Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-21
A MODERN BATTLE.
Discusses the Best Way to Crush a Hostile
Army.

+. II. May. major uf the Royal Horse
Artillery, England, contributes the fol-
lowing interesting article ID tine Chiea-
80 Times Herald: The masters 81;
military strategy in this country are
watching with keenest interest for the
first unfolding Of the plan of cam
paign i'll the war between the United
States and Spain. There ar" many
problems Of attack ana defense that
The military theorists are particularly
DESTROYS Of seeing practically solved.
There is muCh clashing If opinions as
to the most effective method Of attack
ing a modern army. for military tao
ties have so changed that old rules are
Of little use in guiding the strategists.
Success is the dominating charac-
teristic Of the deliberate attacks in
German ana French maneuvers To
attack seems synonymous with sue
cess. and the general who ventures 70
adopt a defensive role would he con
sidered slow enough to h" ont Of the
running. "Redan Windham" used IL
say there MAS nothing so unlike a real
battle as a sham one. and notwith-
standing tho vast improvements II re-
cent years the sarcasm is still true.
we are governed by other considera-
tions than realism in maneuVers III this
country, where situations are less I'M
real than elsewhere. The tendency
everywhere is to give an impression in
favor u the tactically offensive. My
pct plan IL to bring artillery ana in
fantry arms in closer cooperation. 30
- Il,
Will occupy its proper position. for it is
difficult To subsequently correct faulty
dispositions.
1T viii he worth while FOR the mill
tary men who are to battle with Spain
on behalf of the United States II study
the lessons learned il modern wars. 1t
is well to remember the mistake at
Gravclotte, when the artillery was
moved too far ahead. win the result
that the Ninth corps got a terrible
mauling; OF The error at Woerth. when
the artillery brought on an action that
was not Intended
Another mistake To DE guarded
against in thepitched battle that seems
approaching Is depluyment of long
line Of guns that might afford oppor
tunIty fer cavalry enterprise on the
part of the enemy. Assuming a battle
in which hcrse artillery and cavalry
are drawn off to the tanks, and put
ting thanking movements out of the
question. let US consider the frontal
attack. While artillery are engaged
there is ample time to carefully organ
iZe the infantry advance. ana fore
thought must then be largely exercised
even as far down in the hierarchy of
command as battalion leaders. There
Will be little gallopins about of staff
officers. and there ought to be little of
personal command on the part of SEN
ors. The sternest resolution must be
concentrated in the iron rule go on"
from the moment the first skirmiSher
starts. Even With an aVoWed inferior
ity OF artillery it will usually be best to
continue the onward march. so as TO
draw off the enemy'S artillery from
ones own guns and divide their atten-
ton While ones own batteries refit. In
fantry should keep on forging ahead
and refrain from firing, for the alb
sence of range knowledge and disci-
pine makes it of little value. They en-
ter on the fire fight at a disadvantage,
the enemy having only one line in
view. with the reserves under cover.
While the attacking infantry have sew
eral lines liable to catch stray bullets.
ITO halt and fire standing up presents
a vulnerable target with small fire ac-
ctracy ON ones own part; to lie down
makes it difficult to get up again. While
formerly the fear of death had to be
overcome to enable Il man to close in per-
SDn1l ror1bat with his foe. IiSriDllpp has