The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-05

Hner in the iHtroiuctioh " LILO ceOuiT
and Information" opposing armies
IA march unmolested to a designated
SIeeld. as the knights of old repaired to
tournaments, the military problem
I'd consist simply in drawing up the
les in order OF battle. and nine-tenths
Ao difficulties Of the art of war would
Illuminated. But Just as the code of
lee which governs the action OF indi-
,als is varied greatly when applied to
diplomacy of nations, SO the chivally
nunctilio of private combat are nece3-
~ lacking in the operations of war.
the duty OF a commander to assail the
Inv under circumstances most favorable
The latter and most advantageous 10
self; 10 catch the hostile army astriae
, unfurdabie stream or divided ny all
Bassap,e OBJECT Ot any sort, to a5sall
communications of his opponent WINE
bring his own; TO surprise MIN, ana. III
h To lake advantage OF the untortunate
lion or unskiilfui dispositions OIL the
and 10 guaru against being similarly
kiled himself.
his. concisely stated, gives an idea OF
manner III when a commander must
huct his forces when in juXtapoeitlon to
enemy and in view or the invasion OF
IA by the United States army IL might
be undressing TO give some further
Srmation regarding the precautions to
taken and the offensive ana defensive
rations 10 be made while in the terri
OF the foe. Great care must be taken
proyide against surprises of all kinds
ON the other hand the leader of tho
y Of invasion must exert himself to the
ost to take the enemy unawares, 10
rmation as to his strengt@ position,
and, in short, while protecting TO the
est possible extent the United States
es; at the same time be prepared TO
Ike SPANS army in It's vulnerable parts
he times when the blows will be most
ctiye.
pr obvious reasons 1t would be impos
to keep an entire army continually
the alert against surprise. To do this
Id, of course, soon render the soldiers
for duty on account of the great ply
u strain imposed upon them, just as The
Of single company would be worn
in protecting themselves were it not
the establishment of guard lines. In
case of an army the same precautions
t De taken, but, of course, on a largely
leased scale. the duties being perform d
advance and rear guards, patrols, out
IS. etc.
hen, too. in going into a country OF
ch practically nothing is known by the
who will command the forces of the
ted States, 1t is absolutely necessary
all possible information concerning
same be secured The geography and
Pgraphy Of the country must be thor
hly familiarizsd, as we'll as everything
can be learned regarding the strength,
tion and resources of the enemy. Thus,
gain quote Captain Wagner. ii will be
that the two clements of security and
rmation are, In military science, in
hrable. The former element of safety
occurred in the manner outlined above
the latter is gained through spies, de-
(ers, prisoners and newspapers and by
Pnnassance.
To gain reliable information of the
my," Captain Wagner says. Contact
him should be gained and never lost.
The march bodies of cavalry, pushed out
adVance come in touch with the adj
&c parties of the enemy, which they
Favor to drive in or brush aside. at
same time covering their own army
! veil which the enemy must be pre-
Ped from penetrating. II the army is at
AT and the enemy is advancing similar
nnoitering bodies are pushed out TO
him while he is still at a distance.
ohnaissance is thus primarily per-
nea by screen of cavalry extended
10 the front of the main body and i
conducted by bodies of troops sent
from the main body or its advanced
lehments or posts"
THE ADVANCE GUARD.
'asmuch as the advance guard leads I'll,
1t may not be out of order to place
words concerning this factor of Sc
" at the head of this article. A col
CT troops, when marching, is made VI
ne main body, the advance and real
ana Ranking parties. when neces-
me duties of the former are to hold
enemy In check long enough for tbs
pody to get in shape for action when
.ue is imminent to clear the path OF
nam body to the end that Its march
ot delayed, to gain possession of and
ossipie' hold important points until
a,t'ai or the main body. and to sup
she accommodating cavalry to the full
possible extent
40 SIZE of the advance guard is, Of
So, dependent on the size of the matt
me condition Of the country through
me army is passing anil many othel
ss o., captain Wagner says that as {
RUE, subject, however. TO innumer
Aeeptlons, the strength of the ad
suara may be assured to be one
"a vi the entire force, and the rea
"a one-h alf the size of the alvanc
~, history shows, however, that |,
as,s iuiiy half Of an entire army ha
pu,hed TO the front as advance guard
Portion. '-' '''
n, "aVanee guard has, been described a
made M CT number Of detach
INCREASING progressively in strsngt
ae 'front.' 10 the rear. The object {
~. ~ tneSe attachments is to guir
a ss surprise. the stronger body whic
l.,, immediately in it's rear. ard Civ
time 10 prepare for attack
.e twc component parts OF the ad
!, uaru' the reserve" ana the wan
me latter being divided into III
nve party" and the support.
ba F.h formation Is. shown in No.
hccomranvirs drawings. the uni
=, a company of infantry.
composed OF three or four men
~ nom commissioned Officer
se,,, h lorward b. the advance party I
WI With a flHnking group of foi
rnaIcnlns $50 yards 10 the right IN
psei'Vely, end elightiy in the ref
!. pant Each OF thess groups IS
y Oi corrornl Tho ret;,aioder ~ sh