RIVAL METHODS OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 13, 18 January 1900, Page 3

RIVAL METHODS OF WAR.

(Colonel Morris in Donedln Star.") bk_ An article in the Saturday issue of this paper, entitledHaa the War been Mismanaged f is worthy of consideration. It purports to have been written by one of the rank in the service of a foreign, but friendly, Flower, bat whose sympathies are proBritish. He starts by stating that . there are three schools of thought at the Horse Guards, which he styles the Yndian, the Modern, and the Oldfaiihinwd. It is only, however, necea*°7 to consider the first two of tliese, the last having died oat with the retirement of the late Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Cambridge. Putting aside for the moment the question of short service, although, as he very truly says, it "has near'y had the ""effect of depriving the troops of the Opportunity of becoming properly ■easoned," let us eonsiil<fl*~-what he ■ays of the difference between these two schools of thought—the Indian miH the Modern. " The Modern, headed by the present Comuiander-in-Chief (Lord Wols-dw) aims at thej introduction in the English 'Amy of the methods which in Germany- The Modern is likewi>c very | strong in all the do-trinal and technical branches of military science, j Ty»« on the other hand, " penorifnrifi an infinitely greater degree of practical experience of campaigning. - Indeed, the successes of the Indian aofaool has imbued it with a certain - amount of disdain of the more mathematical and doctrinal science of the Modern school." There is a certain amount of truth in thip statement,/ bat not the whole truth. The writer would lead ene to suppose that the *' Modern is the scientific school, whilst school. A truer description of th« difference between these two pliwil« of thought would be that the Modern is the methodically scientific C wh""*! bound by doctrinal and tech--1 itical rules, whilst the Indian is equally ■cientific, bat recognises that a slavish adherence to rules is a mistake. _ Lord Roberts showed this in his magnificent march to relieve Candahar, when he bioke every rule and maxim ofmiliK luyfewncfl, cat himself from his base, and, disregarding his communications, marched his army through the enemy's country and relieved Candahar. : . Ag an example of the Modern hard and fast hidebound rules let us briefly « - Wolseley's three campaigns. 4'ln-the Bed River campaign General "Wolfleley slowly "but surely pushed on -'""C the chain of lakes, untU at length l 'he"arrivsd at Winnipeg without the of a man, although the journey »Wee : lanfc and difficult. In-mplktely on his arrival Kiel's rebellion came to in end. This may be called a successful example of the Modern school. In the Ashunti campaign, also 'tmder Sir Garnet Wolsehy, he started far Ooomaseie with the same slow, deliberate advance, but in tins case his ■low progress through the feverhaunted jungles decimated his troops, •0 much ao that ofter fighting several battles when close to ConnniUiait it is %fell known i.e w&s a' out to effect a retreat when the" fijiJemi!*! dnsn cf Lc:'d OitTord awl Hi s since aivtd (he situation iiuin afi :;cc. * In the Eg; [ tiiiJ tau [>-!£:;; lor the tefief of KLartoum v»e lii.d the delibenite ad van-e, uo- a s:--p to be made till guti etc., h ive Come up and c-mmui-i'Mtiou a;J; hi* hue provided and «• K!»>l.**c. ?L.-s*e dflv opposed ai! •:.£ .. =<■'■ ~ column to jt- . -u n r.L j touiy, an.i itt ii i a ril'i:...; l Consent was esti-ncUn fri-u ntsa it vr...* tx) late! flHllmt C->r.La had perished, and Khartoum fe'l w!ieo the OJlumn was \et two day's joarney away! The fate of Khartoum and the relief of Candahar arc examples of the real difference between these two >chools. It suffices to wy that General Duller and Lord Methuen are follower? of the Modern school, and Lord Roberts the ablest exponent of tho Indian school, and that consequently upon his arrival we may expect a more vigorous and dashing policy introduced, not with any loss of military science, but without the slavish adherence to_ fixed maxims under any and every circumstance.