New-York tribune., 1900-03-25
THE NEW ERA IN WAR.
SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT THE BRIT
ISH HAVE TO LEARN
From The London Mail.

From The London Mail
There can be doubt that in the essential qual-
tiles of soldiers courage, discipline and endurance,
our british infantry has proved that 1t cannot De
often be equaled the question is only how TO en-
pioy 1t to the best purpose.
cherished principles that have lately guided it
pass away or be very greatly modified.
as the drill book says, independent firing is only
ataeS Weey @ rins must b q Fire disci
piine or control of fire. has been looked upon as
Well. it has been fairly conclusively proved that
we must search for much higher ideal of fire
If an enemy is to be attacked in selected posi-
tlon TOR ms bullets VIII sweep the terrain over @ wnITh cI
racy that no man can exercise the functions Oh a
too conspicuous 1t follows that the effective use of
his weapon must be left altogether to the lndi-
vidual soldier, and that the profitable expenditure
of ammunition must depend upon each mans skill
and inteigence A great deal Of time has been zen
in the future 1t will take more important place
much more extended scale than heretofore. An
enormous amount of ammunition must be allowed
sfrced sf to firing at Sed targets at known
but must comprise familiarity with moving OBJ OBJ
short exposure at unknown distances.
CONFIDENCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
all and end all roo of na Infantry t 66d esspey o win III
a9v ee WaT mae M Against the English soldiers
steadiness. of which we are all so proud The
right and left in extended order will become as
valuable 1.-The touch of the elbow was in old
suggestion has been lately good deal aired
dghting men so much as extreme efficiency as
marksmen. From military point of view this is
will make the most efficient soldiers? Not per
of the recruits who join the army have ever
held firearm of any kind in their hands, and, out
of the whole, it is often the most unlikely looking
that prove to be the best shots and that, not
in their first but in the second 3 or third year OF
practice. every man can be made to shoot well up
to 900 Yards and as a mat1er ot hsfe very deW
perhaps in the rarefed atmosphere of South Africa;
country like England, where 800 yards is an extend
ed view and where there is constant % haze , a.,
to form which the men should be selected from the
commenced at 12O0 yards or more by the deadly,
accurate fire of these companies and. when it had
panies would join In effectively.
ARTILLERY MOBILITY
The great artillery lesson of the has been
much more mobile than We or indeed any other
European nation, had contemplated feasible.
Our forces were. when they first took the field pro
very best of it's class it matters not for the mo-
msno as that Of the ed fa te arer fonn II &
, Ironted by fortress guns which We're hauled
shtng Our generals had practically
tack fortresses with only field equipment. FOrJu-
nately our ever ready navy was able in a meas
ure to save the situation. But now we-and all
the world-have learned that proportion of very
heavy guns must accompany field army in all
Our horse artillery must remain agile as ever.
for will still have accompany cavalry, but the
armament of of present field artillery will
be changed for guns of greatly increased weight
and Importance, which will travel at a leisurey
pace. but will be capable of moving quite fast
enough to cover infantry manpuvres. The horses
will he bigger and more massive and the teams
will be increased from six to eight. possibly
more, but field guns that can crush all opposi-
ton. and that have considerable mobility are un-
questionably a necessity.