The US 4th Calvary transported their horses and wooden bridges to the Philippines aboard the first metal war ships. They arrived in the Philippines in 1898, a superior force, well equipped and the wholesale slaughter of Filipinoes was begun.
The recent buildup of Chinese military bases and other activities related to the development of atolls in the South China Sea is like the U.S. 'lily pad' base strategy during WWII. The ‘lily pad’ base strategy is similar to the practice of maintaining ‘coaling’ or fueling stations throughout the Far East.