[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sro,—Onr generals in Africa seem to be making no effort to approach the enemy's position by trenching, although an assault without such aid, however strong the attacking force may be, must necessarily be accompanied with appalling loss. There may be reason for this in the nature of the ground, or in the lengthy and tedious nature of such operations. Cannot these objections be overcome by the use of steel walls in place of trenches? A plate of quarter-inch steel, six feet by two and a half, or five feet by three, loopholed and furnished with hinged props to support it in position, would weigh about one hundred and sixty or one hundred and seventy pounds, and could be easily handled by two men. A line of these would form a protection as safe as a trench against anything but artillery fire, and could be pushed forward to the enemy's position in hours where trenches would take weeks. With heavier plates, which could be carried on waggons, and
aemattred guns drawn by armoured traction-engines, it would appear that any position not defended by heavy siege guns could be attacked with little risk.—I am, Sir, &c., T. A. B.
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