THE SENSATIONS OF THE BATTLE FIELD.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 71, 19 December 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SENSATIONS OF THE BATTLE FIELD.

Tin; author of "Ironclad- In Action,'' Mr. 11. W. Wilson, o.titribiites to the •■ Fortnightly Review'' an article upon •.he horrors of war, which is however, by u i means intended to encourage the unguided emotionalism which denounces armaments. Peace societies which do tin- only iuflict injury, he thinks, upon the nations where they make i< inverts. " Our sole road t> peaoo in the present condition ef the civilised world is to render attacks upon ourselves unlikely of -uccjss, and therefore inexpedient from a business pornl of view." Bat the writer is especially interesting in his analysis of the feeling of " the human animal in battle," rightly holding that little of this side of the picture transpired in the war correspondent's or lie: fjoncrals report. Our imagination i- tired by the pageantry, and by descriptions of mag-nil-ioenl charges, hut " we soe little ei' the dusty, yelling, hunger-stricken. bluod-sl titled line of men who win the

battle." A generation is arising which has no experience of war against civilised foes, and tbo war of tho future will ba a raoro severe trial to the nerves than nnv past einouuter. To mako a good snldii itlio iros powerful emotion of t : io human aninnl—fear—must bo subdued and overcome. The merit of Mr. Wilson's'art iota is that be does not disguise the fact that throughout the ranks of troops not y< t indurated to tlio ghastly sens it ions of the battle-ti.dd fear must be active. •• Footsore, hungry, wot, sleepless, depn-s>L'd. the man tramps steadily towards the roar of the gun-, with his heart numbed with apprehension. Young, netvous, excitable, be is going to be killed, and for what? . . . . This life at suoh moments grows very dear to it < possessor, and beyond the grave is what ? The loss is immediate, and affects bini acutely; the gain is remote, and will not advantage him. He is toll that lie will win glory, but of what use is glory to his clay? He is assured that he is supporting national interests, but what benefits to him as ho sleeps benoth the sid will the increased prosperity of his country bring ? His name will be forgotten, save it may be in one household ; his remains will be shovelled hastily away, with a jesfperhaps: and the thirsty earth will drink up his life blood. Duty, religion, the instinct of self-sacrifice, the fear ot ridicule, these are tho motive powers which can carry him forward and support, him in such moments of iiuestioning. Tho guns mu«t have their human food." As instance that even in the bravest men fear is only subdued not wholly eliminated, it is mentioned thatSkobcloft' said to himaelf, " I confess that I am at heart a coward," and that ho despaired of (Jenentl Gourko because the latter would duck 11 avoid bullets and shells. General Horace Porter said there were only two men known to him iu the Northern army at the close of the American Civil War who never bowed the head to iron mid lead. Grant was one. Private Wilkes ut. too, in bis stirrinir narrative, declared that "no man really enjoys a battlo. One has to string up hii nerves, take a firm grip on himself morally, and hold himself in the battle flames "for a few minutes until warmed to pafsion.'' Mr. Wilson's conclusion it that the shorter time raw troops are kept in suspense and the sooner they are led against the enemy the better.