The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-07-29
,s;dent Eliot on the War.
I,ferences From Eleven Months of the
Greatest of Wars.


..;tary and naval. In the conduct
M land it has been demonstrated
81. The past eleven months that sue
= osttle depends primarily on the
..on and skilful use of artillery
Chine guns. The nation which
uand the largest quantity of ar
great variety of calibre and
rs developed the amplest and
means of transporting artillery
res of all sorts, and whose
IN use mortars. howitzers and
d the highest speed and with the
accuracy will have important
,.ses over an enemy less we'll pro-
less skilful. Before every as
infantry, artillery must sweep
..5.n the position to be captured;
:. soon as the enemy has lost
" a redoubt the enemy's artillery
h., 10 destroy the successful troops
sr-Is and shrapnel, before the en-
: fantry m akes counter attack.
-.sr troops have open ground 10
sfore they reach the entrench-
. # the enemy, they encounter a
-g fire from machine guns, which
-ective that assaults over open
aye, for the most part, to be un-
at night or in fog, or by some
4Iorise. In general the defence
aavantage over the attack, as
xpenditure of both men and
So decided is the advantage
-fence that Germany can dis
ose apprehensions about in
the Russian hordes with which
.r on this war. Success in mil
4ements on a large scale de-
Tie means of transportation at
these means of transporta-
include railroads, automobiles
wagons, the function of the
a being of high Importance
the roads are tolerably good.
title use for cavalry in the new
for aeroplanes can do better
and more distant raidlng than
p. aver could, and large bodies of
m with their Indispensable sup
IN be moved faster and farther
mobiles than cavalry could ever
lie aeroplane also defeats the
r. use of cavalry to screen from
.r NY view the movements of
IS md their trains behind the actual
: Moreover, cavalry cannot stand
sgainst the new machine gun. An
ioned cavalry charge in the open
SIS. and, indeed, impossible.
warfare is still undeveloped, but
AZ las proved that the aeroplane,
r. rs present imperfect condition,
.ssful instrument. The Zeppelin,
tber hand, seems to be too frag-
too unmanageable for effective
ar. Rife fire is of far less i'm
than artillery and machine gun
aid. indeed, the abandonment of
as the principal arm for infantry
..-.v suggested. Elaborate forts
VI ron and concrete are of little
sza.nst a competent invader, and
ations round about cities are of
TOR protection against an enemy
TO ssesses adequate artillery. For
e55nce of frontier, or of the ap-
mes to railroad junction or a city,
STEM of trenches is UNNECESSARILY
-ar to forts, particularly if behind
-srches a net work of railways or
GOTH highways exist. Wounds are
riicted by jagged pieces OF metal
/ carry bits of dirty clothing and
r.o the wounds, and the wounded
lie on the ground for hours, or
avs, before aid can reach them.
e the surgery of this war is largely
1rgery of infected wounds, and not
.0otn aseptic cuts and holes. A con-
sble percentage of deaths and per-
u, disabilities among the wounded
+ Inevitable result. Surgeons and
ers are more exposed to death and
IDS than in former wars, because of
srge use of artillery of long range,
ed hospitals being often under fire.
5n these changes in the methods of
No land it may be safely inferred
& nation which would be strong in
Of and must be strong in all sorts
40lfacturing, and particularly in
metallurgical industries. A nation
" Jevoted to agriculture and the
rl trades cannot succeed in modern
gniess it can beg, borrow, or buy
sympathizers or allies the necessary
s-y and munitions. No amount of
. and devotion in troops can make
al inadequate supply of artillery,
u- guns, shells and shrapnel, or
lack of ample means of rapid
Il rtation. Only in a rough coun-
.ADut good roads, like the United
-- u 1661-65, or Serbia or Russia
IN the rifle, light artillery, and
g 1T OK wagons win any considerable
=s~ and in such country the trench
o can bring about stalemate, if
c,mbatants are well matched in
9Th, diligence and courage.
r Hanges In naval warfare are al
-qually remarkable. Mines and
-srnes can make the offensive oper-
u lreadnoughts and cruisers near
: fcactically impossible, and can in
great damage on an enemy's COM
u Hence important notifications
.e sales concerning effective block
tn squadron actions victory will
ably 60 to the side which has the
Of iongest range well-manned. De-
ed war vessels sink as rule with
81 all on board. Commercial ves-
can seldom be taken into port as
es, and must therefore be sunk to
t their capture effective. There
been no actions between large
s but the indications are that a de-
ed feet would be sunk for the most
the only vessels to escape being
Of the speedier sort. Crews would
own with their vessels. Shore bat
. Of long range guns can keep at a
inee a considerable fleet, and can
vessels that come too near. Mines
shore batteries together can pre-
fne passage of war vessels through
rs 10 or Is miles wide, no matter
powerful the vessels batteries may
Every war vessel is now filled with
merry of various sorts, much of
3r Is delicate or easily disabled.
&c a single shell exploding violently
sensitive spot may render large