OCR Text |
Show f were unreliable as to accuracy of fire. In the Civil war oceno a battery wheels into action and fires on Infantry Infan-try at a dlstanco of only a few hundred hun-dred feet. The modern Browning, or Colt's, gun could have swept tho field r of men and horses and have routed the entire attacking force, but in the picture tho artillery is captured by the Confederates charging, as did the 600 at Balaklava, into the mouths ot cannon. Gen. Sheridan had great influence over his men and had the power to inspire in-spire them even in defeat with renewed renew-ed hope, but this personal equation Is almost entirely eliminated from modern mod-ern war. The accuracy of aim, tho heavier battalions, the strength of fortification, the mobility or the forces and strategy are now the determining factors. Battles are fought with long inn go guns, and foolhardy Is the general gen-eral who, making a sortie or direct attack, at-tack, attempts to hurrah his way to victory. SHERIDAN'S RIDE. One of the moving picture houses presents the, ride of General Sheridan lrora the tavern at Winchester at the time the famous ofllcer rallied his scattered forces and turned deieat Into In-to victory. The plcturea, no doubt, correctly depict the battle 6cene on that historical occasion, but they eerve by contrast to prove the wonderful wonder-ful change which has occurred in the method of warfare. During the Civil war there were bayonet charges and cavalry attacks, and men fought at close range. Now a battle is often ended before the opposing forces are cftarly discernible to the naked eye. Tho Mauser rifles at Santiago killed kill-ed American soldiers before the enemy ene-my had been sighted and while the sound of "musketry" was inaudible. At the battle of Mukden, ( General Xuropatkin's troops wero in retreat when tho Japanese were still at a distance dis-tance of three miles. The moving pictures disclose Uen. Sheridan with drawn sword and all his party waving swords. The sword has become scarcely moro than an insignia of rank or authority, although at ono time the keen blade was a weapon of great execution. Our local Grand Army veterans who were with the artillery Inform us that their guns were effective at not more than half a milo or less and then |