The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-13

shots q minute the 1855 r" would use
up a ton of ammunition in six and q
quarter minutes, and that this far ex-
adopted for the supply of large pro-
jectiles Mt the fighting line. 1t is also
noted. however, that Il similar objec-
ton was made in 1865 in Austria and
inFrance when the Prussian breech-
loading rifle (the needle gum was
under consideration.
The new field gun is the immediate
result OF the lessons OF the recent
RussO-Japanese War. Not only the
official reports of the French artillery
officers who followed the Manchurian
campaign, but the observations Of Gen.
eral de Negrier In France and of Cen
Won Balm in Germany. convinced the
best authorities in Europe that in the
war of the future the siege gun in
field operations is indispensable. and
Will have decisive effect. This was
invariably the case In Manchuria, and
the rapidity with which the Japanese
artillery pushed forward their heavy
guns is deemed one of the most import.
ant causes of their success. Major
Rimailho is the first to solve the
problem Of giving to heavy guns the
by field batteries OF light artillery in
tended to maneIver with cavalry.
This Is considered by exports to be
the most important invention in artill-
cry since the adoption Of breechload-
ing cannon.
The "l55 r" gun is fitted to q sliding
cradle attached to Il hydro pneumatic
brake. which acts both as a buffer.
neutraliziug the recoil and as a means
Of recovery. 1t is joined to the car
riage BY two horizontal trunnions:
each wheel of the carriage is fitted
with a steel shoe. and the trail is
provided with a spade wedge. At the
first discharge the gun recoils on the
slides OF the cradle, COMPRISING the
air contained in the brake. Then the
air rebounds and. assuming its former
volume. brings the gun tube back
exactly to its original position. At the
same moment the spade wedge and
the steel shoes are driven firmly into
the soil. The gun is then fixed. and
can be discharged dozen times with
out readjusting the aim. The gun is
sighted by means of two theodolites.
This enables the piece to be conceled
in ravine or ditch, from which it can
discharge its ninety-four and three
quater pound projectles. and hit OBJ
jects at distance of four miles. The
gun, by an ingenious invention that is
kept profoundly secret, can be fired at
an elevation higher even than that of
Il mortar. Indeed, it can be discharg.
ed almost perpendicularly without
danger of bursting. and the projectile
can thus attain sharp curve, passing
high over hills or other obstacles be-
tween the gun and the object fired at.
During the recent operations near
the camp Of Mailly dense fog pre-
vailed. preventing any attempt to make
use of the ordinary field gun of IS
millimetres calibre. The general com.
handing the artillery informed Major
Rimailho, who had under his orders
a battery of the 1855 R." that it was
necessary to open fire on point
shown on the map, and which was
three miles distant, hut could not be
seen from the battery. Upon this
simple information, Major Rimailho
calculated the direction and elevation,
and the staff officers who acted as
umpires found 10 their establishment
that at the third shot thu pro;ectil"s
from the four guns OF the battery
fe.' with overw!,el"l IL effect upon thu:
desired spot, although the mist was
so thick that objec:s only twenty-five
.nds away coui NJ: Ii. detected by
tn aked eye.