Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1914 — Infantry Decides the Battle. [ARTICLE]

Infantry Decides the Battle.

While there have been many discussions as to the relative value of the different ' branches of an army there Is little doubt, according to a writer in the Scientific American, that it is the Infantry that wins battles. While it is probable the success of a battle will depend to a large extent on the support of the field artillery, ft is certain that the principal add most Important arm Is the infantry, which In practically every case must decide the final fpsue. The cavalry may bo the first to be drawn into a battle, and the artillery may destroy the enemy’s artillery, but a battle is never won until the infantry has driven buck the enemy’s lines. The usual mode of advancing lor the infantry Is to deploy them in a line with a long Interval between each soldier. This, naturally, Is tor the purpose of offering a smaller target for the enemy, but makes It more difficult, however, for the leaders to keep as good control over the men, and for that reason one of the objects of field artillery is to make the enemy’s troops deploy early. The Infantry soldier Is armed in all the countries with a rifle and bayoneL The rifle is the weapon upon whieh reliance is placed, the bayonet being used only as a last means, when in a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy. „