Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-06
EMPLOY NOVEL METHODS.
How the Germans Perfect Themselves
49,. In Artillery Practice.

How the Germans Perfect Themselves
,-. In Artillery Practice.
From the Courier des Etats Units
The recent maneuvers at the Camp de
Chalons presented an opportunity to a con-
siderable number of officers to follow closely
the progress Of the French artillery and to
appreciate the peerless qualities of the new
guns, The actual field practice executed
under their eyes by the, batteries facilitated
observations which cannot fail to be of ad-
vantage in the general training of the
cadres.
But it is to be regretted that the Camp
of Chalons is not supplied with greater re-
sources in the matter Of the establishment
of mobilization of machines that serve as
targets. In this respect France is inferior
to the other powers which possess for their
artillery schools ingenious cortrivances
whose utility cannot be questioned
The German firing ground at Jutersbog
in the heart of Prussia, just sixty kilometers
from Potsdam, leaves, nothing to be de-
sired from this point of view, if we are to
believe the detailed account of it which
has just been published in the German mill
tary papers. On the polygon, which covers
about one square mile, there are two estab-
lishments which work the movable targets.
The depot contains an enormous quantity
of panels representing heads, busts, lines
of infantry, batteries of artillery. regiments
of cavalry. all fixed on trucks that run on
rails at varied rate of speed.
By this means it is easy to present the
different phases of a battle. The ground
represents a village organized for defense.
In ambush behind the walls and hedges are
the infantry. On the side of the village lines
of batteries are in position. But the shrap-
mel and shells soon render the position of
the enemy untenable, and he resolves upon
a counter attack. Detachments of infantry
emerge from the wood, and, taking adyan-
tor 80 ~ g.
ground approach to within 1,5oO or even
1000 meters Then suddenly lines of skirm-
ishers appear.
The recoil of the pieces is limited by
using the spade and rope brakes. Then the
lines of the enemy's infantry are swept by
a murderous fire. During these phases of
the action each battery fires from fifty to
sixty shots. The enemy, unable to stand
against such a fire, ffallsi back Just then
his cavalry comes up and Sacrifices itself in
an effort to turn the tide of battle. The
horsemen charge rapidly on one of the
tanks of their adversarfes. The horses and
ened by wire and moved 6y steam. The bat
terry Of the wing thus attacked rapidly
changes front and sends masses of iron and
lead into the enemy's cavalry. The charge
enemy sends a flag Of TRUCE. The bearer of
the nag Is also a manikin fixed upon
truck Nothing remains but TO examine the
results OF the fire. Scattered over the poly
So tiAetS ate al 'tef5pihtSa posts OF obSef-
walton with telephone connections with each
other and with the firing battery All these
posts are occupied by officers ana non-com-
miasioned officers. = - -,
All the German artillery, officers, Bava-
rian, Saxon, Wurtemburgian and Baden,
are obliged to pass some time at Jutersbos.
There they learn the fundamental princi-
pies Of practical instruction. which they
propagate afterward In all the garrisens,
including even the most distant. In France
there Is nc such establishment where in
struction In firing is carried on in summer
and In winter. in rain and snow and al
ways In conditions as closely as possible to
actual warfare But at Walenstatt the
Swiss army has firing ground and train
ing school for infantry and artillery which
Is q model