The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-07

a natriotic American menagerie owner
b.s ofsared RI tho government his entire
hora - az f,,,1 ,rown olonb.nts for ,,sa N
$50 T,'I 60
Ihe war "i'n spun. = 'na o"Da $50
IS entlreiy seltanie 70 elepnanes- u Jus'
such a climate they Thrive besl, grow
largest and 20 their best WORK In CUBA
they would DO subject TO acme of the dan
gers that bcset horses. Tho military quail
aca+;ons If an alenbant ,re his size.
.tmon.ts aoo;,isn no,.er - srri,nn,ing
1T 49, s;.nr ana 40 ro,narr.
80. :s-a.
aoie louspLeSs " nis sA'n' n'e - -
places IS lmpene1fable 20 eapon oi an
cicnt warfare anu which VIII hatten many
of the bullets used in modern warfare.
Another great advantage is his ability to
go, like the camel, q long while without
fresh supply of food and water.
The way IN which these elephants
would be most useful ID a Cuban cam
paign would be in the transportation Of
batteries, ammunition and all. kinds Of
stores from place to place, over plains and
mountains. Their superior value as in
telligent beasts Of burden cannot be doubt
ed. That All elephant delights in carnage
has been frequently and fearlessly illus
trated in battles Of old. The greater tho
tumult, the deeper the blood, the harder
and moro effectively he fights. Nor is the
proposition to mount deadly Calling and
Maxim guns on tho broad backs of the
beasts an untricd idea. It has been done.
Many of the emperors of Delhi had light
guns mounted ON their wal elephants and
used thoin in battle with some success.
The military history of elephants COM
mences with the invasion of India by AL
exander the Great. The battle fought
with Porus is the first well authenticated
account of the appearance Of these largest
of animals in war. Thenceforward they
were used by the successors of Alexander
the Great, particularly the Ptolemies and
the Seleucidsa. Antipater introduced
them into Greece and Pyrrhus took them
into Italy. Tho elephants used by these
princes were Of tho Asiatic race, but tho
Carthagenians aud Numidians, about tho
commencement of tho Punic wars. began
to make a similar ESQ of tho African ele-
phant, which differs from tho 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 and is
particularly fond Of the stalks Of sugar
cane and the feathery tops of bamboo, as
well as fruits of every description. Tho
products of Cuba comprise everything that
an elephant might desire.
In actual warfare elephants lave been
and probably would be used as a covering
force. Where heavy artillery was not like
" to be ncountered the Beast might DO
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 on their own
ranks.
Being held In reserve in the rear, q herd
of Is elephants might be- brought forward
at tho monent of a crisis In battle and
turn tho doubtful scale OF victory.
The military value of the elephant was
best tested in the Punic wars. Hannibal
attached more importance to the animal
than any contemporary general, and be