Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21

Co., and the allies 17S per cent, or $500
in 30l.S
Captain Berndt concludes that with
some allowances, the losses OF an army
are usually proportionate to its bravery
and fighting power as shown in the Held,
and hence that the armies OF recent
times are not up to the fighting mark OF
those that met In the Napoleonic days.
The bloodiest battles OF modern history.
he records, were LEIPZIG, where the total
loss was $4,000, and Aspern, where 1t was
nearly $500.
A conclusion equally uncomplimentary
with the ABOVE to modern warriors Is
drawn by Captain Berndt from his figures
regarding the losses OF generals on the
battlefield. For instance, the generals
killed on both sides at Kunnersdorf num-
bered II; at Marenso, H. at Aspern, 20; at
Wagram, IS; at Borodino. &c. at LEIPZIG,
Ton the side of the allies), q, and at
Waterloo, "a. On the other hand, but
u generals were lost at Magenta; at
Solferino; IS at Koeniggraetz and 10 on
the German side at Woerth. Mars-la-Tour,
Gravelotte, and Sedan. taken together.
Captain Berndt next gives a compari-
son, by wars, of the losses as they wero
long ago, and as they are under modern
conditions. The table of total losses is:
Seven Years war, 23.5 per cent. Napole-
chic wars, 10; Russo-Polish war QSD,
1S5; italian war QsiS-'49), 5.5: Austro Hun
garian war QS4SJ49), As; Crisnean war,
| Is; war in India Qs59), 1875; Austro-Prus-
sian war of 1866, ~; Franco-Prussian war,
| lbs.
| The losses in killed and wounded differ
| considerably from the above total losses.
They are tabulated by Berndt so as TO
| give the following results: Seven years
war, II; Napoleonic wars, Is; Russo-Po-
| lish, 16; Italian Of 1888, 3; Austro-Hun-
garian, 15; Crimean. IA; Italian Of 1859, 8;
Danish war Of 1864. g.; Austro-Prussian. s;
Franco-Prussian. first period, s.5; second
period, g.
Numerically the greatest battles OF mo-
! dern times were: Leipsic, with 472,00o men
engaged; Koeniggraetz, with $4,000; Wa
| gram, with 10000; Gravelotte with 300-
| 600; Dresden Qs19, with $4,000; Solferino.
with 2s4. 900: Bautzen QSl3), with $4,000;
Borodino Qs12) with 25l. 600; Sedan. with
2A,OO0; Waterloo. with HT,coo; Lisaine
1s7O). with $4,000; Mars-ltl-Tour, with
| 10000, and Aspern, with $4,000
In the chapters devoted to the conside-
ration of weapons and their efficiency,
Captain Berndt remarks that, much as
total losses in battle have differed in the
battles of different periods. the number
| of killed and MORALLY wounded in battle
seems to have remained almost station
ary. Despite all advancement In the I'm
| yention OF firearms. the fire of the enemy
| I'm hattie was not more deadly In the wal
OF 1901 than in that of the dawn OF tho
century. The proportion is one man deac
to four men hit. The question then IS
"How many shot hit?" Up to 1850 the
figures showed that one shot out Of IN
wounded an enemy. At Gravelotts-St
Priyat, however. but one shot out OF ~
fired by the Saxon Corps struck &
Frenchman and at Mars-la-Tour 1t re
ouired 45z shots to wound one man. Cap
tain Berndt agrees with other authori
, ties. whom he quotes, that in the mex
great war not more than one shot in ~
will be effective. Formerly soldiers fires
less often but with more care; the small
calibre repeater Is not such a vast i'm
provement IN actual warfare as has beer
taken for granted. The very ease witt
which II Is handled and fred turns mucl
of its ability to destroy into mere waste
These are some OF the conclusions to b.
drawn from Captain Bsrndt's figures ant
his comments on them.
Captain Berndt gives some statistic
which show most strikingly the declin
of cavalry as factor In war. At Kolil
d75O there were $40 cavalry to the thou
sand of infantry; at Eylau, $40; In tn,
seven years. war, from go to $40: In tn,
Napoleonic wars. from 140 to $50: in tn
italian wars. between 1873 and 1859. from
70 to 40; in the Austro-Prussian war