Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-11-04
LESSONS OF THE WAR.

For many years, while the great
powers of the world have been exert
ing themselves to the utmost preparing
for the conflict that some day would
come, and now has in our own time
while they have been putting millions
and billions of pounds, francs, and
marks wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation into the making
of arms, battleships and other para
phernalia of war, and supporting ire
mendous non-productive standing forces
there has been constant speculation as
to what the war, when it came, would !
demonstrate concerning this or that
arm of the service; what revelations
would be made affecting this or that
engine of destruction or means of pro-
lection and how the various novel |
features based on theory and specula-
ton would test out in the crucible of |
real hostllities.
judgment. The race has gone but
lap toward the goal. 1t may last
year or ten years for all that now
appears. Doubtless active. fertile
minds are even at work that will pro-
duce startling features in vancouver.
ordinance, small arm or shield to
checkmate assault. But in short
two months some lessons can be drawn
striking enough to serve as guides
for neutral nations like ours in plan
ming our own war equipment to best
| advantage. 1t is worth while to note
few.
| First of all is the lesson of prepare
ton and preparedness. Germany pro-
| vides it. Suddenly summoned to con-
f1ict. her legions scarcely lost moment
in taking their place in the field. Her
regulars, her Landwehr and her Land
strum, all sprang to the colors with
the stroke of the bell fell into line;
took their equipments. of which plenty
of the most approved pattern were
easily accessible; and strobe off for the
front without loss of time. Here was
shown the wonderful effect of Ger
many's system. We may decry it as
militarism, and such it is. We may
wish to see it overcome. But one
thing is certain; until by some means
not yet clear. war is forever banished,
every great power of the earth, so
far as it can. must follow Germany's
example or prepare its shroud.
Removed as this country is from
close touch with others of its class,
the United States may with safety be
relieved Of some of the load of Europe,
years hence will see IFS within striking
reach Of powerful rivals who would not
hesitate to crush upon pretext The
oceans Will not always serve as an
impenetrable barrier. The end Of the
present century may see Us forced to
adopt compulsory military service if
we would defend our shores. A hun
dred or two hundred thousand scattered
regulars, with no general knowledge
Of arms among the masses of citizen
ship, Will not always suffice. Even q
strong navy cannot be depended upon
to safeguard our coasts.
Dread miiitariSm as we may from an
economic standpoint. we shall be
forced to it Whatever the outcome Of
the present war. The victOr8 will be
such only through "bloOd and iron"
and il becomes Us to be ready to oppose
force with force. Germany, almost
surrounded with outnumbering foes,
held her own by reason of her won
derfUl system. Great Britain on the
other hand, must prepare while she is
giving France what aid she can with
inadequate forces. It is a costly lesson
for her and q dangerous one, as events
may show Had Kitchaner's ccmpuI-
sorry service bian been adoped, she
could have thrown half million Of
men onto the battle line and brought a
speedy end to the conflict
AS it stands, Germany, with half
her four or five millions OF men on the
west, had crushed Belgium, invaded
France and holds at bay she whole
military forces of that republic. assist
ed by perhaps $50, 600 British and
colonial troops; while with the other
half, aided by Austria'S less efficient
armies, she IS standing off the hordes
of Russia. The thorough German
systemis responsible for this wonder
full showing. If we are wise We shall
e draw our own conclusions.
Then there is the German gun that
has revOlutionzed the siege. 1t has
knocked at the gates cf Belgium and
I northern France, and one after another
= the strongholds have speedily fallen
before it. Huge Is inch shells, fill ed
with some powerful explosive, drop
ping on the strongest forts of steel
and masonry. have reduced them tc
ruins in few hours. Once a breach
' is made in a circle of forts, so that
, infantry can enter, the power OF
defence is gone No more long anc
tedious sieges of months and years
with disease and starvation to ado
their horrors. Just few days
. pounding with those big howitzers at {
e range of six miles, from hidden EN-
< placements we'll guarded agains
e sortie, and in walk the German col
. umns. 1t is now accepted that this
. gun renders obsolete the most elahor
!, ate and costly sytem of land defences
: and that nothing short of rock gallerie(
Gibraltar can bid it defiance The
secret of this gun is now Germany.
but doubtless others will try to mattel
it.
On the other hand, if costly citadel
amount to little before modern gu,
fire. the old fashioned earth entrench
:, ment, with some modern features
II has proven its efficiency. In trenche
t carefully screened from sight and har
II to sweep with any kind of artillery
o the infantry. aided by machine guns o
decimatlng power and with their ow
rapid-fre rifles. are almost invincible