The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-10
SOME LESSONS o. REGENT WARS
The Use Of Modern Weapons Has
RevOlutionized Defensive War.

The Use Of Modern Weapons Has
RevOlutionized Defensive War.
fare.
Columbia State.
.. Sir William MacCormac, the dis
tlngMshed British surgeon who has
been volunteer in South African hos.
pitfalls for several months, announces
on information which he considers un.
impeachable that the Boer losses ia
tho battle Of. Colenso were buL 30, Of
whom five only were killed. The
British losses were ,l5O. This IS IN
Impressive revelation Of the defensive
power Of entrenched troops armed
with modern rifles; for it is agreed
that the BOer successes have becu due
TO their well aimed Mausers rather
than to their cannon. Contrary To the
station, mt Of the Euglishman whose
letter to Columbian was printed in
The State yesterday, statistics show
that the Maxim NorGenfelt rapid
firing cannon, or "pOm-pDms " as they
are nicknamed in South Africa, while,
terrifying By reason Of their incessant
lire, do comparatively little damage,
while the lydditc shells OF the British
Have not been rotably effective.
The English-speaking nations have
come 10 understand u good deal more
about war than they did Two years
ago, and especially about defensive
war, with Mauser rifles on tap. By
experience only they have bought
knowledge which, before 1898, they
rather disdaincd ; for somehow t.lcy
learn only by personal experience, a
few students and experts expected
The Americans learned first, in the
battles around Santiago, the great de-
fensive power o. the modern rltle
against frontal attacks the British
refused to apply the lessons taught by
San Juan and El Cancy until Mayors
fOntCln and COlensO emphasized them.
In their turn the Americans had
learned nothing from tine WAT in CUBA,
which had been going on for three
years before 1898, and which was the
first war in which the modern long.
range, high-pOwer, smokeiess-p powder
rifle had been employed. 1t used to
be a common boast before the Santiago
campaign-we have heard il often
that 10000 Americans could sweep all
the Spaniards from the island OF Cuba.
1t was taken for granted that bull log
courage was the only quality needed,
and cheerfully assumed that one
American was more than match for
ten Spaniards. There we're q great
mapy people lE this country who could
not understand why the Cuban insur-
gents did not capture and hold ~ lot OF
towns-why they dia not take Habana
itself. 1t was fashionable in some
quarters to sneer at the Cubans for
their inability to establish perma.
nent capital, while q larger class we're
almost cnntemptuOus in their regard
for q people so inefficient as not tC
storm trenches and capture cannon in
stone forts. In just this spirit the
British began their South African
campaign ); the Beers were mere pot,
shooters skulkers behind rocks
British bayOnet charges would make
them run; $4,000 troops and $50, 900,
take that capital. Now that the es
mate OF time has increased fourfoid
the estimate Of troops tenfold and the
estimate OF money ffteenfold, tho
British are wiser than they wero.
Those who are interested in this
question will find in Llarper's Week ly
OF a week or so ago an article ON the
lapd defenses Of Habana which may
open their eyes to what the Cuban in
surgents had to contend against il
their struggle for independ ence. The,
will see there that the Span ish fortifi
cations protecting Habana we're O
such character that IT would hav.
required q minimum force OF 100. 90,
men with minimum loss OF 20, 900 t,
capture the city by land that United
States officers have found no less thai
$50 different forms. OF defensive works
80 ingeniously and skillfully execute,
that after Ii year spent In mastering
their details they are to be used o
..4odels' for. the onlightep ment of ou
war college. "'
Spanish military engineering, in
deed, Is most advanced, as; the defefi
sive works of Filipinos formerly In th
&rmyot Spain have demonstrated; a
clearly as the Spanish Notifications II
Cuba. What 10 said of Habsna ar
piles with almost equal force to ever,
considerable town in Cuba and to man!
inconsidersble hamlets and posts. N
territory OF equal area was ever 9
covered with defensive works. Littl
villages of three or four hupdred in
habitants we're hinged about With ella
,borate barbed Wire oDstructions an
irom half 9, dozen to dozen BLOCK
''houses. The palm-shack town q
Moron, at the head of the castor
ftrocha, was surrounded by no less tha