STRATEGY IN MODERN WARFARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11239, 7 December 1899, Page 3

STRATEGY IN MODERN WARFARE.

»., Tit , ]-, great principles of strategy are eternal. They do not vary with armament, and are but slightly affected by the character of the opposing force. Railways and telegraphs have certainly modified tho laws of the science, have in some respects made the task of a leader more easy and in others more difficult. It is possible to mass more men together when a line of rail is available, but a lino of railway is highly vulnerable. Messages between the various units of a force can be quickly and correctly delivered by telegraph; on the other hand the eame agency may give your opponent timoly intimation of your schemes. But from whatever channel it may draw its supplies, a force, whether in Europe, or Asia, or Africa, must live, and its communications are everywhere and always its most sensitive spot. To guard your own communications, and strike, if possible, at those of your foe, should therefore still be the first consideration as much as it was in the time of Napoleon. But when more armies than two are engaged in the theatre of war, a general's operations may be largely influenced by otherconsiderations than those affecting bis immediate opponent. The mere fighting a battle may often be tho least important of his tasks, and the where and the when be of more importance than the bow. Distances and time, also, are often governing factors in strategical exercises, and faulty dispositions at an early stage may render a victory wellnigh an impossibility. " The art of making war on the map" has then the highest claims for attentive study on the part of those who may ever be called upon to lead armies. Strategy has in these modern days assumed additional importance from the fact that even when battle is joined its influence is still largely felt. Distances in a modern battle are so great, and the minor units become so dispersed, that the direction of the fight is very likely to slip from the grasp of the supreme leader. Once launched in the attack, men can rarely do more than proceed straight to their front. A change of direction to a flank under fire will be all but, if not quite, impossible, and it will not be easy to subsequently correct errors in direction made at the outset. A battle will be fought out much more closely as it was originally planned, and there will bo little room for sudden inspirations, or brilliant strokes, such as formerly made or marred the day. Now, strategy teaches not I how but where to strike, not to make the ! most of a bad situation, but to ensure that I the situation will be the reverse of bad, I that before ever a shot is fired the odds will ■ be in your favour rather than in that of your enemy. . Not only therefore is strategy as potent a factor as" ever within its own sphere, but it has invaded the realm where tactics alone formerly held Saturday Review.