The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-05-19

lantry attack in battle have been
fixed for some time, but there are al
ways differences Of opinion among
the different nations on minor points
in tactics. Moreover, every improve
mont in war material brings about
some change more or less important
In tactics.
Every war, of course, brings new
experiences. but even in times OF
peace the drill ground or the man.
euvre field may furnish data for this
important branch Of the art of war.
After any war It generally takes a
long time before the views of author
tiles become crystallized, consequent
" It Is we'll 10 consider these views |
from time to time in order to remain |
always up to date in our conceptions
The great improvements effected
in the modern military rife naturally
bring up the question of rapidly OF
Are, its advantages and disadvant-
ages. How great the rapidity Of fre
may be without loss of accuracy OF
fire cannot be determined from actual
experience, because data on this sub
ject are entirely wanting at present
This rate, however, will depend to
q great extent on the training of the
particular troops considered: 1t will
be greater for the troops at the firing
school than for the ordinary troops
Of the army; and 1t will no doubt be
greater in time of peace than in act
ual war. 1t will also be affected by
other circumstances, such as the
character of the light on the target
as we'll as the size and distinctness OF
the latter, the physical condition OF
the troops, whether they are tired or
not, as we'll as their mode of firing
whether kneeling or lying down,
since tho Same troops can always fire
faster kneeling.
But even with very difficult tar
gets It is now an accepted principle
that the rapidity of fire shall not fall
below three shots a minute. How
ever, this applies only to such phases
of the battle in which it is designed
to attack and defeat the enemy, and
not to those cases where it is merely
intended to keep him occupied.
The improvement in firearms and
in the training Of our soldiers have
warranted this great increase in The
rapidity of fire. Nevertheless, som'
authorities are still opposed to 1t
On this subject the German author
ity, Lieutenant-Gener Rohne, says
The objection to increasing tn
, rapidity of fire is based on the belle
/ that reduction in accuracy of fire is
: necessary accompaniment, But thi
a IS not necessarily the case, and eve
4 IL It did result to a certain degree
a this would not OF necessity act disad
a vantageously. OF course, II the grea
2 rapidity of FIRE is duo mainly to tn
excitement OF the skirmishers 1t
a undoubtedly detrimental and shout
r. be discarded, since In that case ther
is no. longer any question of target
but IL the great rapidity Of fire is tn
result of systematic instruction an
% training it need not necessarily g
* ciude good aiming, Rapid loadin
@ and coming TO ready" never pc
hitting the target TO get out of sigh
7 combined with good aiming and f
n ing, go very well with great rapid
I of fire. "h% ~.
70 Tho commander who in acu
10 battle slows down his fire in ord
m to save ammunition wastes men al
time, both of which are far mo
r., costly than ammunition. Men p
or out Of action are more difficult. to,'I
" place than ammunition, and lost tn
:. can never be made up@' = 49,
= After ali; we do not go tip war
II into "a battle in order to save cs
Il trldges, but to annihilate the eusn
l = Another, important point. in me
ern tactics is. the. necessity forn I
close mutual action and, support
Infantry and field artillery on
battlefield, al, the drill regulate
q. agree in, laying stress on this poi
The infantry must attack! even If
artillery has not been able to obti
superiority Of fire, ipasmpch as
K~r nTN