Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-10

INCREDIBLE as it may sound, science has
forecast future war that will be infinite
ly more terrible and destructive than the
present conflict
Professor G. Blanchon, distinguished
French scientist, has written description Of
the coming war as he conceves it must de-
velop from present scientific tendencies His
book has attracted widespread attention in
Europe.
Professor Blanchon believes that the next
great war will be fought mainly under
ground, where vast armies worming their
way through myriads Of endless tunnels
will meet in the darkness and destroy one
another with poison gases, new forms Of
electric current, suffocating smoke, disease
germs, high explosives and deadly chemicals.
The terrible destructiveness Of firearms
and the growing efficiency Of aeroplanes as
lighting machines are rapidly tending to
make warfare in the open an impossibility
Professor Blanchon shows that rain Of
death can be produced by combination OF
heavy guns, light field guns, machine guns,
automatic rifles and bombs that will make
barrier that no army can pass
On the other hand, the immense develop
ment OF the permanent trench system on the
western front and it's proved efficiency as an
obstacle TO open fighting point to this as the
logical germ of future warfare. With
the help of the whole world scientific and
mechanical resources it will take more az
gressve, mobile and destructive form TIM
melting machines similar to those now used
IN engineering work will be adapted to the
use OF the fighters. The opposing forces will
then meet in the bowels of the earth under
conditions more terrifying than human be-
ings have hitherto faced.
In preparation for future conflict, Pro-
lessor Blanchon believes, tho army will be
concealed in underground fortresses at Il
certain distance, behind the frontier. He
thus pictures their disposition:
Our trenches are henceforth fitted I'D for
permanent residence; what were at the out
set but modest shelters have become case
mated barracks, sunk deep into the ground.
proof against shell and bullet alike. In them
is found every comfort which such cond-
tons will allow They communicate by
means OF tho network of approach trenches,
winch are now tunnels, open only where they
lead into tho trenches and ut tho venta-
ton shafts. Consequently the enemy in the
air finds nothing to attack. Probably, too,
the trenches are mostly covered with con.
crete ceilings, leaving only loopholcs to fro
through and outlets at intervals for deploy-
ing troops in the open
The ramifcations Of these approach
trenches resemble the branches of a tree In
edcH SECTOR lnOSc tnal are tartheSt from the
front meet in one common trunk, which
brings them all into communication with the
railway. They mark the end of the strategic
lines intended for the supply of the entire
system. TO prevent the enemy from discoy-
erlng the movements Of troops along the
frontier, concentrations for attack, tho pass
age of reinforcements, ETC., it is most import
ant that the railways in the neighborhood
should be safe from attack, that they should
even be out of sight. Consequently, the ter
mini, at all events, Of the railways as we'll as
the lines parallel 10 the trenches are also
tunnelled and linked up with the real an
proach trenches.
Into these thousands Of passages the air
is driven by means of ventators, thought is
carried along telephone wires light and
power are distributed by qualifications of
electricity which supply the lamps. the
searchlights, the drainage pumps, the var.
ious workshop appliances, the rcrforatnc
machinery, the engines that convey sunnlns
on prepared tracks, the subterranean cook.
ing ranges, etc. AS far as the sappers nrc-
pare galleries for attack, SO far will they