REGULARS NOT SUPERIOR.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 363, 23 April 1903, Page 6

REGULARS NOT SUPERIOR.

Men Method* of Wtrfut MrtSß Cltl»e» Soldiers Eqo«l to ftwfento—tob In an interview in the London Mail on the military situation in France, M. de Bloch says the lessons of the Transvaal war ere that the methods of warfare hitherto employed have become obsolete and impossible; that professional soldiers no longer possess their former superiority over civilians transformed into soldiers; that, on the contrary, the intelligent citizen possesses more initiative and independent action. The soldier's present training is almost useless on the battlefield. The Boers, who are simply peasants, have proved excellent soldiers. Even in the British army the colonial troops and the Yeomanry were equal to the regulars. Just as Plevna was a revelation from the point of view of defensive tactics, so the Transvaal campaign has demonstrated that in future wars at every step there will be Plevnas, for the defense of which soldiers who are only good marksmen will suffice. Even for the offensive warfare the experience of England tends to the conclusion that seven months' training for artillery and a few months for infantry are quite enough. As to the cavalry, all training is useless, since, according to Col. Henderson, "the small bore and smokeless powder have destroyed the last vestige of the traditional role of cavalry. Cavalry armed, trained and equipped as the cavalry of the continent is as obsolete as the Crusaders." Powerful Sanff. On the Amazon river several Indian tribes use snuff, -alk d parecn. which is made of the sc c-ds of r> !-p, c| c > * : f n'ant. When a bout of snuff-t-k":: _' >s .'. termined on the people bec« ::» highly intoxicated and then use the snnfi. The effect of pareca i» so violent that the taker drops as if ihot and lies Insensible for some time; those m» re accustomed to i; are highly excited, rinneing and singing as if mad. The effect soon subsides. Other tribes use it to repel ague during the wet season. from the AnlniaU' Polr.t of View. Now, for instance, is no- -■. ir;irne preserve wrongly namto." a.-ks the Chicago Record-Herald. Th« poor anima'u art in a sad pickle.