The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-02-03
A sclEN T|FIC WAR
ARMIES COMMANDED ny sTATIsTI-
t@tz CANS ON EACH SIDE.
Business of Ablest Officers was tn
Keep Track OF Percentage Ut
Loss. When it Reached the Fig
ures Demanded by Science the
Brissianx Retrcated. The Austria
cans Were Scientific Too. Both
Sides Fled and the War Ended.

Documents discovered recently throw
light on the hitherto holly debated
question as to why neither side won a.
victory at the great battle Of Wels-
snichtwo, which ended the war be-
tween the Brissians and the Austri-
cans. The documents seem to have
been the private diary of an officer Of
high rank, kept like that Of Pepys, in a
CIPHER; they We're for years in the
possession of the authors family
which tried to sell them as old paper.
The old paper dealer recognized their
value at a glance and insisted on pay
ing three times the price put on them
by the owners. This action aroused
their suspicion and the old paper deal
err was held as dangerous person,
until the librarian of the Imperial Re-
publican Library was able to pass on
the paper. On his report the paper
dealer was discharged with warning,
and the government took the diary
paying the price originally asked by
the late owners.
That part of the diary referring to
the battle of Weissnichtwo is as follows
a few too technical words having been
made over into modern English, but
the language being unchanged other
wise:
The battle Of Weissnichtwo was the
first (and last-Ed) fought under
strictly scientific conditions. The
Brissians held a strongly fortified hill,
with long and admirably planned lines
OF trenches, counter trenches and
echelons extending on either side as
far as the eye could reach without the
aid OF an operaglass. They may have
extended further. A private soldier
told me afterwards that they did; but
am writing only of what know by
personal experience. (That is why this
diary is so valuable.-Ed.)
4 We had been waiting for more than
a week for re-enforcements. We had
all the infantry, artillery and cavalry
that our general knew how to handle,
but the statistical department was
woefully weak, and not until yesterday
did that department reach the strength
indicated by all authorities on war as
that without which an army should
not give battle. But with the arrival
of the general commanding the statis-
teal department in person, the dis
tinguished and famous General ADJ
demmup, all this was changed. He
brought with him re-inforcements of
trained accountants and statisticans,
in such numbers that every regiment
had at least statistican on its col
onel's staff. AS an instance Of the
completeness of our personnel, let me
say that though the regulations al
lowed a MISREPRESENTATION only to a
brigade, yet we had major atisticans
attached to each regiment.
Immediately on his arrival General
Addemrnup examined carefully the pre-
parations we had made. He expressed
himself as satisfied on the whole. He
directed me-for was serving as chief
quartermaster (From this fact may be
gathered the name Of the diarist.-Ed)
to enlarge somewhat the accommodate
tons for the minor statisticans, who
tabulate the returns as they are
brought in from the firing line; but
he assured me that I had done very
we'll, that he needed more room simply
because at the last moment he had
brought with him more statisticans
than he had expected. so had sew
eral more tents erected, and calculat-
Ing machines installed, and soon Gem
eral Addemmup was satisfied.
After looking over the field General
Addemmup called council Of
deputy statisticans, at which all over
the rang of major were present. Pres
ent officially, | mean; for the fighting
officers were allowed to attend, though
they had no voice in the debate. It
was very interesting to see the inner
working of war machinery. The gen
pra1 aud 1,ic oIiof ocsictor te ;o,,ton