Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
AN ARTILLERY WAR
United States Officials So Regard the
China Conflict.
OUR SPLENDID EQUIPMENT THERE
Seem to Be Ahead of the Other
Nations in Preparation.
HOWITZERS AND POMPOMS
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The war in China. If there is to be a con-
fict of large proportions, will be an artil-
lerymans war. The officials of the United
States War Department have apprecia ted,
seemingly more keenly than the officers Of
other nations, from the very outset of the
trouble, that military operations in the far
east would afford exceptional opportunities
for the cavalry and artillery, particularly
the latter. In making elaborate prepara-
lions to take full advantage of every oc-
casion for experiments designed to de-
termine the destructiveness Of modern
weapons the Americans had. perhaps, a
greater incentive than some of the other
allies, since this nation has a number Of
new engines of war the efficiency of which
in actual service 1t Is eager to determine.
Not only will the American forces have,
II the campaign Is at all prolonged q
splendid equipment of all types and cali
bers of machine guns, which are expected
to work such havoc against the close ranks
in which the Chinese soldiers march, but a
full complement of siege guns and heavy
artillery of sufficient power to batter down
the stone and brick-faced walls of Pekin,
should that be found necessary.
Reports already sent out chronicle the
CONSERVATION created among the Chinese
q
and this would seem to hold out promise
of possible achievements by the so-cailed
dynamite" guns and other weapons hurl-
ing charges of high explosives, some Of
which Gen. Chaffee will. in all probability.
employ. Certainly, in view of the super
stitious character of the Chinese and the
density of population, these guns should be
successful there, If anywhere.
In the military operations thus far con-
Quoted in the celestia! empire machine guns
have played most important part. The
original force of Jos marines landed from
Rear Admiral Kempff's flagship, the New
ark, on May % as result of the action Of
the Boxers in tearing up ABORTION of the
railroad between Pekin and Tien Tsin had
with them a machine gun and field gun,
and when this body together with the de-
tachments landed from the war vessels of
other nations, started for Pekin the relief
force had in all five quick-firing guns. 1t
was pointed out at that time that if the
foreigners In Pekin followed out the pre-
arranged plan to repair to the British le-
cation as an International stronghold in
case of trouble, machine guns might assist
materially in its defense if mounted upon
the walls, several feet in thickness, sur
rounding the compound.
The unfortunate relief expedition under
the direction of Admiral Seymour the Brit
fSh commander, was we'll provided with
Hotchkiss and other guns and the news Of
the initial attack upon the legations, which
arrived simultaneously with that of the
murder of Baron Won ketteler, the Ger
man minister. was to the effect that the
repulse of the Boxers had been due largely
to the use of Maxims. The best demonstra-
ton Of the efficiency of modern artillery
however. was afforded by the battle which
resulted In the capture of the native city
of Tien Tsin by the allies. The foreign
forces had in all forty-f1ve guns, including
several batteries of Krupp weapons Of the
newest type in the hands of the British and
Japanese. The batteries opened the attack
at dawn but the response proved that the
Chinese were not only almost equally we'll
supplied with rapid-firers but the ''men be-
hind the guns knew how to train and serve
them with skill.
The Chinese had one battery of several
heavy field guns, half dozen Maxims and
number of one-pound quick-firing pom
poms. which rendered such execution that
the allies were compelled to change the
original plan of attack. In order to finally
win success the foreigners found 1t neces-
sary to slowly work their batteries forward,
Smelling as they went. and in the end car
ryng the enemys position by a fierce bayo-
net charge. The Chinese artillerymen prov
ed that they were not only experts in the
operation of guns, but men of bravery as
well. for many of them worked the weapons
until the allies We're upon them and were
struck down beside their guns.
The capture of the Haiko arsenal by the
allies also afforded tangible evidence of the
high opinion in which the Mongolians hold
present-day artillery and to what ex-
tent their importations of this class of war
munitions have been carried since the Jap
anese-Chinese conflict. In this arsenal
there were found, in addition to several hun
dred small arms, an immense number of
weapons Of large caliber. Among the num-
Der were many five and six-inch guns, some
of which had not even been unpacked. and
no less than two score of the most approved
type Of Maxims. What was equally sig
nttlcant was the fact that there was plenty
Of ammunition for all Of these batteries.
II the allied forces are not yet as well
equipped their opponents in the matter
of utensils for killing by machinery, how
ever, they soon will be. At present it is
estimated the foreign army In Tien Tsin
and on the road to Pekin Is provided with a
total of ia guns By the latter part Of
August additions will have been made to
this complement by the arrival Of German
renforcements. with six guns, a French
detachment With twelve guns and con-
tribution of at least thirty guns from the
Japanese
During the month Of September heavy re-
Inducements for the artillery division are
due to arrive at the international base Of
supplies. These will include more than a
score of guns for the French, and an equal
number OF pieces to be brought by the
11.@O0 Germans who will arrive during that
month, and the two dozen guns added by
Russia. In addition, the British forces COM
ing from England Australia and Cape Col
ony Will in every instance bring heavy guns
FINALLY, the American transports which
nave sailed from San Francisco and are
Que TO arrive at the Chinese port In Sep-
TEMPER carry two thousand mon and TWEEN
ty-1Our guns. This means that by October
1. when the rainy season will be we'll over
and when, II need be, the most active OBJ
eratlons can commence in China, there will
be In the empire close to half thousa nd
pieces OF artillery manned by foreign gun
ners: VI this number $50 guns will be in
the hands OF the allies in the territory he
tween Ten Tsin and Pekin and 242 guns
Will be held by the Russians for opera lions
In Manchuria and Siberia
The artillery force to be placed in China
by the United States will probably be the
most complete. size considered, ever sent
out by any nation. The representation is
to include q number of siege guns. the
howitzer siege battery until recently sta
toned at Fort Riley. Kansas, having been
ordered to the front Still other siege
guns and howitZers may be drawn from
Manila should it be found desirable. The
othclals are making arrangements to send
to the east all the lighter guns which can
be secured, but how many siege guns are
sent will depend largely upon the future
recommendations of General Chaffee
-Four seven-inch howitzers compose the
battery, just mentioned as already detailed
for service In China. The howitzers are
distinguished from the regular type of
siege gun in that they throw a proiectile
weighing 1O5 pounds in a curved line
whereas the siege guns, proper fire in
horizontal line a projectile weighing forty
five pounds. The last mentioned guns
would doubtless be of the greatest service
in battering down walls and reducing for
hIpt no hnu