The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-28
National Defense Problems
XII .e.aor. sc The War Strategy
BY Frederic , Haskiin.

y tNarssSH1te4y #
lie ]. Haskin. 81
sanaEasac
i Another factor that enters largely
Into the strategical equation - the
Jaeroplane scout who hoverS over the
tenemy's lines day and night. report
ling instantly every movement which ds
perceived beneath. AS each aeroplane
! or dfrigib1e Is equipped with wireless
| 1t is possible for these atrsscouts to
watch the activities OF the enemy's
forces and report instantly to head
tquarters.
It ID therefore practically fmpos-
lsible for one army to prepare for q
movement upon large scale without
betraying its Intention to the eyes In
the sky which follow every move. One,
of the great surprises of the present
war: according to military experts. is
that there have been no surprises. Not
q single instance OF consequence or
mbush or danking turn has taken
place since the commencement OF the
war, owing to the superb work of the
ay.ators and aeronauts. Thus is the
modern commander relieved Of one
great fear which continually harassed
his predecessors.
Selects Big Building.
The modern strategist who attacks
the problems presented by warfare on
the gigantic scale Of the present CON
dict usually selects for his neadquar-
ters some large building well to the
rear OF his army. Telephone wires
are strung and q compete exchange
erected. 1t becomes possible to ring
up any portion Of the battlefront at
once. Wireless operators are also In
@vsrNT1r ~
air scouts and the field wireless sta
tions.
On large table Is spread a scale
map, showing the most minute yari-
attons Of the terrain along the battle
front and the stations of the
troops. Reinforcements under way
are Identified by arrows.
Sentries are posted at all the exits
and approaches and no one is allowed
| to come within fifty feet of headquar-
tiers without a special permit. A
mounted patrol Is stationed nearby,
ready to rush messages In case the
Telephone wire is broken and auto
mobiles ceaselessly dash UP to the
house and then away again, carrying
| the division commanders who come
| for personal interviews with the com
imander-in-chief.
An anxious moment is approaching.
The right wing of the army has sur
fered setback from which it must
recover before the entire field army
can operate as unit The whole
campaign, involving more than a mill
lion men and possibly endangertng
the future of the nation, hinges on
the fate Of the hard-dghtfng right
Every time the wireless receiver
clicks and buzzes or the telephone
bell rings the officers who are bent
| over the huge map look up and cease
talking. But the expected message
does not arrive.
When an Hour is Vital.
A big, square-set man. dressed in
khaki and with the ribbons Of multi
colored decorationsyu upon his chest Is.
pacing up and down the room. his
hands behind his back. For two
days he has spoken only in monosyll-
ables and then only in answer to the
|deferential inquiries of his stan. The
fate of nation rests In his hands An
hour lost by the right wing in re-
forming and joining his plan of attack
may cost him the battle and with 1t
the campaign.
once more the wireless receiver
clicks. The operator does not wait to
type the message but dashes 1t on on
a sheet of paper while the command
er-in-chief bends over his shoulder.
The big man scowls. for the right
wing Is not advancing. Suddenly his
face brightens with a daring idea. He
dictates an order commanding the
right wing to feign retreat for two
hours and then, at the moment that
the reinforcements arrive. to rally
and attack en- masse!
A moment later high-power motor
car sweeps out from the portecochere5
of flae build ing, carrying an adtutant
sitting beside the sQuare-set man In
khaki. The sentrfes present arms.
with q snap, as the commandments
chief passes, his mind occupied in
planning the psychological effect OF
the battle action. AT the very mo-
ment when the feigned retreat shall
have led the enemy into trap and
the grand advance Of his armies will
commence, he, the commander-in-
chief, shall be there to lend spirit by
his presence. to correct any possible
error in strategy or execution and to.
insure the fullest measure of efficient,
generalship In every corps. in every.
division. In every regiment and. as.
far as possible, In every man.
The weapons of war may change the
manner Of hghtfng may change, strat-
egg may change-but men and
psychology Of men remain the same.
DAY FOR FARMERS.
80 .l<.s