Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-29

| mont Set at Given DETECTION Cal.
euIated by Battery Commander Sta.
toned on High Ground and Some
times In Trestop.
How cannon are used In an actual
battle Is most interesting subject
dealt with in the Scientific American.
In actual battle the guns of battery
are lined up. and one loaded caisson Is
placed next to each gun. The entire
battery is behind cover and generally
cannot see the targets. The fire Is d.
rected by each gunner aiming on des.
ignated aiming point, with an instru.
ment set at given detection. so that
the gun will actually point ut the tar
get. This detection IL calculated by q
triangulatiOn method by the battery
commander. who Is some distance
away from the battery either ON ele.
waited ground. on u ladder or IN tree.
The German system of obtaining the
detection is to measure the angles by
means Of Instruments. thereby attempt
while the tendency Of the French sys-
TEN is to estimate the first detection.
fire quickly and by observing the shot
make necessary corrections for sue
ceeding shots. The ranges are obtain
! ed by base range finders, which are
accurate within 200 yards for 5000 or
G.O00 yard ranges.
What Howtzers Are For.
The object of kowitzers is mainly to
fire heavier projectle with lower
velocity at Il much higher elevation and
longer range. Assume. for instance.
the enemy's infantry intrenched behind
entertainments. With a high velocity
the trajectory of the projectile for a
given range is very fiat. so that the
troops would be able to sit behind the
strike the embankment or pass over
their heads. For this emergency bat
terry of howitZers Is called into action.
/ BY reducing the charge the projectile
may be started at a higher elevation.
which causes the projectile to fall to
the ground in much more nearly YER
teal path and enables it to be dropped
back of the embankment.
The object of field artillery IS to sup
port the infantry in it's advances or
It's retreats. 1t aims to hit the part
of the enemy which is most dangerous
to the friendly infantry and which
would hinder its success. Since the
enemy's artillery would do the same
thing. it is evident that a modern bat
tie will generally begin with an artii.
lery duel and that whichever side is
able to silence the others artillery will
have tremendous advantage.
AS the infantry advances the field
artillery must be in readiness to fire
over the advancing lines and attack
parts Of the enemy's troops or must
be able to move with lightning rapid.
ity to any other position where its fire
Is needed or is more effective. A bat
terry Of field artillery is tactical unit
composed Of from four to eight guns
and ammunition wagons loaded with
shell and shrapnel.
Infantry Tactics.
While it is proba BILE the success Of
battle will depend to Il large extent on
the support Of the field artillery. it is
certain. says the writer. that the prin-
cipal and most important arm Is the
infantry. which in practically every
case must decide the final issue. The
cavalry may be the first to be drawn
into battle. and the artillery may de-
stroy the enemy's artillery. but Il bat.
tie Is never won until the infantry has
driven back the rncmy's lines.
The usual mode Of advancing for the
infantry is to dcpOy them in Il line
With II long interva! between each SOL
dicr. This naturally is for the pur.
pose of Offering smaller target for
the enemy 1t makes ii more diff
cult. however. for the leaders to keep
us good control over the men. and for
that reason one of the objects OF field
artillery is to make the enemy's troops
deplOy early.
The infantry soldier is armed in all
the countries with Il rifle and bayonet.
| The rifle is the weapon upon which
reliance is placed. the bayonet being
used only us last means. when In a