WW1 Generals and lessons learned by Roman Army

From: Abrigon Gusiq (abrigon_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 12/27/04 

Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 03:23:30 -0900
To: sci-military-moderated@moderators.isc.org

"Scipio's Reforms of the Army

One man who made a great contribution to the running of the army, and
thereby also to the wellfare and survival of Rome, was Scipio Africanus
(Publius Cornelius Scipio).
He is believed to have been present at the military disasters of Trebia
and Cannae where he learnt the lesson that the Roman army needed a
drastic change in tactics. With only 25 years of age he assumed command
of the troops in Spain and began training them harder than so far anyone
had done. Undoubtedly the Roman legionaries were the best troops of
their day. But if tactical movements, as Hannibal performed them on the
battlefield, were supposed to be possible then the soldiers needed to be
trained for it. If Scipio was doing the right thing, then his victory
over Hannibal at Zama clearly confirmed it. Young, bright upcoming Roman
commanders were quick to see the wisdom of Scipio's approach and adopted
his military style. Scipio's revolution changed the way of the legions.
Rome was now to use proper tactics on the battlefield, rather than
merely relying on the fighting superiority of the legionaries.
Henceforth the Roman soldiers would be led by clever men seeking to
outmanoeuvre their foe rather than merely being lined up and marched at
the enemy. If Rome had the best soldiers it now should also acquire the
best generals. " from http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html

Above a lesson that Rome learned, that from reports, The Generals of
WW1, should have known and lived, and not wasted?

Did the Generals of WW1, really be as wasteful as we have been lead to
believe? I just can not see how the people of nations like Britain and
France, could have stood by and watched 10,000 soldiers did in a single
day, like at the Somne, or Verdun and like?

Mike

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