New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-03
THE TRIBUNE AND THE WAR.

So far a. we are aware, THE TRIBUNE ia the
only journal in Europe or America which has
attempted regularly to judge the events Of the
war by tie principles of military science and to
put its readers in position to understand aud
appreciate these events from military as we'll
az a political point of view. In undertaking this
duty, we kIew that although we might secure
the appreciation, if not always the asreem Mt in
opinion, Of all competent persons we should not
fail to be met with the pooh.poohs Of the gnor ant
and csptious, to whom it must seem great pre-
sumption for American Journalists at such dis
lance from the scene of operations, to criticise
the movements Of accomplished Generals and
veteran armies. la this expectation We have
not been disappointed; and though the sheer
ers have gradually been silenced as events have
corroborated our conclusions and as the in.elli-
gent public bas admitted the value and utility of
our humble labors it may still not be improper
for US to adduce several instances in which
our statements and structures find striking con-
frmation from sources beyond question.
1t will be recollected that the British officers
and British ewspaper respondents, not conteo.
with the actual and disputed glory their soldiers
had earned at Irkermsnn, attempted to e1agger-
ate the affair by stating that tie Russians, on that
day not only had 2i-pounderr but even -
pound 6eld-euIs in battery, against which enor-
nous calibers the British nine and tweive-Pound
guns had DO chance. A great deal wsssaid about
the neglect and incspa,i.y Of the British Gov
eminent in not having field artillery equal TO
that Of its opponents, ami cry was set up for
24-pound and 32.pound feld-guhs, which was all
the more strenuous, as people then began to fad
out what egregious bllnderipg had presided over
oil the arrangements for the campaign. At that
tine The TRIBUNE al)ne, of all public organs,
stated plainly that il was nonsense to talk about
field. guns OF such heavy calber; that the whole
mistake arose from the general ignorance Of the
British officers, united with their love Of boast
ing; that the 24pound and 32-pound Russian
guns were neither more nor less than field.
bowitzers, having the bore of 2ipounders aud
80 poundersr espectively which no xitzers, throw
ing hollow sho. Of little weight, and requiring
small charge only, could be made very light in
metal and cOrrespOnded in weight aud range
with 6-poupder and 12-pounder feld-guns that,
in fact, every British field battery Of either 6, .,
or l2.pourders had one of the above howitzsrs
attached to it, so that the very thing de
msnded to be done by the British Govern
ment had actually been done long since.
While we published this information in New
York, the discussion about these new fashioned
fed-euns, went on briskly in London. The very
writer's in The London Tunes and elsewhere who
were utterly ignorant of the fact tina, they were
merely clamoring for the restoration Of a system
Of artillery superseded ever since the beginning
Of the eighteenth century, before 100, such
heavy calibers were taken into the field, but
abandoned with the progress OF the ar. of war, y
these very people pretended to know from par
ticular sources, that the Russians did take no
lighter guns into the field than IL, "a and -
FOUNDERS and even stated the number Of horses
Cup to twenty four which were attached, four
abreast, TO each OF these guns. Now, though
the equipment of the Russian field artillery 10
fixed by published regulations, and though the
horrible roads Of Russia are known well enough,
one might yet begin to doubt in the face Of such
detailed statements. Blu. it happens that Tis
Lssdon Times, Of Jan. Is. contains letter set
ting the question. A British Captain Of Artil.
lery, present before Sevastopol, and who
measured, BY order, the Russian shot, has seen
some Of these wonderful statements, and does
not allow them to pas uncorected. The guns