The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1905-10-21
WAR NOT SO DEADLY
CASUALTIES IN MODERN TIMES
COMPARATIVELY FEW.
Battles of To-day Fought at Greater
Distances and With More Humane
Weapons-Interestin facts Of Some
Great Conflicts.

In the annals OF the American Acad-
envy Gen. 7. III. Bliss, discussing the
important elements in modern land
combats, arrives at the conclusion that
the tendency of modern warfare is to
become less deadly. He gives table
Of the principal battles fought from
the beginning of the Seventh Years
War, in the eighteenth century, up to
and including the battle of Mukden,
in the twentieth. He summarizes the
results as follows:
In the twelve principal battles Of the
Seven Years War the average losses
were-victors IA per cent, defeated 10
per cent
During the Napoleonic epoch an av-
erage OF twenty-five battles gives vic
tors IL per cent loss, defeated 10 per
cent.
The average loss in four principal
battles of the Crimea was for the vic
tors 10 per cent, for the DEBATED II
per cent.
The average of four principal &C.
lions in the Franco-Austrian war Of
1859 gives for the victors per cent
loss, for the DEBATED S5 per cent.
In twelve principal battles of the
civil war the losses of the Union Army
amounted to 1877 per cent and of the
confederate armies to 1876 per cent.
The average Of six principal actions
in the Austro-Prussian war of 1866
gives for the victors per cent, for the
defeated 9 per cent
The average Of eight actions of the
first period of the Franco-Prussian
war Of 1870 gives for the victors 10
per cent for the defeated per cent
The average Of three principal actions
in the second period Of the Franco.
German war gives for the victors 2.5
per cent for the defeated 3.5 per cent
In fourteen battles in the Russo.
Japanese war Excluding the siege OF
Port Arthur the average loss for the
Russians 9.5 per cent, for the Jap.
anese 4.G per cent.
From these suggestions he con
cludes that there is steady tendency
to decrease in the battle percentage
Of loss This diminution in the dead.
Illness Of war is traced. CD to the grad
ual disappearance of the Individual
duel. In ancient battles no man play
hit on the body of his antagonist.
In modern battle it requires the com
bined efforts of many men through a
long days fight to make hit upon the
body of one antagonist. He notes (2)
that there is tendency in increasing
concentration of energy on the battle,
field, as shown by increased number
Of cCmbatants. and this increase in
concentration is one Of the causes of
decrease in loss. 1t was the disper-
sion Of the combatants over vast eX-
tent Of country that made the Ameri
can civil war SO much more sanguin
airy. CD Modern wounds are more
frequently healed. The modern bull
let is humane. (4) The old firearm at
close range. against close formation
was naturally more deadly than the
more rapidly fired gun of today dis
charged at great distance against
extended formation. 90 In olden bat
iicS, DIS dL waterloo, OHlV Il mile part
cd Wellington from Napoleon Defeat
meant immediate pursuit and greater
loss. Now, at Mukden, the opposing
commanders were from twenty-five to
thirty miles apart, and before the re,
serves Of the victOrs could begin pur-
suit the vanquished could ar.
range a fairly orderly retreat Co
Formations are now adapted to the
enemy'S weaDOnS