Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-05
The Use OF Guile in Warfare.

stratagem to capture the Tagal leader.
They profess to be much shocked that
an American officer should resort to
such deplorabie tactics as tricks and
deceit to capture an enemy. They
seek to bclittle the exploit of the lash
ing Elnsan by snecring and in
torrogatoIy references to the old
proverb that "all is fair in love ana
war" The New York World, New
York Post, Boston Globe, Springfield
Republican and other anti-admlnis-
tration papers. under the pretense OF
aiming at Funston. have been throw
ing mud at the whole army. the nag
and the government at washington.
All this because the leader OF the eX-
padit,on which captured Aguinaldo
was brainy enough to employ strata
gem and brave enough to carry 1t out
successfully. Would they have had
him go into the mountain willer-
ness. where an army could not be led,
with a herald in advance to proclaim
hi- mission and calling on the hiding
bandit to come out and surrender
These critics ought to know, and
doubtless do know. in the rare mo-
ments when they are honest with
themselves. that the ethics of peace
are not the ethics of war. Sherman's
dictum war is hell covers the case
in its moral as we'll as in material
Greeks built the great wooden horse
by means of which they gained en-
trance to ancient Troy and sacked
and burned that city, from that time
and before that time, down TO the
campaigns in South Africa, China and
the Philippines. commanding officers
have never hcsitated TO resort TO
stratagem, the essence of which is de-
ceit The wit by which an enemy is
deceived. surprised and taken off his
guard makes the great soldier. more
than does the ability to lead troops
against entertainments. Funston
capturing the Tagal chieftain was a
greater soldier than Funston swim
ming q river at the head of his troops
under fire. The rules of war are not
over-nice in the matter of tricks 10 be
employed in capturing cities or armed
enemies.
The great Washington made Very
free use of spies, and it is a we'll
known incident of history that he at
tempted the capture of the traitor.
Arnold. by sending pseudo deserters
into the British lines. In the Civil
war, General Sherman obtained the
key to General Johnson's signal code,
and it has never been maintained
that he showed q lack of delicacy in
not informing the Confederate leader
that he was reading his tagged in
structions 20 the different parts of his
army. Both sides used spies. forged
orders, and DISCUSSES and never
thought of blaming each other. False
replies to a sentry's challenge as
means OF gaining access to the enc
my's lines have never been deemed
dishonorable. General Wolfe at Que
bee gained his unopposed landing be
cause one of his officers spoke French
perfectly and deceived the French out
post.
1y-oC fo ia
in hazardous secret service for dar-
ing minds in warfare. We might in
stance Andre, one of the best men and
most valued officers in the English
army. He failed and was hanged.
His success would have meant the
peerage or other great reward. In
token of appreciation Of the services
he attempted, England has placed his
bones with those of her greatest in
Westminster Abbey, and has showered
| honors on his family Andres risks
| were those of war: he took them and
died as a spy. Funston took terrible
| risks. Failure would undoubtedly
|
minious He succeeded and well won
the promotion he received. He com
mitted no offense against the exceed
ingly elastic military code. We justly
| immortalize brave Nathan Hale of
Connecticut who was put to death by
the British as spy, deploring that he
had but one life to give his country.
We cannot honor Hale who
| failed without honoring Fun
ston who succeeded. The critics
who talk about Civilized war"
are discussing something much in the
| nature of 4 paradox. Guile is as
| necessary as guns in warfare. And
while it wins great successes it saves