The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-18
WAR WITH MoDEaN.AP
Its Horrors Would he WORSE Than Poo
pie Generally Cohesive.

! PIC 0OnCE1AAy AOnc0ltes
| War meant one thing in the days OF
the crusaders. 1t meant an entirely
different thing when the north and the
south joined issues in the bloody strug-
| gle that ended 80 years ago. What
would it mean at the present day, when
smokeless powder, magazine rifles, high
explosives, machine guns and all the
countless death-dealing appliances
which the last score of years has de-
veloped would be applied to its prosecu-
| ton?
1t will probably surprise many to
learn that there will be few charges OF
either cavalry or infantry in the battles
of the future. The success of a charge
always depends on the ability of the
moving troops to cross the danger space
and reach the enemy's lines without
losses serious enough to check the adj
vance. There has been an enormous
increase in the Eapidity and effective
ness of infantry fire in the past ten
years, or even the past five. The danger
space is now so wide, the possibilities
Of rapid firing are so great and the kill
ing power of the bullets so terrible that
neither cavalry nor infantry could now
reach intrenched troops without being
annihilated.
We may even go further and say that
the science of handling troops upon
battle field must be entirely revolution
lied to suit modern weapons. The in
fantry rifle enables soldier to fire 100
rounds of ammunition in four minutes.
The bullets will kill at a range of be-
tween one and two miles and at point
blank range will penetrate 60 pine
boards each one inch thick. Besides
this light field machine guns can pour
forth o perfect hail of missiles with I'M
erring aim. A lightweight Maxim gun,
weighing only 25 pounds, can fire 900
to 700 shots per minute with an effective |
range of two miles. For the latest inn
proved Calling gun with electric motor |
1,S00 shots per minute are claimed.
Heavier field pieces of longer range can
deliver rs to 80 six-pound shots per min
ute. 1t is evident enough from these fig
ures that the maneuver masses to troops
upon battle field within sight of an
enemy will be to invite their annihila-
ton.
The enormous velocity of modern pro-
jectiles will have a marked influence
upon the fatalities of any future war.
A bullet which will penetrate 60 cne-
inch pine boards will require heavy
to protect troops, and field
cannot be made to af-
ford protection with such rapidity and
fgpiIifu n G il, M CT 40, 4 |
still, in firing against troops formed en-
masse single bullet may frequently
kill several men. With the old ammuni-
lion, in countless cases, the soldier in
he front rank fell, while the man be-
hind him escaped unhurt.
The risks of naval warfare have be-
'ome quiteSas great as those on land.
The naval conflicts in the late Japan
1hina war showed that the pounding of
n ironclad by an enemy's projectiles
nay do serious injury to the crew with
tut greatly endangering the vessel it.
elf /
The most important new element in a
avail warfare is doubtless the use of I
ugh explosives. 1t is now possible to .
Ire from ordinary guns shells charged ]
With high explosives, and it is believed g
hat these will be extremely effective in
ne bombardment of land Notifications. 1
tut high explosives at the same time
onst1tute the greatest danger to which t
1odern battle ships are subjected. Tor
edoes OF the automobile class have al 81
aadliy prove their powers of offense c.
l the CHILEAN and Japanese wars, and q
nese, with sunken mines and floating Ii
'rpedoes, will probably prove a chief Il
'urce of fatality to naval vessels en- d
aging in coast attacks in any future b
ar. In fact, it is quite possible, if not ri
deed probable, that the present float st
q fortress on which the nations of the &c
orld chiefly base their naval strength in
Ill be rendered obsolete in very few CT
'ars by the advance in the use of high
.plosives. tr
war at the present day is quite GER si
in to be vastly more costly than the II
ars of past decades. A single great LET
title ship, when equipped ready for nc
ton, may cost $4,000, 900 or S., 900 900, fir
much as whole feet cost in the DAYS ev
sailing vessels. The pay of troops, tn
ain, will doubtless have to be on a tn
ore liberal scale in any future war, en-
less compulsory enlistment is tn
opted, and all governments will put Fo
that measure as long as possible. We wa
~ be sure that it will be insisted uron mt
any future war that the soldiers and en-
lors who go out to risk their lives pa
eneil country service shall receive SUI
y that would have been accounted out do
the question generation ago. In cet
much as future wars are likely to be an,
leh more fatal to those engaged, the he