Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-09-02
INFANTRY STILL
KING OF BATTLE
Men Cannot Be Rop'accd by In
strumants, Say Experts.
USE OF llHPLAHE IS UPHELD

But II Cannot Replace Cavalry in All
Forms Of Reconnaissance, Military
Men Assert-War Department Sends
ousstiennaires to Chiefs Of Combat
Branches Devised to Bring Cut the
Best Military Thought Regarding
Progress in Military Tactics.
The War department has under way
an exhaustive study of the influence
that Madepn scientific developments
will have upon the technique Of war
fare. especially with regard TO avia.
tion, motor transportation and tanks.
The Army Recruiting News in II recent
Issue states that while the fundamen-
tai principles Of war. such rs the ne.
ceSeity for desperation and the adj
vantage of surprise. will always re-
main unchanged. their proper uppli.
cation, which constitutes the true
measure IT military art, varies con.
SANITY with many factors. not least
of which Is the advent Of new arna.
ment.
In order to obtain basis for ar'
irving at such uniform doctrine and
understanding. the War department
has sen; ~ IRE chiefs Of comha.
branches and To certain others a qucs
tionnairs devised to bring out the best
military Thought regarding both basic
questions and qHaysions related 10 the
specific changes brought about by the
advent Of new developments, as avia.
ton. tanks and motor transportation.
1T was known" says the News.
that the latter class Of questions
would bring ost many divergent views.
and s9ch was the case.
Conclusions Reached.
1T is possible al this time to an.
nounce the conclusions of the War da.
Partment To the basic questions. as t.
which there was substantially unani-
nous agreement, II is concluded, and
d~ctrinC% Of tacties and OF training
Viii he based accordingly:
Il. That man remains the funttI.
mental insEumer in battle. and as
such cannot be replaced by any imag
Unable Instrument. short of one more
perfect than the human body, includ.
ing the miR,l.
- Rsa plan m vie hulk-meanin.
the greater portion Of armed forces -
fis4.ts with areatert freedom Of action
ana with greatest efficiency when an
foct nei 0a horseback. in 81 tank. III
an airplans. in a Fixed fertilization.
,1e that N achieve decisive action lie
IL best avInes wisA the rife and bayo-
net that nan is rendered least vul-
nerable when merely clothed against
he weather and aFuIored by his own
agility. with steel helmet.
20. That hat,io Is normally deter
mined by physical encounter with the
bayonet. or me fear thereof; all other
agencies of desi Enction. as artillery.
machine guns and aircraft. are auxil-
larry IN si,er effect. however potent,
and serve to make possible the adj
vance sf the fest soldier Ia hand.to-
hand eneoaRter.
~ That infanGy 10 the basic com
bstam AKIN upon whose success nor
RaHy aerRRsk rho success 81 the
array: the primary duty Of other arms.
whea asSaafafeA wits infantry. Is 10
assist the infantry 70 achieve In mis-.
sion by protecs4Rg and aiding il in
every way. and Nv destroying cnemy
resistance to ik efforts.
~, That no arm except infantry can
he expected Wnder normal conditions
to destroy IN approximately equal
force Of easmy inksntry armed with
ride and hayeAet.
- That. wkHs infantry is normally
the basic arm In war. under certain
conditions ar during certain phases
cavalry ma. replace II as the basic
aria. for example in operation against
mounted fsrces, or aSainst foot troops
whesr efficiency Is below normal for
any reason.
Cannot Replace Soldier.
"DHe 10 tho great publicity that has
been given tO the possible effect Of
new hnstfUp. osstS sf warfare. coupled
with the natural ceatering of public
interest on means OF destruction which
are both new and spectacular. miscon.
captions ara hkoly 10 arise in the mind
OF the public as to the powers and
limitations Of various weapons and the
arms devolapiHg saa serving them.
The War ders rtment. by making pub
lie IA sseUsw fern the best military
thsugia asss sseh subjects, hopes TO
insure that the horesy shall never be-
come implanted in the country that
any material means can ever replace
in war the individual soldier who Is
willing and able 10 fight.
with regard to the iiiore debaable
questions covered In the second part OF
the questlonnaIre. II will be Of inter
est to note nj this time that on GER
tain questions wherein the public
seems 10 be- in doubt there is absolute
agreement among military minds. For
example. there is agreement that the
increasing use of airplaneS carrying
bombs does not tend To obyiate the
necessity for the use Of mobile field
artillery On the battleheldS