Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-09
STRATEGY IN WARFARE.
One May Learn from Books How Battles
Will be Fought.

THOSE who are interested to know
what the character of the conflict be-
tween the United States and Spain will
probably be on land and sea may OBJ
| tam 4 very good idea of naval and
army warfare by the perusal of certain
/ DOCKS. only few years ago not a
| single mllltary or naval writer of note
was TO be found in the United States.
| nut lately there have sprung up in this
| country number of such writer's, who
nave gained a national and some Of
them even world wide fame for the
| excellence of their works
First in Importance perhaps are the
works of Capt. A. 7. Mahan. United
states Navy. on Sea Power From
these books one can learn about all
there is to be learned on naval strategy
and tactics. From their perusal one
can obtain pretty clear idea of the
value of positions in the West Indies
and can imagine with some degree of
accuracy about what conflicts will take
place there between Spain and the
United States. In that part of Capt.
Mahan's works which treats of the pro-
jected invasion of England by Ma
/
minuteness how Napoleon expected to
transport an army of 900 men across
the English channel. Many of the de-
tails as to how the boats We're con-
| Structed. their size, number and con
| centration, are OF peculiar interest
just al present, since our government
doubtless has in view the sending of an
army into Cuba. Capt. Mahan is the
greatest living authority on naval war
fare and strategy. and his books have
been translated into several languages
and have given him great fame
throughout the world.
Probably next in Importance are the
works of Lieut.. II. H. Sargent, L. S. A.
| He has written two books on Ma
poleon's campaigns. which have been
highly praised and widely read on both
sides of the Atlantic.
1t has been said that Napoleon s
Italian campaigns were more widely
studied and read by our officers at the
breaking out of the Rebellion than any
i other campaigns in history. BE that as
it may. Lieut.. Sargent's two books,
Napoleon Bonapartc's First Cam
paign." and THE Campaign of Mar
cngo," have already established them
selves as standard works and have
given the author much fame.
In his first book Lieut.. Sargent points
out and discusses the principles o.
strategy. and shows how they are APP
plicable at the present time. one If
the peculiar features of his books Is
that they are written 50 cleVerly that
both civilians and soldiers can readily
understand them. In Il recent review
of The Campaign Of Marengo. u
critic says: The first thing that
! strikes the reader is that here is an
example of book written in English
which has that highest and final merit
Of French books-not only is it 50 cleai
that YOU can not misunderstood it. it
is SO clear that it is Impossible not ia
understand it."
Another work of merit by an Ameri-
can is The Princess of Strategy 10y
: Capt John Bigelow, Jr,, Tenth |. ;,
cavalry. In this work the author divi-
des strategy into regular, political ana
l tactical. and discusses entertaninsly
each kind. illustrating the principles by
examples drawn mainly from American
campaigns He enters much into de-
tail in his history of the Nicksbure
of the parts of the opposing armies are
represented by a series of maps show
ing lust where the divisions and corps
4 of each army were stationed on differ
ent days.
in his remarks on communications
and transportation he gives some val
4 ua bic statistics relating to the carrying
power of steamers, transports and trains
| which owing to the probability OF
Cuban invasion, are of much interest tt
the military man just at present
Another work which deserves men
y ton is a book on The Great Captains
= bv Col. Dodge. This work treats o
Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar. Gusta
vus Adolohus. Frederick and Napo
leon. 1t sets forth the peculiaritles o
| these great masters of war, compare!
Y them with one another and shows now
the method of fighting has changed
+ from time to time. owing to the effect!
produced by changes in weapons o
warfare.
one might ask the question how 1t L
| that these histories of past campaigns
and Of great commanders are OF suci
# importance today, since the implemeht
h of warfare are so ulltIeHl lioiii Nl''
e they were in the past The answer Il
n this is that the great principles OF wa
d are unchangeable: it is only the meth
d cd of applying them that changes from
II time to time.
e In the words Of Lieut.. Sargent
1t Since Napoleons' time many change
II in tactics and in tactical formation
d have resulted from the inventions O
st man. from the use of steam and from
il discoveries in electricity; but no mater
n ial changes in strategy have resuite
y from these causes. Improved weapon
3 and improved methods of tranSporta
l. tion may in some cases, slightly modl
Il fv strategical movements and strate%i
n cal combinations. but the principles @
ID strategy. the great principles OF wal
"a are the same today as in the days q
~ the great Napoleon. To divide Tn
n. forces of the enemy and beat them !
} detail. to maneuVer upon interior lines
II to concentrate an Overwhelming mas
unon the vital point of the enemy
ad these are the principles that do nc
IS change. however rapid the fire OF MOD