El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-27

in horror. My God. I've killed a whole
regiment.
Methods Are Improved.
As time went on the comnatauts on
both sides steadily improved the
methods OF trench warfare. which. III
the civil war. may be said TO have
reached their highest development dur
ing the Atlanta campaign The CON
fedratcs would occupy a strong posi-
ton and fortify IL in eNtempOre fashion
p- digging and in supplementary ways;
the Federals would approach within
mUsket-shOr. and both sides would
thereupon construct trenches as strong
and well protected as possible ceFoI-
ing themselves To the task OF watch
ing each other. such military Situa-
tion bore an obvious likeness 10 that
observable along the fighting lines in
Europe today.
The civil war was fought by young
men. and largely by boys marked
characteristic Of youth is initiative
which. when applied 10 military affairs.
means the originating or new IDEAS
Whatever the popular Impression TO
the contrary. the fact Is that 10 is the
rising generation always relied upon
70 do the real fighting that creates
the fresh eXpedients which develop
and improve the art OF war
In all likelihood IL was boy soldier
who. in our civil war. flrst hit upon the
idea OF laying a log the edge OF a
trench. beneath which through peep
hole. 4 man could sight a rifle without
exposing himself to the enemy II
was a happy thought Inat unqouptedly
saved the Mves Of thousands Of soldiers
But. unfortunately. II happened now
and then that a six-pOunuer shot wei
aimed. struck the log and nearly, II
not quite. knocked the heads off the
brave fellows behind ID. To preEent
such luckless accidents the eNpedlent
was adopted. later on OF driving
stakes deep into the ground 10 Keep
the log in place
Speaking OF entang lements. there vas
an occasion. iu the Cumberland Cap
when the Union picket line. stretched
clear across the Gap, extended Tor q
distance Of Il miles Wires were run
road along which ConIea-
crate cavalry forces were expected TO
advance sure enough. there was an
alarm soon afterwards, some OF the
Federal pickets were driven DID. ana
the enemy's cavalry gallopeq Iuu upon
the unseen obstacle. being thereupon
thrown into confusion and shot down
bv Union trOoDs who were waiting Ior
this very thing 10 happen. Inc cavalry
then fell back 20 a small hill at con-
siderable distance. and shouted insult
ms remarks
Record Long Distance.
Upon which (as the story is toldl
Federal iufantryman raised his rifle 10
his shoulders and shot one or the
csvalrymen through the body killing
him II was the record Ions distance
distance being 100 Yards.
one reads OF the killing or men IN
the present war with rifle bullets AZ
distances Of a mile or two miles Sucn
things probably happen. through ac-
cident But aimed shots with the
modern weapon are no more llkely 70
find their mark than m the civil W2f'
the reason being that 6uo yards is the
limit Of human sight for accurate
shooting The danger zone Will al
ways be the space that separates the
-narksman from an IMAGINARY line
that far away In battle. il is at
500 Yards that the business OF kiilins
begins
siege Trenches Ancient Affairs.
To Gocs without saving that siege
lperarions are governed 10y principles
wholly different from those concerned
u field fighting. There. the trench
very auciemt military institution
Al Nicksburg and Petersburg the Union
Jrmies employed methods that were
'amiliar 10 the Romans 1000 years and
more ago. and to the Greeks long be-
lore their day. Just as the Romans
advanced TO within arrow shot Of q
place besleged, thereupon digging
renches 10 protect themselves against
he fire Of the defenders. and working
Onward by zig-zag bitches, so did the
FEDERAL troops advance to within
hot. dig themselves in." and proceed B
in the same manner.
such siege trenches are called -'pa rail- (
els" the zigzags are "Saps. When {
he first trench Of the kind has been
lug. the movement further forward Z
vas accomplished by digging ziEzag /
Iitches. throwing up the dirt toward I
he enemy. When this movement had 2
,een carried for a suitable distance. a 3
econd trench parallel 10 the enemy-s +
utW orkst was eNcavated- From the /
econd trench the advance was further
Outinued by zigzags. as before and l
he operation was repeated until the &
'esiegers arrived close up to the de- /
enderS-
This process was employed at Vicks- I