The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-06-18

The general principles of the in
,,ntrv attack in battle have been
sred for some time, but there are al
-ovs differences of opinion among
the different nations on minor points
:, tactics. Moreover, every improve
,nont in war material brings about
some change more or less important
in tactics.
Every war, of course, brings new
arperiences, but even in times OF
noace the drill ground or the man
auvre field may furnish data for this
imnortant branch Of the art Of war
After any war it generally takes a
lang time before the views of author
tiles become crystallized, consequent
" II is we'll to 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 rifle naturally
hiring up the question of rapidity of
fire its advantages and disadvant-
ages. How great the rapidity Of fire
NAV be without loss of accuracy of
fire cannot be determined from actual
exnerience. because data on this sub
iect are entirely wanting at present.
This rate, however, will depend to
a great extent on the training of the
narticular troops considered: it will
he greater for the troops at the firing
school than for the ordinary troops
Of the army; and it will no doubt be
greater in time Of peace than in act
nal war. It 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 the 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 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, some
authorities are still opposed to it..
On this subject the German author
ity. Lieutenant General Rohne, says:
The objection to increasing the
rapidity of fire is based on the belief
that reduction in accuracy of fire is
necessary accompaniment. But this
is not necessarily the case, and even
II it did result to certain degree,
this would not of necessity act disad-
tantageously. OF course, if the great
rapidity of fire is due mainly to the
excitement of the skirmishers it is
undoubtedly detrimental and should
be discarded, since in that case there
is no longer any question of targets,
but if the great rapidity of fire is the
result of systematic instruction and
training it need not necessarily ez-
clude good aiming. Rapid loading
and coming to ready never per-
hitting the target to get out OF sight,
combined with good aiming and fir
ing, go very we'll with great rapidity
of fire.
THE commander who in actual
battle slows down his fire in order
to save ammunition wastes men and
time, both of which are far more
costly than ammunition Men put
out of action are more difficult to re-
place than ammunition, and lost time
can never be made up
After all, we 90 not go to war or
into a battle in order to save car
tridges. but to annihilate the enemy.
Another important point in mod
ern tactics is the necessity for the
close mutual action and support OF
infantry and field artillery on the
battlefield. All the drill regulations
agree in laying stress on this point
The infantry must attack even if the
artillery has not been able to obtain
superiority of fire, inasmuch as the
DDTNCT pECL