New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-18
BLOOD AGAINST IRON.

The chief contribution of the South African
war to the military knowledge OF the world re-
lates TO the usefulness Of armed and arImored
roIlroad trains Such trains have been used be-
fore In several countries but never have been so
Systematically used nor have been so much de-
pended upon Ms n regular arm Of the military
service as I'm the present case. 1t Is not now 100
early to form a judgment as to their utlilty'
They have proved their value and they have also
BETRAYED their defects including some defects
which are apparently irremedabe. The chier
Of these is their dependence upon the integrity
of the track upon which they run. broken
bridge. filed up cutting. a misplaced rail or
two will put them in bad way. For, however
slight md easily repaired such a fault In the
track may be, the repairing OF 1t makes neces-
sary the exposure of the train crew to hostile
shots. and that is exactly the thing the train Is
armored to avoid. The most serious mishaps tnat
have befallen the British armed trains In TINS
war have had precisely that cause. A faulty
track-perhaps injured by the explosion or
long range shpll-has compelled the train 10 matt
and the men to get out TO repair damage, ana
thus the men have been exposed to the atten-
tions of Boer sharpshooters, while the motion-
less train itself has served as target for can
ron So long as the track Is all right the tram
Is Of value The moment the track falls the
train is all but worthless.
In like fashion the limitations Of use or the
bicycle in war as well as In peace. are Deihg
demonstrated Each army now has Dlcycie
CORDS and gets good service from H. But the
idea that the bicycle will replace the horse TOT
cavalry work is seen TO be idle. so long as he
has n fairly smooth unobstructed ana not 100
lilly road before him the cyclist Is all right
But fences or bitches that horse would leap
with ease are hopeless barriers 10 MIN.
swamp through which horse could hounder III
some fashion, a soft ploughed field across which
he could Mt least plod. or steep, rough hllisiue
I'M which he could climb are not to be traVersed
awheel. and on reaching them the cyclist IS IN
stantlv transformed into foot soldier, hah-
pered by the necessity OF carrying his silent
stood" instead Of having 1t carry him. IL the
scene OF action were m asphalted plain or were
crid,roned all over with macadamized roads the
bicvcle might replace the horse to considera-
bic extent But In other circumstances II cannot
do So
The same rule will doubtless to some extent
permanently apply to all sorts OF automouVe We
b,cIes The horse has disappeared from the
streetcor save on some lines in New-Iork and
we believe, in Squedunk. He Is disappearing
from the city tradesmans delivery wagon ana
from the cab He may presently vanish from
the truck and dray, with what effect upon the
nicturesoucncss Of the truck drivers vocabulary
we hesitate TO reckon. No doubt the horseless
vehicle will come into far more extended use Tor
Measure driving. in city and country, though II
can never replace the horse In the esteem OF
him who knows the JOY OF driving thorough
bred horse with nerves and desires In full sym
nothv with his own, so that In driver ana steed
the sa,oe pulse seems 10 beat and the same pas
sion Of pace to prevail But the use OF such
contrivances. just like that OF the armored tram
md Of the bicycle, will always be limited by the
character of the road: for not this side or the
millennInm-wth all our good roads propaganda
shall we have all roads uniformly smooth ana
Lowell and free from snow and mud. Inventions
will no made and wonderful results Will be at
tained with mechanIsms Of iron and brass, but
nv no such devices will the personal factor
which resides alone in flesh and blood be dupn-
coted In the contest Of blood against iron the
latter will win some victories. But blood can do
some things which iron. though moved by steam
or bv electricity. can never hope to do we
sholl have an automobile age but 1t VIII NOT
be "hOrseless age.