Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-11

HOW ELEPHANTS MAY BE USED
WITH DEADLY EFFECT In
TINE OF BATTLE.

A 'patriotic American menagerie owner
herd of 20 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 mono Of the dan
gers that bcsct horses. The military quail
fcations of an elephant are his size,
strength, docilty, power of swimming
rapidly and long distances and the remark
able toughness of his skin, which in most
places is inpenotrable to weapons of an
Gent warfare and which will flatten many
of the bullets used in modern warfare.
Another great advantage is his ability to
20, like tho camel. u long whilo without
fresh supply CT food and water.
The way in which these elephants
would be most useful in Cuban cam
paign would be in the transportation OF
batteries, ammunition and all kinds Of
stores from place to place, over piains and
mountains Their superior value rs in
tellgent beasts of burden cannot be doubt
cd That an elephant delights in carnage
mas LCcH l:tiutiiNis dhi ito7-N 'iitf'~
trated in battles of old. Tho greater the
tcmult the deeper the blood, the harder
and moro effectively ho nshts Nor is the
proposition to mount deadly Calling and
Maxim guns on tho broad backs Of The
beasts an untriet! idea. 1t has been done
Many Of the c,nporors Of Delhi had light
guns mounted on their war elephants and
USED them in battle with some success.
/ 6
mences with the invasion Of India by AL
exancier the Great. Tho battle fought
with porua is the first well authenticated
account Of the appearance Of these largest
Of animals in war Thcnccfurwnrd they
were used by the successors Of Alexander
the Great particularly the ptolemies and
the Seleucid1. Antipater introduced
them into Greece and I'yrrhus took them
into Italy. The elephants used by these
princes were OF tho AsiatiG race, but the
Carthagenians and Numidians. about the
commencement of the Punic wars. began
to make u similar use OF the African eic
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 ana Is
particularly fond OF the stalks Of sugar
cane and the ieathery tops Of bamboo. as
well fruits Of every description. The
products Of Cuba comprise everything that
an elephant might desire.
In actual warfare elephants have been
and probably would be used rs a covering
force Where heavy artillery was not like
ly to be encountered tho 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 or their own
ranks.
Being held in reserve in tho recr, Il herd
of - elephants might be brought forward
at the moment of crisis il battle and
turn the doubtful scale OF victory.
The military value Of The elephant was
best tested in the Panic 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 Irebia Han
nibal charged and routed the Roman cav
airy with q large herd of elephants, but
the infantry stood firm against them and
eventually drove them back on the Cartha
ginian lines.
Hannibal had brought bis elephants
over the ice clad Alps, suhjecting them to
the rigors Of IA climate to which they were
not accustomed, and had consequently
greatly lessened their fighting value. so
in this campaign be lost all but one of the
animals and did not receive a fresh supply
until after his victory at Gamma.
Hanno joined him at Ca2la with 40 ele-