New-York tribune., 1920-05-16

book, as it's preface states, is
TO impart general knowledge
of the principles Of the art
of fighting, especially Of strategy. to
the people, in order that they may
be able 70 know whether their navy
and army are being correctly designed,
prepared and operated.
There can be no doubt that there
is need for book ike this; for the
people spend hundreds of millions of
dollars every year, even in times Of
peace, on their navy and army, without
the slightest knowledge on their part
as 10 whether their money is being
we'll spent or not or whether their
Earmy and navy are being properly
yAandled-
The amount of ignorance through
the country regarding even the elc~
mentary principles that should govern
she making and the handling Of
armies and n&vies is deplorable, and
results in wastcful expenditure in
times of both peace and war and much
unnecessary delay and bloodshed dur
ing war. Even an elementary
knowledge Of the principles Of
strategy would remedy the difficulty
greatly and thereby contribute to ma
tional safety, for the principles of
strategy govern the, safety and health
Of nation just as a knowledge Of the
principles OF hygiene governs the
safety and health Of an individual,
Traces History of Fighting
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske's
book, "The Art of Fighting" (Cen-
tury), traces the history of fighting
from prehistoric times down to the
present day, and shows that the prin-
ciples of tho art Of lighting are as i'm
mutable as the principles of any other
arr, and govern every fight whatever,
whether it be between two men or two
tribes or two armies or two nations;
although the weapons used and the
methods employed and the numbers
engaged in fighting have changed as
civilization has advanced
The book brings out the curious and
hitherto unrecognized fact, moreover
that the progress of civilization, in
stead of increasing our knowledge Of
strategy and our instinct for fighting,
mas done exactly the reverse, for the
natural instinct of savages gave them
more correct appreciation Of the
principles OF strategy and fighting in
rlmeval days than the most civilized
nations exhibit now. This should not
surprise us-for the reason that
while fighting is a natural activity,
civilization is an artificial product
which, though it develops our reason
ng faculties, dulls our natural in
stincts
Written for Civilians
The book is intended mainly for ci-
V!hans, but it is not only among ci-
villains that lack of appreciation of
the principles of fighting can be found,
Tor regular army and navy Office rs
sho" IL sometimes to disquieting de-
gree The reason, Of course, is that the
time and effort required for carrying
or their exacting duties and for mas
tering all the technique Of their pro-
lessions, in the way Of drills, methods,
mechanlsms, etc have taken up their
ume 50 eXclusiv y as to almost force
them to overlook, i not wholly forget,
he main object in view.
The first man to recognize this diff
culty was Moltke, who established the
German Army War College shortly be-
tore the war between Prussia and Aus
tria il 1855 in order to overcome it.
The effect of its teachings was so
marked in the wars with Austria and
France in 1866 and 1870 that other
nations then established military war
colleges.
The first country to establish d ma
va war college vas our own country,
which, On the initiative of Admiral
Luce, established the Naval War Col
iege at Newport, of which now have