing
depression or elevation In the ground
Is used a. cover.
At 300 yards the advance Is checked
for awhile-the fire OF the defense has
become too hot The commander flls
up the gaps with the reserves. The
line creeps forward again. Now the
men are firing the spare cartridges in
the magazines a few seconds OF this.
and the Gre OF the defense slackens per
cepuhly. One rush and the attackine
line Is over the trenches The de-
tenders. what are let Of them. retreat
firing.
but the battle Is not yet over. The
commander OF the defense has held
back a reserve for just such a crisis as
This. and a counter attack Is threatened.
The men fall 20 ontrenchlng themselves
IN their hard-won position. Fresh
troops are hurried mp to help them hold
q against the counter attack aud the
day Is won. Now the victorious COM
mander gives the leader OF his cavalry
fun swing. On every road, In rear OF
the roircating enemy he pushes the
cavalry and horse artillery. cutting on
the stragglers. preventing the defeated
troops from making another stand.turn-
ing the retreat into rout. Al last.