Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-14
METHOD WARFARE
THE LADIES' CLUB HAS AN INTEREST
ING DISCUSSION THEREON.
Novel Definition of the Sounding of TapA
The Bridges at Manila Explained-The
Complicated Process of Deciding Which
Side Is Entitled to Fire First Shot.

"Order, ladies!'
The Club For the Study of Modern
Methods of Warfare settled itself with gen.
tie dignity at the presidents command,
and there were not more than ahalf dozen
whisperings among the members as she
explained regretfully that the textbooks,
ordered from the secretary of war, had not
as yet been received.
However" she said, 1--WE can discuss
informally some of the present prevailing
better understand the conduct of war"
"If questions are in order" intcrjccted
the member from Madison avenue, II
would like to ask, Mrs. President, if some
Of the ladies could explain what is meant
by the phrase taps were sounded.
CAS- understand it," said the presi-
dent, thinking so deeply that a frown ex'
tended straight across her forehead, 1.-THE
phrase is simply a figure of speech, AS we
all know, in warfare soldiers must be very
quiet, for there may be spies about to
overhear, should they discuss their plans.
That is why they have taps 1t is the
duty Of one man to go quietly among the
soldiers sounding taps. Each tap means
a word. In this way it is not difficult to
issue orders without danger Of the enemy
discovering the plans. 1t is a system just
like telegraphy."
"Can any member tell me-" asked the
lady from Fifty-eighth street, ''what is
meant by the bridges? The newspapers
had dispatches about bridges at Manila"
1.-The member must be mistaken, - said
the president, with quiet protest.
~ may be-" assented the lady from
Fifty eighth street. II admit that 1 don't
know what l am reading about when I'm
reading the newspaper reports of the army
and navy, but l read about bridges
"'She means the bridge Of the flagship"
blushingly announced the member from
Murray Hill. GIVE read myself about Gen.
eral Miles or somebody standing on the
bridge. From what l understand the man
in charge, who is the admiral, has a fold
ing bridge which the sailors place with
! one end on tho land, and it is on this that
the admiral stands to show the men where
to shoot"
"No wonder they call him admiral,
which l suppose is a corruption of admi-
rable,'' broke in the literary member. II
should say that the highest degree of cour-
age was required for such a deed. In the
event that the Spaniards should capture
the end on land and attempt to come on
board, what Their would the admiral dor"
"He would return to his ship. 1t Is
what they call a retreat" Miss Murray
Hill blushed again. "And our sailors
would sink the Spaniards. 1t seems very
dreadful, but there is nothing else to do
"You all seem SO perfectly well in
formed" poutingly put in the Sixty fifth
street member, who had arrived a little
late, 'but do tell me, some of you, who
shoots first, our men or the Spaniards. We
declared war first, if l remember rightly"
"There is some doubt In my mind about
that point" replied the president, the evil
dence of thought again upon her brow,
"but I am under the impression that it is
left to chance. Our mon may fight brave
ly, but If tho Spaniards shoot first our
ranks will be depleted"
"But why should they shoot first" de-
manded the member from Madison av-
enue. "Why"-
"But, my dear''-the president raped
lightly with her hatpin to restore order
"my dear child, you have heard of the
fortunes of war. This is merely II Of
them. Oftentimes the leaders of the OPP
posing armies settle such matters by toss
ing a penny, and go back to shoot at each
other after they have shaken hands"
"And," broke in the hitherto quiet
member, "the side to shoot first stands up
and fires at the other side, and then the
other side shoots back, and SO on
"And that Is the reason" said the pres
ident, "that they sometimes call 1t the
war Of determination"
Then the president, who was hostess as
we'll, served tea, after which the meeting
broke up with everybody declaring "had
such a lovely time; SO instructive, you
knowP-Vim.