The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-08-29
BULLET-PROOF SOLDIERS.
Conditions Which Would Niece SSH
tate New Engines Of War.
The Invention OF Herr DOVE Would Tend
70 Bring Out the Athletic Force of
Men in Battle If Put Into
Practical Use.

If we are right in our reasoning, and
| if, again, there is not some latent but
fatal defect in Herr Doves system, the
| result on warfare will be a very re-
markable one. Since the object of war
is to kill-''to place hors de combat" is
only 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 face at
long distances with rifle fire, says the
London Spectator, will not be good
enough. But the only ways of killing
effectively that will remain open will
be artillery fire, close combat with
boyonet and dubbed rife-preferably
the latter, as the cuirass will make the
bayonet difficult to use with effect
and riding men down by cavalry
charges. The first of these, artillery
fire, has hitherto been regarded as of
comparatively little Importance in 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 killed, men do not like
to be within range of artillery. Pos
sibly, however, the effect of artillery
fire could be increased. In any case,
and since everything is relative, the
fact of the falling off of efficiency in
rifle fire must increase the Importance
of artillery fire.
1t Is obvious, however, that the chief
effect of bullet-proof soldiers on the
circumstances of a battle would be to
increase enormously the amount of
hand-to-hand fighting. But hand-to-
hand lighting means an advantage to
the strongest and most athletic force.
Now 1t will be seen from the bare emu
meration of the changes which seem
likely to follow bullet-proof soldiers
that great advantage will be given to
England. Bullet-proof cuirasses will
give an advantage to the nation which
can only bring a small number of troops
into the field. But that nation is Eng
land. 1t will increase the Importance
of artillery. But this should be in
favor of England, for though we have
not the conscription, and SO cannot get
men in large quantities, we can manu-
facture as many guns as we choose.
Next, the revival of close combat
ought to be in our favor, for English
men are certainly better at the rough
and-tumble of close fighting than their
nelghbors. The infantry are naturally
more handy and more athletic, and the |
cavalry are, if not theoretically bet |
ter riders, more capable horsemen. An |
Englishman is more likely to get his |
horse to do the impossible than n
Frenchman or German. If, then,
Herr Doves invention enters the
region of practical warfare, the change !
will be in England's favor. 1t will |
give us chance to escape being
pressed to the ground by hostile mil |
lions.
In the navy, no less than in the army;
the cuirass should be of enormous i'm
portance. During sea fight a great
many things will want doing under
storm of rifle fire, but will hardly be
done except in one of Herr Doves
Jackets. A few bullet-proof sailors
would be a godsend to captain when
he was fighting his ship against heavy
odds. In the field, too, the cuirass
would be of great use to artillerymen.
Since they do not have to march, but
either ride or sit on the gun carriages,
there is no reason why the gunners
should not be very elaborately pre-
tected by means of Herr Doves patent
But if they are they will be
able to work their guns in the open and
1t close quarters in a way which is now
often impossible owing to the fire of
'harpshooters. In truth, there are a
hundred points on which the bullet
proof clothing alters all the conditions
IT war. 1t will alter, too, some of the
conditions of civil life. Insurrection
against invulnerable men will become
wen more impossible than it is now.
Again, the result on small bodies of
men travelling in savage counties will
,e very marked. When the savage
annot wound his white foe, even men
o brave as the Matabeles will find re-
istance hopeless.
en- is destined to be quite beside the
mark, not because of any flaw in Herr
)owe's system, but for a totally differ
Mt reason. Suppose that the gun
miths retaliate on Herr Dove by MAX
ng a gun that will send q bullet
trough his cuirass? In that case, the
resent conditions will remain. We
o not say that they will, but undoubt-
dly they will try. Meanwhile, all we
an say is that, in the great duel be-
ween attack and defense, the latter,
fter lying hopelessly beaten for two
has revived, and appears to
ave given her antagonist heavy
low. Time will show whether we
ave to wait fifty years or only six
lonths for counter-stroke.