The evening times., 1898-07-22
USE OF BARRED WIRE.
II Is Now Most Potent Factor in
Modern Warfare.

Modern Warfare
Since the outbreak OF the Cuban insur-
rec;ion there has sprung into use a new
factor in military warfare, so simple and
yet so effective that its acceptance by
all the nations of the earth for use in
times of war is a growing possibility.
This strange material which. through It's
simplicity. has come SO suddenly before
the notice of the military world, is the
barbed-wire fence. Though new in
military sense. II is virtually the same as
that which surrounds the farms through
out the entire extent of the United
States. Its use in war was, 50 far as
can be learned, begun by the Spanish. for
no record of its application can be traced
further back than the erection Of the
famous military trocha in Cuba across
the Puerto Principe. 1t has been utilized
by the Spanish to such an extent that at
present every fort or block-house in Cuba
is surrounded by at least one fence of
this simple but formidable character.
Before the attack of Skaters army,
there were encircling the city of SAM
tiago several of these fences. diminishing
in radius as they neared the city. Gen.
orally, when several lines of fences are
constructed. they are placed approxi-
mately fifty feet apart and have but two
vulnerable points where entrance could
clearly be made by an attacking force.
These open spaces are the gates and are
strongly guarded by the picked sharp
shooters of the Spanish army. In resist
ing the onslaught of an infantry or cav
airy charge, the value of such quickly
constructed fortifcations is coming 10 be
regarded by army officials as far superior
to the old style abattis. SO often used in
the war of the rebellion. The abattis Is
literally a bank formed of fallen trees
covered with earth and stone. and above
this protrude sharpened branches point
ing upward like bayonets above the earth
works. But the building of these. like
most agencies of like nature, is a long
and laborious task and when compared
with the quickly constructed barbed-
wire fence the superiority of the latter
as a means Of protection is soon recog-
nized.
Not only are the wires strung hori-
zontally IN the construction of one of
these dreaded barricades, but they are
criss-crossed and interlaced to such a de-
gree that with the best implements OBJ
tainable and nothing to fear from the fire
of the enemy. their removal is a task
which, aside from the time 1t takes to
accomplish. Is attended with considera-
bic danger. This fact may not at first
be apparent, but it was said by one of
the chief surgeons of the army in Cuba
that the casualties which will arise before
the end of hostilities In the island result
ing from the tears and scratches from
the innocent-looking barbs will cause
more suffering and possibly more death
than the dreaded machete itself. The
danger of blood poisoning. this medical
officer explains. from the lacerated sores
thus caused, aggravated by the hot tropi-
cal climate. is deserving of more serious
consideration than II has received here
tofore. He also pointed out that unless
patients under treatment for wounds of
| this nature are quickly carried to a more
northeriy cline. their chances for re-
covery are greatly diminished.
Any difficulties which may arise in the
construction of this peculiar mode of de-
fense are so far outweighed by its SIM
plicity and usefulness that its adoption
hereafter by the military world is more
than probable. So deeply. indeed. has its
| usefulness impressed the army admins
tration in this city that when the last
expeditionary force under Cen Merritt
Started upon its long voyage TO the
Orient. $50 tons of barbed wire were in
cluded among the munitions of war.
From this move on the part of the
Government, il may be inferred that Ad-
miral Dewey, when Manila shall have
fallen into the hands of the American
army. will himself introduce this novel
factor into the Eastern Hemisphere.
The success which has attended the
~ ha rhad vrira nj vJs &c
said to warrant Its use not only by the
United States. but by all nations. II 1t
were not for the existence of barbed
wire around the rude forts and block
houses which are scattered here and there
throughout the Island of Cuba the per-
sistent and repeated attacks Of the in
surgents upon these weak structures
would have been far more destructive in
their results. The difficulties attending
the cutting Of these fences have given
rise to the equipping of large force of
men among the american and fnsurgent
armies in the island with implements
| with which to destroy the tangled masses
of ugly wire. 1t can be readily seen,
however, that the dangers to which a
squad of wire-cutters are subjected while
| in the act of making a passage way
| through this mesh-work of tangled barb
| ed-wire, is considerable especially when
performed under the fire of an intrelched
army. In an attack on some of the prin-
| cipal towns of Cuba the danger is by no
| means over when the tedious operation
of cutting through the first fence is COM
| pleted. for in many instances a wide pas
| sage must be made through no less than
| eight of these before the intreuchments
| can be reached. The CALLING fire to which
| the attacking force Is. in the meantime
| subjected has been the cause Of many a
| failure for the liberty-loving Cubans in
| accomplishing victory which, under
other circumstances. would be almost
/ certain.
| Barbed-wire is put to another and more
| treacherous use. Short posts are some
!; times driven into the ground at intervals
| of eighteen to twenty feet and along thess
are strung and twisted many strands oi
this wire. They are then hidden from
view by covering them with leaves anc
| light shrubery, leaving. only a knoll In
view about eighteen inches in height
which. though innocent enolfeh FIN an