WAR THEORIES GONE WRONG.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAR THEORIES GONE WRONG.

SOME POPULAR ILLUSIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN SHATTERED BY THE WAR. "The terrible, ha.oc-making power of modern war weapons is so great that it is certain the clash of arms will never take place between European nations." The countless times words to this effect have been uttered, and repeated in the Press, has, says an English paper, characterised the idea as trite and commonplace. But noW events have shattered this fond illusion, and many others too?

to-day, murderous machine guns and the deadly hail of lead from millions of rifles are killing and wounding thousands, and the war continues. A well-known military instructor or officers some time ago announced (as many less experienced men had also done) that in the next war between two great civilised countries hand to hand fighting would not take place, bevanso modern artillery could fire with deadly accuracy at a range of more than a mile. "Bayonets," said these critics, will be made absolutely useless and obsolete." How these people will explain away the grand bayonet charges the British made At Cambrai and at other places is a matter which will vex the most ingenious brain. It was General Leman, the gallant defender of Liege who stated some years ago that the modern cupola forts in Belgium were iso strongly made and skillfully placed that the most deadly gunfire could not shatter them. Unhappily the statement was not borne out by facts, for the Namur forts soon fell after the Germans stormed them.

SIT? PERCY SCOTT OX SUBMARINES.

Then, with regard to naval warfare

Jones explains to a few friends how to loop the loop in the water

Admiral Sir Percy Scott said some Umo a»o: • If wo go to war with a country that is within striking distance ot submarines, 1 am ot opinion that that country i\ ill at once Jock up their Dreadnoughts •n some safe harbour; WE SHALL 00 I'iiE SAME; their aeroplanes and airships will tty over our country; they will know exactly where our ships are, and their submar.nes will come over and destroy everything they can get." Sir Percy Scott was wrong in his disparagement of the value of battleships, and he was also wrong in forecasting that submarines would come over and destroy anything and everything. So tar, German submarines have destroyed only four British cruisers.'' Lurid pictures of the havoc airships would wreak upon towns have been drawn many times by novelists of fine fancy and unbiidled imagination, buu their imagination was only stirred i>„> the theorising of aeronautical experts. Even .Colonel Capper, the late commander of the Government balloon school, was mistaken in his ideas as to the power of aircraft m war. It is true that they have been very useful for scouting purposes to our Army but it is much too sweeping to b ay they nine revolutionised warfare. Indeed, the. following prophecy of Colonel Capper in l'lll b ouuds strange in the light ot remit events. This is what he said:

SOME RUDE SHOCKS FOR BERNHARDI.

•• I firmly believe that the systematic *» of military airmen in »J»* trained squadrons ™v RE\ I>LvttV'iV ISE THE TACTICS 01' lHh UAI 1 LLt'IELU, may alter all existing views u» to the security of troops. *w» lines of communication and may hate tbo most far-reaching effect ou a «*n»Pa l£bcr critics hav« declared that a u-eat European war would not last nioie then a month owing to the, tremendous coot it would entail and the 1 right u lu* of life that would result bevowl monU. 6 have ami n,.]l.oijso men are still engaged m this ierriblo rcadv to light until they are wiped ou. MonJ.v st'U continue* to pour into.the Government roficr* and the trade olo»i coiiiiirval least is almost normal. IHo pn.olivtie »iwai-re-, have again bee" at "j'Jstlv let us |.«k at the (allacie* «»1 tnat notorious German general. >on Bernhardi. whoso book •'Germany ami (ho Next War' rnntains a host of rudely shattered fancies. He said: " '-For a war in Continental Europe we havoonlv to take into account thi- regular arinv station..! n England . • • At the most lotUNiO »>on mav Twi w* o,i«vl upon for an Englisli expeditionary Tilth- did he think that all our Colonic* would send men to our «'d. In tad. he hinted at our friends from overseas itlllj, afe'liuat US.