ne and
in the capture of 35,000 prisoners and 380 guns.

"_Battle of Flanders_ (Sept. 28-Oct. 14) II. Army: 5,000 prisoners, 100
guns.

"_Battle of Le Cateau_ (Oct. 6-12) IV., III., and I. Armies: 12,000
prisoners, 250 guns.

"_Battle of the Selle_ (Oct. 17-25) IV. and III. Armies: 20,000
prisoners, 475 guns.

"_Battle of the Sambre_ (Nov. 1-11) IV., III., and I. Armies: 19,000
prisoners, 450 guns."

(Marshal Foch.)

CHANGES IN METHOD.--The principles which underlie the Art of War would
thus appear to be based on constant factors, but the methods of their
application are susceptible to change, for in their application the
principles are subject to the influence of successive inventions.
Gunpowder abolished the bow and arrow and the knight in armour; the
bayonet affixed to the musket superseded the pike; the rifle outranged
the musket; the breech-loader and the magazine attachment progressively
increased the rate of fire; smokeless powder rendered a firing line
almost invisible; the flat trajectory of the small-arms bullet
increased the danger-zone in an advance; the increased power, mobility,
and accuracy of the field gun[4] rendered certain {22} formations
obsolete in the attack; the general advance in the rate and accuracy of
fire from rifles, machine guns, and artillery made attack on a strongly
organised position possible only when surprise in the time and place of
the thrust neutralises the advantages of the defence, or when an
overwhelming barrage of shells and bullets covers the advance and
smothers the enemy's resistance. The advent of a third service, by the
addition of the Air to the Sea and Land Services, increased the
facilities for reconnaissance[5] and added to the difficulties of
concealing movement during the hours of daylight. These and similar
influences have brought about changes in certain respects, amongst
which the most pronounced is the increased use of field entrenchments,
and tactical methods have been evolved to meet the necessities of the
case, or modified to suit the new requirements.[6]

But no inventions can shift the burden of war from the shoulders of the
infantryman. "Despite the enormous development of mechanical invention
in every phase of warfare, the place which the infantryman has always
held as the main substance and foundation of an army is as secure
to-day as in any period of history. The infantryman remains the
backbone of defence and the spearhead of the attack.