OCR Text |
Show Peace. As the military scientists of the world contemplate the history of the war in South Africa, they will not find much in it to comfort com-fort them. If the authorities of any country have heretofore counted on the superior numbers and discipline of their soldiers and their natural resources and have planned the conquest con-quest of weaker countries, they will hesitate now, for it has been made clear that a small band of brave men armed with modern rifles and smokeless powder and the gift of using them, can practically annihilate an army trained on the European plan. Again, cavalry has been proved to be use- less for fighting purposes. Hereafter the cavalry man must have his title changed; H he must put aside his heavy saber and take up a carbine. The most effective arm of the service will be mounted infantry. Repeatedly in the South African service British officers and men, on the march, have fallen, shot dead; but no enemy had been seen, no report of firearms heard. From a distance of a. mile or more, so far away that no sound or firing was heard, the fatal bullet was sped from a gun aimed through a tele- scope sight. If at last the location of the man or company doing the fatal shooting was discovered, and pursuit given, all that could be found was a little band o'f men re- tiring on their hardy ponies, only to seek some other spot where the thing could be repeated. What would any European army do if sent to some far-off country, and when there be confronted by such enemies? The dawn of universal peace seems much nearer since the war in South Africa has been studied. The prediction of long ago is beginning to be realized. The machinery of war has reached such perfetion, that with a few more improvements it will be impossible for poor human nature to stand before it. As it is no strong power can confidently count upon vanquishing a weak power when the latter can muster a small army of alert and brave men, trained in frontier ways. That in itself is a promise of peace. Then it is not unjustifiable from what has already been done to expect that the principle of wireless telegraphy may be successfully invoked in-voked for war purposes soon. It may be possible then to crush an army by touching a button. The reign of peace is drawing near. |