The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-08
FRENCH arAvUuynks cRrrrorSxn
Emciepsy or the Artillery, Field Hcwitsers,
Cavalry, and Balloon Scouts.


FRENCH MxyGUyREs CAUTIONED.
Emcieney or the Artillery. Field Howit.srs.
Cavalry. and Balloon Scouts.
In his fourth article concerning the great
French man9uvres the military correspondent
OF the London Times gives special attention to
the action OF the artillery in the field. This
subject is especially interesting and important
as It lie In their artillery Tint the French are
supposed to be superior to all other lighting
powers in Europe This superiority has been
frequently conceded By German writer's OF au-
thority In military matters. and has been re-
ferred to repeatedly as an argument In favor
OF an augmentation Of tho German artillery.
The Introduction OF emokeless powder and
the use OF field howitzers, after the example OF
Russia to aid infantry In assaults. moreover.
lent exceptional importance to the work OF the
French batteries this fall The correspondent
describes thus the appearance and action OF
the batteries;
The enormous number OF batteries attached
to the corps Tar1nSe. more than four guns per
thousand infantry and cavalry. ia not the only
indication that the French place very greatre-
lance on their artillery. I have spoken Of the
massed batteries. Of the long preliminary
bombardments. OF the care to precede each
successive phase Of battle. each fresh advance.
by the heavy fro Of the guns. and 1t is sienifl-
cant that on the line Of march the batteries
are placed well to the front: with the ad-
vanced guard OF q division are three bat
tories. and tho remaining three follow
the battalion which forms the head
Of the main body. II the corps artillery
takes tho same route as IN infantry division.
itmoves either between the two brieades Of
the main body of the division. or in some
cases behind the leading battalion. tho whole
divisional artillery In this case joining the ad-
vanced guard. In every battle. then. the whole
OF tho available artillery will. II necessary. DO
deployed from the very first But to bring An
enormous mass Of guns into action stimuli
taneously. and to portion out the ground be-
tween the various groups 50 that there is neil
Their overcrowding nor delay. requires great
precision Of movement and skill In the rapid
largely question Of drill. and the French ar.
tlisfy appears TO 20 lust as well trained In ex.
nt w as INF ss
+ 81 s g Ss
viii. which they take up Or leave a position
and the readiness with which instructions are
~ Essfys6iag works vsry quietly: undu.
doubt that all ranks are necessarily practised
The same aSsense u hurry Is observ
able. On q group Of batteries taking up a po-
ssaSnds would ssRss Ssis s
Carefully sd IT, 81 sS3s
the order to are given to eaSh piece IN turn By
the the battery commander. There is telescope
ss Sat but sosys And
we're always given. The batteries present at
ths man@nyre s having but four PIECES each.
wagons: the limbers being LETT to the last T ts
srns seom %S4e sGS as
yards behind their batteries. Still further to
the rear stood the ammunition, sections. and
lions ana trains ven sheltered In' BOTH both
sR1 po1 s9 msR 1ien f hsy. Sses
better concealed than they were: with regard to
the guns themselves there was general en-
bered on the reverse slope OF ridge. and run
up x nand nor was any use made Of back lay
Of t !lSs batteries is described briefly, u-,
seen. but disappears So QUICKLY that It would
r. Rsssf Eye
loose es dry sol! the cloud Y Increased ~ the
nS 81 e' is ssy astn BY:
%gz IA ara were plainly Visible It distance
isrens cartriiges were used The ' report sp q
eSS ss osr beard az ct
plenty OF hame. but no noise, and I have an
Idea that with the former dummy projectile
made Of wood was used. but on this point can
incilned to think that. as regards the artillery.
the new powder favors the Offensive In Cham:
81
and the attackin. infantry had to cross the in
terveninG valley or depression, On q clear
sss. ps sSsai a Kin
fu eIperimeat at the siege ~ s. sebastfan.
breach that was bat lew feet above ths heads
sple at leastMen the bsttieelds q The fatare
Nor will batteries on the offensive be often
the, inlculty Of distinguishing friend from loo,
81 teS ys pSsSn the
assist infantry In stormlne iortihsa places,
By the fsld polioe, who kept ali % curious news.
paper correspondents and other spectators
tsss 5HR e i tbs g. ~
distance, shows that the howitzers have brass
jackets. huge hydraulic buffers. that the call.
They are hideous machines. more like FIRE on.
hideous In their effects. for the shells
mixture Of melinite and cresyiite. with which
sovsnty-aye shells. carried by each held bat
terry. are loaded As to the ranges at which
anything dCiin!te. So much depends upon the
lie Of the ground. and where artillery Is accus-
toned to IRE over the heads OF the infantry. as
Is the practice in France. q commanding posi-
ti0n IL most important; but the principal ar;
aciof fSe e01R Sep sn
ct least ]. POO yards from the opposing infan-
try. On the defensiye the batteries held their
ground obsrinately."
The Times correspondents criticism OF the
use 81 cavalry In great masses for charges at
Ing In View Of tho new duties assigned to this
branch Of the army In the German and AUS
triun manOpuvres. Alter noticing that cavalry
In all sham battles Of the central European
powers. were conspicuous by their absence. Le
continues: