The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-30
MODERN SOLDIER
BACK TO ARMOR
French Invention That May
Make Warriors Like
Ancient Knights.

A very sensational discovery is re-
ported from France. IN ii recent NUM-
Der of La France OIntatre. under the
heading Of New Cavalry Cuirasses.'
il is announced that the movement in
favor of abolshing the lingering rem
nant of armor still in use in modern
armies has received sudden check by
the discovery of an unnamed inventor.
whose ingenuity promises to restore
armor 10 the place which il formerly
occupied in warfare.
Every schoolboy knows that the prac-
tice OF arraying fighting men in coats
Of armor. which had eliminated in the
fifteenth century by covering both horse
and rider with armor. received what
was believed TO be its deathbiow by the
general Introduction of gunpowder. be
ginning with the siege of Hariieur.
At present the snowy cuirass which
Fingers in European armies. is purely
spectacular, a snowy ingredient OF the
circus side of warfare. Soldiers con-
stautly assert that Culrasses VIII never
be used again in actual fighting. They
weigh seven or eight pounds, they cost
$40 TO SIS. and they are not even proof
against revolver bullet, while, as
against modern rifles they might as
we'll BE- made of brown paper. Hence,
as La France Mlitalre tells US, there
was a strong movement in the French
army in favor of abolishlng culrasses
both for cuirassiers and dragons. But
General de GalliteJ offered strong re-
sistance TO this revolutionary reform.
and the CUirass was saved. IL is doubt
tu3 whether even General de G8llltet
would have been able 10 arrest the
abolition of the cuirass had IL not been
Tor the discovery referred 10 above.
a New Discovery.
This was a discovery rather than an
invention. Although it's precise nature
is still buried in mystery, enough is
known 10 give rise to very interesting
speculatiOus as 10 whether. instead of
getting rid OF drmOr altogether we are
not destined in the next few years to
see the temperance OF mall-Clad me-
IN the ranks of war. The French gov
eminent has for some months past
been making an exhaustive series of
experiments as to the value "a the
new composition and IL IS interesting
10 hear they nave practically decided
that the inventor has made good his
claims. and Elat in the warfare OF the
future this new kind OF armor is des-
tined 10 play very important part.
This is not surprising if the claims
or the inventor are really substan-
tiated It is asserted that the new
material possesses four or five times
as mach resistance as chilled steel,
that II Is practically iuVuluaTabls TO
rife bullets; that it does not weigh any
more than the existing CUirass, that
il can be manufactured at half the
price, and even il il should be pierced
II can be made as good as new almost
without any considerable expenditure
OF time or material
Safe From Rifles.
Experiments have been conducted
which so to prove that the soldier pro-
vided with this new armor can expose
himself TO the fire OF modern rifles. at
a distance of 100 yards, and suffer as
little from their fire as IL he were be-
ms assalled by pea-shooters. This is
true, not merely of the bullets which
are at present used by the armies OF
the world, but even OF the new bullet
with which all governments are fur
nishing themselves in hot haste
The new bullet that has not vet been
issued for use I'm actual warfare is
largely composed of steel, and its sbarU
point teaEs las way through iron and
steel, against which tie ordinary sur
face bullet beats In vain The regiment
arTayed ia this aFm0r of proof and
marching mp 10 within 100 yards of the
enemy suffers no more damage from
nlltra'lie or steel bullets than if il were
marching through an ordinary hall
storm.
OF course. everything that adds TO the
weight carried by soldier decreases
The mobility Of the army, and IT will be
argued that the gain I'm inVulnerabiEity
viii be purchased at too dear a price
II II were to TeJard the movements OF
me troops But on the other hand, the
experience of mankind in ages when
war was the ordinary occuuation of
able-bOdied men, shows that line temp
tatlon TO cover the body with armor Of
proof IS Irresistible. Soldiers are always
disposed 10 purchase invulnerab ility at
me expense of mobility 1t is obvious
That thousand men whom no bullets
could hurt who could only march two
trrfH- rr.Frr
nerabie antagonists even if they could
march at twice their speed.