Year: 1859

|
died here.


THE RIFLE AND THE SPADE IN MODERN


WARFARE.


few days ago, Capt. Tyler of the Royal Engi-
neers, delivered lecture in London. on "The Rifle
and the Spade, or the Future of Field Operations"
which seems to have attracted much attention as
i0reshadowng what part gunpowder may play in
shaping the destinies of Europe with the added po-
tency OF recent Inventions The relative capabiIi-
ties of the rifle and field artillery were considered
| IN detail Riiemen produced the results of their
praetlce and asserted that field artillery could no
| longer stand against them. Advocates of the lat
ter though conceding that rifles might be uncom-
Portable If brought too near, believe that the stand
ard OF intelligence in the army is not up to the re-
quisites for efficient rihemen. The Armstrong Gun
dld not so closely affect this question as might be
expected. Its powers to produce accurate effects at
long ranges were very great but it would prove
little superior to other guns in keeping off wholly
or partly concealed skirmishers, and its powers
could not be prohtably employed in a contest
with this sort of men, at small arm ranoe-
The rited musket would not, of course prove as
effective IN actual warfare in home practice be-
cause the men would not fire with the same stpadi
| ness; and tor this reason many who had expected
great results from the introduction of this arm had
been disappointed. Old disciplined soldiers, onlv,
would realize all reasonable expectations which had
| been formed of the efficiency of the new weanons
improvements generally were travelling in the di-
| rectlon OF increased power and precision both in
| artillery and small-arms and any means in which
| ammunition
ployed with comparatively small or uncertain re-
| suits, would necessarily give way to some extent
before these qualities. Capt. Tyler proceeded to
speak OF the essential notifications which the use
OF improved weapons must effect in military tactics
particularly in the use of earth. works and other de-
fences; and doubtless having reference to the late
experience OF English troops in India his observa-
tons are OF practical value Upon this point he re-
marked as follows:


But it was clear that the guns must he nlacad
more under cover than they had hitherto been.
when they were expected to act against infantry
at short ranges; and it was evident that the ten
dency would be for guns to be employed more
against each other, more against defences, more
at longer ranges, and less against troops with half
mile ranges than heretofore. While field artillery
would thus be partially superseded in one set Of
dutles there were others Of the highest Importance
devoying upon it. The new rifed guns would
under ordinary circumstances, be more valuable in
consequence of their improved precision at RANGES
| from ,0OO to 3,OO0 yards and of their lower ira


ectary, than on account of the still greater ranges
that could be obtained from them An accurate


re OF shot and shell to ruin deences and of shells
fired at higher elevations amongst the defenders
would be urgently required in all future cases of
assault, to assist in restoring to the attack that
which 1t had lost in consequence of the superiority
| which the rifle had afforded to the defence
without such assistance to the attack, infantry
soldiers would be able, at least by day, in small
works, feeble entrenchments villages or farms. to
make the most obstinate resistances and to occasion
the most serious losses TO their assaiants The best
artillery we could procure, also, was urgently re-
qulred for the defence of important points on our
| coasts, and 1t would be more than ever wanted for
general use in consequence of the increased use of
| entrenchments that would result from the common
| employment of the rifle. The necessity for such
| entrenchments had become obvious. No BODY of
troops contending against enemy armed with the
| improved weapons of modern times would be safe
when rifled guns and muskets into full use so
| long as they were uncovered and so long as hostile
! sharpshooters could approach within half mile or
| within three hat 6ista Of
them. 1t would not be possible efficiently to protect
the masses by means of skirmshers sent out for the
purpose. Soldiers could carry no armour that
would save them from the effects of such weapons,
and earthen parapets, combined with natural obsta-
cles, were the only means by which future armies
| could hope to place themselves beyond the reach
OF continental annoyance, and even Of gradual an
nlhllatlon. An army taking up position in pres
ence OF the enemy would, therefore, find it necessa-
ry in future to entrench itself in that position
defensive works, so constructed not to impede
subsequent offensive operations, would be required
Tor the protection of defensive positions, and SINH
lar works would even be required in aid of often
sIye operations. When post was occupied it
must be entrenched in order to be maintained when
piece OF ground was acquired from the enemy
winch 1t was important to hold it would be useful
II not Indispensable to entrench it in order that it
might serve as firm base from which further ad-
vances might be made; and any works that were
selzed would require to have their deences reversed
IN the shortest possible time. In fact field enpi-
neering must, in consequence of these rife improve
ments, enter more and more into combination with
military tactics; facilities for the employment of
the spade becoming of greater Importance in pro-
portion as the range and accuracy of the soldiers
musket and of heavy guns,were practically increas-
ed. We could not expect to make the most of our
rifles, or to find ourselves in the position which we
ought to assume in future warfare, without bet
ter instructed digging infantry and vastly in
creased force of sappers, who would shoot at least
as well as other troops, who would be ready to dig
or to hight, to conduct their special duties, or to
perform the ordinary duties of the soldier, as
might be required of them. The infantry soldier
who, In virtue of his enormously increased powers
had become of so much greater Importance, should
now be better trained, better educated, with re-
gard particularly to his professional requirements
and better prepared in every way for that which
he had to undergo The best infantry that a ma
ton could now possess, would be one in which
good sapper.


So hereafter the shovel is one of the most neces-
sary implements of warfare; and they who thirst
for glory can easily borrow this useful tool for an
hour or two, at any time and see how they like it,
without any personal risk.