The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-20
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
Blu RE AU
FREDERIC ]. HAsKrN. Director.
WashinEton. D. C.
MAPS IN MODERN WARFARE.
Washington. D. c.

battle Is fought tWlce-tlrst on the
surface of a map at headquarters,
then on the ground with maps and
diagrams as guides. If a map is.
thru some slip, inaccurately drawn or
tempered with, then unwise moves
may be ordered, sometimes with dis
astrous results. while a carefully
dawn map may be the deciding factor
in victory.
1t is not enough that military maps
be constructed accurately; they must
cradle revision where contours are.
steadily changed by shell craters.
breaches, and now roads. A map that
could be relied upon yesterday is a
valueless, even dangerous bit of paper
today, unless it is revised.
In view of the constant use of maps
in modern warfare, drawing, revising,
and reading of military maps has be-
come a feature in the training of Off
GERS and many of the soldiers. with the
result that their efficiency is raised.
some rs per cent. The soldiers do not
become expert topographers or ar
lists over night. but they do learn to
sketch an enemy position calmly from
a precarious lookout, thru a periscope,
or even lying in No Mans Land.
The map most used in warfare is
the topographic sheet which shows
some cases, trenches and houses, the
exact amount of detail depending
upon the size of the sheet and the area
covered. Thus a map to hang on the
wall of a generals office may show
the entire western front in q space
five feet square, with minor features
omitted; a staff map for the use of
individual armies at the front pictures
the smaller towns and valleys as a
guide to the planning of operations;
general trench map gives even a
closer view of some section of the
line, and shows trench formations and
location of artillery detectives in clear
detail; and what is known as a de-
tail map shows with minute clea-ness
trench, town or battery. Only the
first type mentioned ever reaches The
civilian for examination. except an &C.
casiona1 out-of-date sample that miss
ed being destroyed. Drawings show
ing battery locations or a plan Of at
tack are given to the officers in COM
mand only when actually to be used,
and some are SO valuable that they
are never allowed near the front line
trenches for fear of capture or dis
closure to spies.
Various features are reproduced on
a Typographical sheet along the fol-
lowing lines: A hill is represented by
circling lines one within another
spaced to indicate that each line is
above the next line Mountains be-
come on the map chains of tiny. curv-
ing lines or are, shown in a different
color. Military information is given
thru special colprs AND symbols show
ing supply depots, weak spots in enc
my lines and advantageous sites for
trenches The puzzling lines and fig
ures which decorate the military map
are easily Ineligible to the initiated,
no matter what his nationality may
hA T-,yt
visions, Topographic maps are drawn
up according to an international code,
and nearly all can be read by soldiers
of any army.
One of the chief uses of a map at
the front is in directing artillery fire.
Artillery fighting no longer consists of
aiming at a distinctly visible target
and firing until it is demolished. Mod
ern artillerymen seldom see their OBJ
| Jective. Pilot aviators. accompanied
by observers, locate the origin of
enemy shells and return with dia-
grams and Photographic plates. The
| new data are applied to maps in use,
| and in a short time the disturbing gun
Is silenced. At night, too when a
| raid is planned. the ever useful map
| is consulted. SO that the men may be
| prepared for the pitfalls between
them and the enemy trenches.
| A captain leading his company from
one town to another counts himself
! lucky if he can secure a map of his
route. for French towns have a way of
IL sing themselves. and French roads
branch alarmingly. But with his
trusty map in his pocket, the captain
knows that he will not turn up in the
wrong town or walk into the enemy
| lines.
| knowledge of natural features of
the battle ground is always a great
advantage in warfare. Again and
| again topography has held back a vic
| tory when men, munitions and sup
plies were available to force con-
quest. The strength of natural forti-
fications is shown in the incident OF
a German general who was ordered by
| the kaiser to cross the Vosges at any
| cost. When repeated attempts failed
| the leader sent back word to the
kaiser: THE Vosges cannot be
| crossed. Come try yourself" After
this desperate message, the general
committed suicide.
Geology of the European battle
Fronts could not have been made tc
fit in with strategic purposes so ac-
curately had not biologists spent
years studying the surface and soil OF
Europe and preserving the results by
maps and scientific notes. By know
ing the geologic formation. of a sec.
ton. tunnels have been cut withou
danger of striking rock and a mine
laid below an enemy fertilization.
The thoro work of biologists in thu
past makes it possible for topogra
pliers to give their services now in ar
expert capacity to furnish valuable in
formation. conduct Investigations and
make maps. OF the 1877 men whit
composed the technical and. scientifi,
personnel of the topographic bureau
of the United States geological survey
10 are now commissioned and on &C
tive duty either abroad or in thi
country. How to replace the expert
! enced men for home duty and to fur
nish still more to the army is-a prob
lem. The Geological survey state
that a topographic engineer can b.
developed only after long practice un
, der rigid field conditions. This fielt
experience of survey men has beel
such that when the need came for ex
perts trained in topogra phic and fell
life its mon were 50 fhnrnIv innrat