The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
Tho Advantage OF tho Defence in
Modern War.

The point made by the Richmond Times.
in an article quoted by us yesterday. that
in these times qulck-tring and long-range
arms have revolutionlzed the theory OF
war. Is undoubtedly true and sound. The
whole tendency OF the recent development
OF arms. as was foreseen by military stu
dents at its beginning. has been TO increase
tho power OF the defence and to give It an
advantage over the offence without pre-
cedent In the history Of war. Smokeless
powder also contributes to the samo end.
Direct assault on troops In protected po-
sitions, armed with long-rangs rifles that
can be fred as fast as the trigger can he
pulled, and using smokeless powder, has
boon rendered practically hopeless. A
comparatively small force In tho defence
may withstand successfully vastly greater
forces brought against 1t, as the Beers havo
done and are still doing. Relatively to
the loss OF their British assailants, their
own losses In every engagement OF the kind
have been triAing. They are able always to
drive of tho attacking forces. whether they
are defending themselves against greater
or inferior numbers. Troops led against
their defensive fire, continuous and OF long
range, are leu W WuStelul shuBnttfs SOh-
paratively secure against the fire OF the
enemy, the Beers pour a fire on the enemy
which would make futile such attack by
| the bravest and best disciplined troops in
the world.
| This tremendous advantage OF the de-
fence has evidently been appreciated at Its
full value by Gen. JoUBEBr from the outset
Of the Boer war. In preparation for gain
| ing 1t tho Transvaal had been long engaged
in procuring supplies Of the most ap-
proved patterns OF modern arms and the
requisite ammunition for them: and. doubt
less, it was the knowledge OF President
KRtaER that he had secured this sdvan-
tago which induced his early prediction
that the slaughter OF war with the Beers
would stagger humanity. Tho British
troops however, seem to have gone
ahead without any adequate conception OF
the great revolution which had taken place
In modern war. II Is true that for the first
time they encountered In South Africa
these favorable conditions for the defence,
Their previous training. 80 far az they had
had training in actual hostilities, had been
wholly with savage or semi-civlized ene-
mics who were unable to profit by this
vast advantage possible for the defence.
The British officers were convinced, as also
the London War Onlce and all English
opinion seem to have been convinced, that
the task OF overcoming an enemy so In.
significant In numbers as the Beers would
be rs easy as 1t would have been formerly.
Accordingly, England began the South
African campaign with armies so insufficient
that now they are oil practically on the
defensive themselves, their offensive move
ments having been checked or defeated dlsas
trously In every instance. Consequently
for the time being. there Is q standstlll In
military operations. The Beers wisely re.
frain from direct assault, knowing that
their opportunity depends wholly on their
advantage In the defence, and tho British
having discovered by bitter experience the
futility OF direct attack on them, are
simply holding their positions or falling
back to others moro secure while they
wait for re6nforcements and the organize
ton OF new campaign. and probably q
very different manner OF campaign from
that in which they have failed thus far.
These reenlorcements, together with the
probable concentration OF their forces al
ready In field Of war by the abandonment
of some OF the positions they now hold, will
doubtless be used TO counterbalance the
advantages OF the defence by enabling the
British, with greatly superior numbers, &c
hold them In check, while detaching forces
to turn their positions and menace thelI
communications. The time spent In pre-
pairing for such campaign will DO long
necessarily, for 1t involves the necessity fol
greatly Increased armies and much prellnai
nary training OF raw troops. 1t is not i'm
probable. then. that the patriotic ardol
now displayed 10 splendidly in both Eng
land Itself and all her colonies will be taxed
to tho utmost before the subjugatlon OF th.
Beers can be effected.
AS IL Is now, tho Beers, having taken tn,
aggressive ~ the beginning, are prepared