The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-15
MODERN FIELD TACTICS
Consider ed in Connection With the Large
Percentage of Officers Slain.

What astonishes all who have made a
study of modern field tactics is the large
number of officers among the killed and
wounded at Santiago. In the first official
list ten of the seventeen kill Were officers
and the percentage among the wounded
is hardly less.
No battle in any part of the world prob
ably could have furnished better test of
the new tactics, made necessary by the
improvement in firearms. There were
the rough ground and the long range
magazine rifles, and there also were the
trained soldiers. One of the main objects
of these tactics-or 'drill regulations, as
they are called, except when they are ap
piled on the battlefeld-is to reserve the
officers uninjured as long as possible.
More reliance Is placed on the intelligence
of the priyates, and particularly of the
non-commissioned officers, than in the old
days Of should er-t o-shoulder formation.
Conduct that would have fastened the
name of coward" upon an officer in the
Civil war is, in a sense, made compulsory
today; that is, while he is still to inspire
his men by example when occasion de-
mands, he is for the most part to main
tain a fixed position with relation to his
subordinates, and is to keep behind shell
ter If he can. Thus all movements can
be intelligently dirceted-a knowledge of
which fact is more encouraging to the
men than the physical presence of the
officer at their elbows. The non-com-
missioned officers have immediate charge
of the men, and opportunities are open to
| them such as never were dreamed of in
the old days. An eminent English writer
said at the time the new regulations were
adopted in his army, that in actual war
fare, after the men the non.commissioned
officers would be most exposed, the lieu
| tenants next, the captain next, land so on !;
which is as 1t should be.
10 illustrate the idea of the present bat
tie formation, take one company alone.
The principle is the same for the bat
ballon, regiment, etc. In each company
there are four sections" each under
the immediate command of Sergeant
The sections are divided into squads
| which are under the immediate command
of corporals. At the beginning of the
sections is designated as the reserve,
another as the support and two as the
firing line, or In any other proportion as
may seem best. The first lieutenant com.
nlands the reserve. the Second the firing
line, and the captains post is near the
support, with bugler beside him to give
signals, also the first sergeant and any
who may be designated to carry mes
sages. If he quits that post for a moment
he leaves word where he can be found
A few scouts are sent forward first :.
After they have gone 100 feet the firing
line advances, the sections gradually sep
arating and widening the intervals be-
tween them till they sub-divide into
squads, and the squads in turn separate
into skirmishers, who are about six feet
apart when on the firing line proper. The
support at the outset Is about 100 yards
behind the first line, ready to deploy and
advance to the skirmishers, and the re-
serve keeps about 100 yards in the rear of
the support, ready for flank attacks or to
reinforce the first line. Every man is
taught to take advantage of rocks, bushes
and the like for cover. One object is to
get as near as possible without being dis
covered, then to locate the enemy's fire
and to deceive him as to the strength of
the attacking party. The wide intervals
save the men from being moved down by
the enemy.
4AO 1lA1Ae3 DOSlnb db AL OFu6T ITOm Ul0
captain. The skirmishers halt when they
fire. Gradually now, rs they advance,
they close in toward the centre to make
room for the support on the tanks. The
support meanwhile draws nearer till it
joins the first line. Then there is q rush
forward. The lieutenant. giving the in
structions while the men are lying down
or are behind cover, commands: "Ad-
vance by rushes: third section, fire two
for three) VOlleyS: second section for
wardp" The sergeant of the third sec
ton gives the commands for the volleys.
AS soon as the first is fired and under
partial cover of its smoke the chief of the
second section orders his men forward at
dodble time. When they have gone about
fifteen yards, or to cover if there is any,
he causes them to lie down and fire two
or three volleys. On tile first yolley the
third section rushes forward fifteen feet
ton and fires. The second section adj
vances as before, and SO it is continued.
Whsn all the men are on the line, each
lieutenant takes position behind his own
platoon, and the captain is in the rear
of the centre Having chosen suitable
position from which to make the assault
the captain commands: "Rapid fret
The lieutenants thereupon order the men
to fix bayonets and to lay down the sights
commands for the firing. 70 charge, the
captain signals to cease firing and COM
mands: 10 the charge, marchi'' The
men rise and advance in double time
when they are about thirty yards from
the enemy he commands: "Charger
Our tactics differ from those OF the
English army in only one important par
necessary tn advance support and reserve
and prepare for the charge the first Ena