New-York tribune., 1912-08-25

aeroplanes would have covered the entire
theatre Of operations OF the Russian
Japanese war in Manchuria and within
a couple Of hours would have located
every body OF troops within It.
The use OF the aeroplane means a
revolution in fighting methods 1hls
ultra new means cannot be grated on
an antiquated army system. There WIZ
be an enormous increase in the mobiitF
and concentration OF armed forces on the
ground while desperate battles are being
waged I'm the air Infantry, artillery ana
cavalry will be eliminated, and In their
stead fleets OF armored automobiles
mounted with machine guns will move
swiftly by night from position 10 position
The first elimination viii be OF cavalry,
the arm long considered as the eyes OF
the army" and the Indispensable
"screen" for movements OF infantry ana
artillery. The aero scout does In minutes
what the cavalry require days 10 acom-
pIish
II ia said that infantry are indlspens-
able and superior to gun-equipped auto
mobiles because they can deploy III
Aelds and 20 where wheeled vehicles
cannot follow The answer Is that IN
fantry travel on roads and are tied ~
roads practically the same az "hceieu
yebicles. While infantry are depioyihs'
AN armed automobile can destroy theHi
or make swift detour OF any numoer
~ miles around their flank. A war auto
mobile can travel any road pracucapie
for men. mules and horses and at a
speed hve 10 fifteen times as great. u
can travel twenty-four hours DAY coih-
nared With ten OF twelve hours for men
and animals.
In the theoretical problem arranged TOT
the Connecticut war game three weeks
were allowed for the concentration OF
snau army between Boston anu NC"
York An actual enemy would not heeu
more than three days to land heet OIL
armored automobiles at some point Oh
the New England coast, dash thIous "
any opposition, or circumNent II oS :"
detour OF hundred miles TO the hor'n'
r.ach the Croton water system ana cut
off the water supply OF New YORK 10
hal;x such an enemy, under the present
army system. would require GORDON OF
troops guaTulns OIL iNo"" -
hundred miles, and they could nol DC
mobilized in two months The only way
of answering the attack would De 10 use
the enemy's weapons and methoos'
The view that terrestrial troops OPP
nosed by aeroplanes. will only have 10
modify their tactics 10 the extent o'
marching al night and keeping hidoeh III
wooded tracts by day is rebutted by the
coming development Of night nyihs me
chimes. Areoplanes will be equipped WIN
electric searchlights. with which the ~,
cation and movement OF the enemy WIZ
be picked out at night.
There will be deadly batties III t"0
clouds between rival airmen attehp'ihs
IN destroy each other. The first engage
mant In a modern war will be pet"ee"
airmen. and the nation with the iarse'
feet OF experienced aviators VIII nave a.,
immense advantage at the start anu W.
keep II. But the winner VIII stfiNe "
destroy his aerial enemy TO the last "a"'
n ssa aeroplsnes out OF 1000 were oe-
s,royed the single machine LETT IN lhe
air could do more damage thsn ON
sion OF troops on the ground. IL IS nv
killing flies; one left means myTia'
bred Since total annihilstion Is impos-
sibe there must be radical cnange III
methods OF terrestrial fighting,