The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-25


L n in the present war that II may
be assumed that conditions OF
warfare viii Ice still further modified
in the future when their development
is more advanced. 1t is best to start
an analysis ~ what the fu urc has in
store 10y a glHrcc at the manner in
which the hostile collisions between con-
tending armies are effected.
TIL cavalry screen pushes ahead of
the slower moving main force of artil-
lcry and infantry. Its task is that of
feeling uut the positions Of the enemy
and his strength. the latter being as
sumcd 10y the vigur with which he
fore the pryIng horscmcn To retreat
or turns hem aside from their ubjcC-
tive. Next come the regiments Of foot
so,di, r.. and these by sheer number
ana the determination of their assault
cndriNur To penetrate whcr. the cavalry
fails. If the resistance is too great, then
follow the field guns which batter away
at the positions held by the antagonist.
H. this WAY. II the attack succeeds
the foot soldiers of the foe are d.sludg"d
IRON th,ir tr,u, hes or weaken, Il, and
then the waiting infantry of the agrees
scr PUSHES uu To- close quarters and to
the strugG,r with cold steel. Could the
attackers obtain accurate know .vd'C be-
for,hauI # ac ,ppu~ NJ force ard the
nature Of tn" ground he'd by II. instead
of sacrificing soldiers To the guns of
the iutrruchcd foe field artillery would
sweep the front with its whitening
shrapurI and open relatively easy
path for attacking trpops.
Thousands of lives have been lost and
vast numbers 81 troops wounded in
driving HON. movements that Of roCes-
sity were begun wi .hout satisfactory
information regarding the str, myth and
the character of the cucmy's defence.
So much for what might properly bc
termed the uoodful cropping on the thea
tire of operations. Bat now see what
the acroplane has done.
As means of dealing blows the
flying machine has Played an incon-
spicuuu~ part SEQ far in tn" present
conflict. even though il has dropped
bombs, and some of them have carried
mitrail,ruscs. But as a scout and
guide to guuucrs resorting to indirect
fire the aoroplanc has won for itself
a lasting position in ihe tactical equip
ment Of modern army.
Both the Germans and the allies have
profit,d in this way. There has been
something vel nigh uncanny in the
manner in which Cirriing dying ma
chine lowering over lntrenched troops
proved SO often a d, raid of storm of
shot and shell. \ pun Of smoke.
flashing electro BAN and the distant
gunners learned from the air pilot
where to plant their missiles.
The aviator has made i extremely
difficult for beliiGerents - move con-
siderable forces unohserved during the
hours of daylight. and he has even de-
tected the shifting of troops at dusk
and during some parts Of the night
The searCh.ights with which flying ma
chimes are now frequently equipped
give the aviator a power " observation
that makes him something to be reCk-
oned with a, ali times The violence II
the fighting in the present war has
been in part due to The natur" Of
the ntrenchments constructed and tho
number and valor Of the opposing
armies but these dcadloCks have in all
likelihood been largely the consequence
of aerial "Reminiscences and the COM
parative facility with which force was
opposed to force and overpowerng con-
centration at any point anticipated. In
stead of effectlns sudden and decisive
stroke strategy has been met 10y
strategy.
The field of usefulness Of the aero
plane is likely to widen. The Russian
engineer Sikorsky has produced fly
ing machine capable Of carrying sin
teen passengers or Of bearing aloft, N
addition To its fuel supply of 500 pounds
cargo Of something over ton. In 81
korsky's achievement may be seen th'
germ of the military aeroplane Of th'
future. This, too, is equally true of th'
Curtiss Transatlantic ti.er the America
only a few months ago It was re
ported that tn, French Ministry Il Wal
had approved plans for an armureD
acroplaur crpah.e Of carrying a gun an'
able to attack airships provided witt
rapid fire weapons. AS both Sikorskl
and Curtiss have demonstrated, there IA
absolutely nothing improbable in thu
battling nNing machine.
True. an oor 'r"uc caunhl" - ,tl.us