Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-18

A patriotic American menagerie owner
has offered to the government his entire
herd of 25 full grown elephants for use in
the war with Spain. The climate of Cuba
is entirely suitable to elephants. In just
such climate they thrive best, grow
largest and do their best work. In Cuba
they would be subject to none Of the dan
gers that besot horses. Tho military quail
hcations Of an elephant are his size,
strength, docility, power Of swimming
rapidly and long distances and the remark
able toughncss Of his skin, which in most
places Is impenetrable to weapons of an
cient warfare and which will ilatten many
Of the bullets used in modern warfare.
Another great advantage is his ability to
so, like the camel, Il long while without
fresh supply of food and water.
The way in which these elephants
would be most useful in Cuban cam
paiTn would DO IN the transportation of
batteries, ammunition and all kinds of
stores from place to place, over plains and
mountains. Their superior value as in
telligent beasts of burden cannot be doubt
cd. That an elephant delights in carnage
has been frequently and fearlessly illus
trated in battles Of old. The greater the
tumult, the deeper the blood, the harder
and more effectively he fights. Nor is the
proposition to mount deadly Calling and
Maxim guns on the broad backs of the
beasts an untried idea. 1t has been done
Many OF the emperors of Delhi had light
guns mounted Oh their war elephants and
used them in battle with some success.
The military history of elephants COM
mcnces with the invasion Of India by AL
exander tho Great Tho battle fought
with Porus is the first well authenticated
account of the appearance of these largest
Of animals in war Thenceforward they
were used by tho successors of Alexander
the Great, particularly the Ptolemies and
the Seleucide. Antipater introduced
them into Greece and pyrrhus took them
into Italy. The elephants used by these
princes were of the Asiatir race, but the
Carthagenians and Numidians. about the
commencement of the Punic wars, began
to make q similar use of the African ele-
plant, which differs from the other by
having less size, weight and strength,
with larger ears and tusks.
Tho elephant is exceedingly sure footed
and shows remarkable sagacity in its
choice of routes over mountainous dis
tricts. 1t feeds largely on grass and is
particularly fond of the stalks of sugar
cane and the feathery tops of bamboo, as
well as fruits Of every description. The
products of Cuba comprise everything that
an elephant might desire.
In actual warfare elephants have been
and probably would bo used as n covering
force. Where heavy artillery was not like
ly To be encountered the beast might be
stationed in front of the lines, the inter
walls between being occupied by light
troops, who could prevent the enemy from
turning the elephants back on their own
ranks.
Being held in reserve in the rear. herd
OF % elephants might be brought forward
ut the moment of Il crisis in battle and
turn tho doubtful scale of victory.
The military yalpo of the elephant was
best tested in the Punic wars. Hannibal
attached more importance TO the animal
than any contemporary general, and he
made more skillful use Of it than any
other great commander OF antiquity.
AT the battle near the river Trebia Han
nibal charged and routed the Roman cav
airy with large herd of elephants, but
the infantry stood firm against them and
eventually drove them back ON the Cartha-
ginian lines.
Hannibal had brought his elephants
over the ice clad Alps, suhjecting them TO
the rigors Of climate TO which they were
not accustomed. and had consequently
greatly lessened their fighting value. So
In. 81 = l. +. y
animals and did not receive fresh supply
| until after his victory at Gamma.
Hanno joined him at Capua with 40 ele-