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

plants ard i,GG0 Numitlian cavalry. Later
he was defeated at Nola by Marcellus,
with loss OF four elephants killed and
captured. He met n similar loss at Cru.
mcntum, two elephants being killed in an
unsuccessful attempt 70 relieve Capua,
and five moro slain iii the battle Of Can't
SUM.
AT tho battle of Metarus his elephants
were rcpulsed 10y pikcmen,. four being
slain on the spot ard tho rest being driven
back Tn tho Carthngcnian lines.
The most remarkable example of tho
uso Of elephants during this period was
presented ct the battle Of Zamn, where
Hau-ihal covered his line with DO less
than 80 elephants Scipio Immediately
changed the usual formation of the Ro-
man lines. Where the Romans had stood
before in a solid pha!anx he left wide
spaces like lanes Between tho manipuli of
tha legionS, masking the arrangement by
throwing forward q number of skirinish-
crs anu light troops.
Hannibal gave the usual order for the
elephants to charge the Roman lines in q
body. As they went tearing down upon
the army the 6kirrlishers rctrcated through
the lanes and the passages were left wide
open. Elephants on tho charge will keep
On in straight line. As they sped through
the passages Scipio's pikcmen threw
spears, javclins and darts into their feet
and trunks. Thus tortured they soon
turned back anG fed in fright upon their
own people That battle taught the Ro-
mans the value OF the oren formation.
The last Roman battle with which ele-
nh o.,,.I, l,o u, 90
Thapsus, when Julius Caesar overthrow
the last army of the republic and its Atri-
can auxil;aries That the victory over
them was regarded as important was
shown by the frequent appearance of cle-
plants Oh Roman coins and medals.
Elephants were used in large numbers
in the ways Of India as late as 1879. and
they form at this day very important
factor III the British army in India, being
used for the transportation of batteries
and supplies.
In discussing tho elephant as an engine
CT war rCtcd circus man is reported as
saying: ITO begin with, be can go where
horses cannot. y Cuban thicket would be
nothing to al elephant who had spent
half bis life in African junGles. Field
pieces could be strapped 10 his sides, or he
could be put in harness and made to draw
the heavier imrCdimcnta. The average
co.sOl has 70 i3ca Of the strength OF a
lul grown elephant. IN travelling about
the country We ueU them in u hundred
WAYS. Very frequently cages and heavy
wagons -: stuck in the mud. -Four and
fivo teams Of horses arc unable to start
them, ana the elephants are brought up
rear end AZ push. Out comes the wagon.
Ccnsilcr Whit Invaluable assistance they
would he 10 ~ army crossing low piece
CT ground with TN equipment Of cumber-
some artillery. When it cane to carrying
and putting in rlQco TIE heavy tina bers
that nre olton used in building temporary
Notifications. the herd coaid bc utilized TO
splendid advantages. The elephant is a
living derrick.
Another point worth considering is
tina: the hide CT the pachyderm is practi-
caily bullet proof. lie has vulnerable
spots, OF course, but they embrace but a
few square inches around the ears. As a
moving iort fer squad OF men the animal
would be . great success. Five of our
herd have seen actual service in the tribal
wars of the Punjab. These, of course
the warriors ride in the howdahs and
make effective battle on the enemy 5
forces The elephants enter into the spirit
of the th ng and tranple down or kill
with their trunks al who cone within
reach. They come 70 be like old war
horses, wko scent the battle from afar and
are eager fer the fray"
1t is said that the war department as
Washington is seriously considering tho
use OF elephants in Cuba. They would bs
a sensational adjunct to Theodore Rose.
velt's rough riders from the plains