Pre-WWI war to define tactics?

A big part of the high casualties in the early part of first world war was the lack of experience with modern artillery and machine guns. A limited war between modern powers some time between 1900 and 1914 would make clear a lot of the faults with existing military doctrine without turning all of Europe into a bloodbath. The problem is that I'm having trouble coming up with a war that stays limited instead of simply turning into WWI earlier. Is there a potential war between modern armies in that period that could serve as a limited laboratory for modern warfare tactics?
 
A big part of the high casualties in the early part of first world war was the lack of experience with modern artillery and machine guns. A limited war between modern powers some time between 1900 and 1914 would make clear a lot of the faults with existing military doctrine without turning all of Europe into a bloodbath. The problem is that I'm having trouble coming up with a war that stays limited instead of simply turning into WWI earlier. Is there a potential war between modern armies in that period that could serve as a limited laboratory for modern warfare tactics?
Italy Ottomans 1912

Russo Japanese 1904

But no one learned the lessons.
 
A big part of the high casualties in the early part of first world war was the lack of experience with modern artillery and machine guns. A limited war between modern powers some time between 1900 and 1914 would make clear a lot of the faults with existing military doctrine without turning all of Europe into a bloodbath. The problem is that I'm having trouble coming up with a war that stays limited instead of simply turning into WWI earlier. Is there a potential war between modern armies in that period that could serve as a limited laboratory for modern warfare tactics?
The Balkan Wars certainly fit the bill, Serbia's much more recent experience is often cited amongst the reasons for Austria's floundering on that front.
 
Italy Ottomans 1912

Russo Japanese 1904

But no one learned the lessons.
Japan actually did manage to refine their experience for an extremely wellconducted siege of Tsingtao, and Serbian experience in the Balkan wars helped in their defense against the Austrians. There were also tactical takeaways, Italian air experience, Russian experience in deploying machine guns and mortars, naval doctrine etc.

But then some people learned the wrong lessons. Among other things was that the side on the offensive won all those example wars.
 
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Japan actually did manage to refine their experience for an extremely wellconducted siege of Tsingtao, and Serbian experience in the Balkan wars helped in their defense against the Austrians. There were also minor takeaways, Italian air experience, Russian experience in deploying machine guns and mortars, naval doctrine etc.

But then some people learned the wrong lessons. Among other things was that the side on the offensive won all those example wars.

And that throwing more soldiers on the problem was the solution to all those pesky operational details.
 

Deleted member 94680

The Japanese charges against the Russians impressed on many observers that the “spirit of the offensive” would overcome many defences.

They were very wrong.
 
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