Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-11-24


Progress in Military Tactics.
The War department has under way
an exhaustive study Of the Influence
that modern scientific dpvrlopn.ntS
will have upon the technique Of war
fare. especially with regard to avia-
ton. motor transportation and tanks
The Army Recruiting News in n recent
issue states that while the fundamcn.
tai principles of war. such AS the ne
cesSiiy for cooperation and the adj
vantage OF surprise. will ALWAYS re-
main unchanged. their proper uppli-
cation, which constitutes the true
measure OF military art, varies con-
Stantly with many factors not least
OF which Is the advent Of new arma-
ment
In order to obtain a basis for ar
irving At such uniform doctrine and
understanding. the War department
has sent To the chiefs OF combat
branches and I" certain others a ques-
tionnaire devised To bring out the best
military thought regarding both basic
questions and questions related to the
specific changes brought about 10y the
advent of new developments, as avia-
ton, tanks and motor transportation.
ut was known" says the News.
that the latter class of questions
would bring out many divergent views.
and such WAS the case.
Conclusions Reached.
ut is possible at this time to an
nounce the conclusions of the War de
partment TO the basic questions, MS 10
which there was substantially unani-
nous agreement. ii is concluded. and
doctrines OF tactics and Of training
Will be based accordingly:
II. That man remains the funda-
mental instrument in battle, and as
such cannot be replaced by any mag
Unable instrument, short Of one more
perfect than the human body, includ-
Ing the mind. VcS II,
~. That man In the bulk-meaning
the greater portion Of armed forces
fights with greatest freedom of action
and with greatest efficiency when ON
foot, not on horseback, in a tank in
an airplane, in fixed fortfication,
etc; that to achieve decisive Action he
is best armed with the rifle and bayo-
| net; that man Is rendered least vul-
nerable when merely clothed against
! the weather and armored by his own
agility, with steel helmet.
| -. That battle Is normally deter
mined by physical encounter with the
! bayOnet, or the fear thereof; all other
| agencies of destruction. as artillery
machine guns and aircraft. are auxil-
larry in their effect. however potent.
and serve to make possible the ad-
vance OF the foot soldier to hand-to-
hand encounter.
"a. That infantry ia the basic COM
blatant arm upon whose success nor
mally depends the success of the
army; the primary duty Of other arms,
when associated with infantry. is to
assist the infantry to achieve it's mis-
sion by protecting and aiding it in
every way, and by destroying enemy
resistance to its efforts.
-. That no arm except infantry can
be expected under normal conditions
to destroy an approximately equal
force OF enemy infantry armed with
rifle and baynnet.
|
the basic arm in war. under certain
conditions or during certain phases
cavalry may replace 1t as the basic
arm, for example in operation against
mounted forces, or against foot troops
whose efficiency is below normal for
any reason.
Cannot Replace Soldier.
due 20 the great publicity That has
| been given Ia the possible effect of
new instruments Of warfare coupled
with the natural Ccn'"ring nf public
| interest on means Of destruction which
are both new and spectacular. miScon.
! ceptlonS ar" likely 10 arise N The mind
| of the public rs To the powers and
limitations of various weapons and the
| arms Developing and serving them.
The War department. by making pub.
lie in summary form the best military
thought upon such subjects. hopes tt
insure that the heresy shall never he
come implanted in the country that
any material means can ever replace
in war the individual soldier who ID
willing and able to ASht
with regard TO the more debats bl q
questions covered In the second part OF
the QUESTIONABLE it will be OF inter.
est to note at this time that on Ger.
tain questions wherein the public
seems to 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 obviate the
necessity for the use Of mobile field
artillery on the hattefeIds.
similarly. it is agreed that avia.