The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
TIE HOPELESSNEsS OF THE BRfTIsH
ATTACK.
Criticism by an oncer of the Civil War I'm
View OF the Development of Arms,


To THE EpITon OF THE suS-Sr: I have
read with interest and entire concurrence your
article OF Dec. % on The Great School FOR
Military Instruction" am one OF those who
learned the lesson in the great Civil War. from,
/ 1851 to 1865. in the command OF troops up 10
and including brigade. in actual nd arduous
: campaigning. and I must say that the tactics
! and strategy OF the English commanders have
! oeen matter OF amazemenL TO me- You say
IN the editorial referred to that they the voter
ans knew that fighting practically is something
| very different from battles In picture books or
on the theatrical stage" / would add that
! those who have kept pace with modern i'm
provements In arms and munitions know very
We'll that war IN 1880. with its breech-loadinp
magazine rifles. with their rapid flre and long
range ana exceeding high velocity. with it's
machine guns and quick-Aring cannon ia n
very different thing from war in 1858. with its
s!neie-loadinG Springfield rifles and muzzle-
loading. slow-ilrlnc artillery
We're Pcke;t's charge at Gettysburg to bs
attempted to-day against such q line ma
Meade at Cemetery Ridge, but armed with
such arms and munitions as the Boers had M
Magerstontoin and Colenso. not one man in
hundred OF the charging column would ever
reach within Ave hundred yards OF the Union
lines. with the same regiments that held thu
ridge In 1853, but armed with Mauser or Krac-
Jcrgehsen magazine guns and smokeless
powder. each regiment haIked by Maxim
automatic machine guns, and supported by
batteries ot qutck-hring breech- leaders. tho
whole column OF Longstreet's men would have
been swept from the face OF the earth.
Under such conditions courage and daring
count. Nothing but men OF steel can 20 nm
against such Position Flesh and blood and
bone. no matter how horoic. will melt like wax
IN furnace under such fire.
Magersioniein and Colenso have demon
strated that successful bayonet charges
against entren ched positions manned by cool
headed and determined troops are no longer n
part OF modern warfare The side which NOS
sesses the longest range artillery the most
abundant supply OF munitions. and can keen
up steady fire. for two or throe days, dis
mounting the enemy's guns and shattefing
and shaking his infantry. will win the battle
The standing OF infantry In close column
against fortified ridge held by men us cool.
headed as the Boers. as Methuen did at Mac
erslontein. or attempting to PASS a division
across wide river on narrow drifts" or fords
IN the face OF whitening fire OF rifle and mn.
chine guns rs Butler did at Colenso ia simnlv
madness and folly. The British commander
are learn.ngtheir lesson. but they are learn.
ing II AT an awful cost.
In every instancc-at Glencoe. Elandslaaete
Belmont. Gras Pan. MaGersfontein and Col.
enso-the English generals have made a SQUARE
front attack over open ground. AMI have suf.
iered accordingly. In no instance has any at
tective flank movement boon attemn,ad
Had such generals It's Grant and Sber.
man been there the enemy would bova
been turned out Of their position lnsteod -,
the wasting OF precious lives in n
spectacular front attack. But such anrking
movements have been rendered imprnctiralIa
To the British commanders; first. by the lock
OF mobility through the absence OF wagon
trains which confines their line of Advance
TO tho railroads; second. by the absence NJ
proper and necessary pontoon trains for cr,ss.
ing streams promptly; third. by the want y,
sufficient cavalry for scouting and recon
h"IterIhs III" Hanks OF tho enemy's Positions
and iinaI!y. by the British being overma,choG
IN artillery fire by the longer range guns of the
Doors. "
south Africa has already proved tho burioI
place OF number OF hrst-class military rem.
'"t'ona' mae in India and Egypt. and there is
yet room for more unless the Britain toc,ics
ana strategy are radically changed BMC
hNAND RArIDs. Mich. Dec. %