Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-09

given great impulse forward towards
that time when wars will have to give
place to arbitration, to the msthods
Of civilization instead of harbarisir,
for the settlement of International
disputes, because fighting comes so
near meaning the anIihilaton of par
Elephants. This is already absolutely
tree if the old regulation methods
are used. s.,
Under present conditions such
IA charge as that of Pickett at
; Gettysburg is simply out of the ques'
'tion. Such line as he marched out
could not now live to traverse a
quarter of the distance Modern weap
ons with their rapid fire, long range,
and superior power of penetration,
single rife bullet being able to dis.
able four or five men in its range
would absolutely sweep the field
clear of men formed in masses. The
Prussian general, Muller, says that,
'in order to avoid complete extern in
alton, soldiers cannot attack otherwise
than in loose formation, while avoid
ing as far as possible the sight OF the
enemy; they canrot approach except
by creeping AID hidiog behind irregu-
larities Of the ground, digging them
selves into it like moles" Gen Rob |
rt. 70
South Africa, | LAID the rule that the
files were not to be closer than six
PAGES when advancing to attack
That was very soon altered to 10 and
20 PAGES. 1t is absolutely necessary
to be widely separated" This means
that intrenched positions cannot be
attacked at all Only
masses of men can maks assaults -
long chains CT ritlemen cannot. 1t
was Gen Van ds Goltz of Germany
Who said before the Transvasl war
hat the battle of the future is a
'phirX of which no one has expounded !
he riddle. All that is known now is
lat wars must turn into struggles fer
ntrenched positions. The open
lighting will be only occasional, and
Usually accidental ,,
What this necessity of loose forma i,
ion means in the way of diffusion of a
rmies, it is difficult at first thought $
o realize, The regulation space for a :.
'erman corps with its artillery is five .
ilometres, something more than three h
lilies. In extended formation, to meet u
he necessity of modern conditions, >
bis space must be ten times larger, d
erhaps more. Hence, comparatively t.
nall army must have large theatre "
,r is operations, and no large army =
~ be handled by ore commanding n
eneral on the field. A German geo. CO
al has expressed this condition u
RICHLY by saying that 1.-THE com =,
anderin chief of the German army, re
or1er to keep an eye on the operat- AT
g armies, had better remain in Ber- II
D. y"
Count CBprivi, ex-chancellor of the on
ernan empire, is quoted as saying re
at in future wars very few officers 90
ii remain at the head of troops in GU
e first line, and these officers 10 in
fficient numbers will be incapable of po
posing their will Oh the soldiers ~
10 in the decisive moment will be ~,
t to themselves. p" \ colonel will GU,
t be able to issue a command that hi.
II be Immediately known to his reg OFF
emit and hardly can captain ora
omptly command his company. 1t ha'
uld seem, therefore, that hereafter ha,
ere cannot be great battles between dol
ge armies, INN ediately directed eve
/ inspired by one master mind. sn enc
q artillery fighting also the new the
apons and the snokeless powder dor
e tremendous advantage to the DOS
orse. The precept has been that Of ;
every attack it is necessary to wbi
intain superiority of artillery L
that will break down the morale sIa sta
he irtrenched enemy. This is be- 60"
ling increasingly difficult to do.
} defenders can keep 10 almost II
lplete security until the artillery Den
ceases and the infantry moves of
ward. And then the fact is faced wor
the infantry cannot, without in Tia
ng its own destruction, move in con
way that has any hope of success I'VE
Inst a resolute defense by any Col
enable proportion OF men. and
lie Boer war has shown this on wi
sides. IL the Beers have been quot
regnable 10 defense, the British expr
ed equally so at Lady smith, Kim cleo,
Y and Mafeking. The beers could nbel
" drive back the attacking Brit.
with fearful slaughter every time.
when they themselves ATTEMPTED Nan,
"a on positions as they rarely piled
done they have fourd that they sores
do no more than the British. ~
H "
How Are Your Kidneyss pain